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Chilli Tofu – Indian Chilli “Paneer” Recipe

October 12, 2016 By Richa 17 Comments

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Chilli Tofu – Indian Chilli “Paneer” Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe

Jump to Recipe   

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Chilli Paneer is a popular dish from Indian-chinese cuisine. The cuisine evolved in the Chinese community who lived in Eastern India by adjusting and adding more Indian ingredients to chinese recipes. Indo-chinese is an extensive cuisine with options like Manchurian sauce with cauliflower or veggie balls(in my book), hakka noodles, Sichuan fried rice, hot and sour and manchow soups, chop suey, chow meins and others. These recipes even if they use a common/known name, are often different from their US or other country counterparts. 

These fusion recipes are flavorful with abundant garlic and ginger, spicy and fun. In the vegetarian options, veggies or paneer make up the bulk of some dishes. There are specific sauces that have evolved for this cuisine like the chili garlic sauce or the vinegary green chili sauce that are often available in Indian stores or online. I make a quick chili ginger vinegar sauce from scratch for this Chilli tofu. The green chile sauce is flavorful and hot to preference (use mild to hot green chilies to preference). Tofu is cubed and crisped, then garlic, and veggies are cooked. The sauce is added and cooked lightly and tofu is tossed back in to coat. Serve this delicious dish with cooked rice or grains or over noodles of choice. 

Crisp up the Tofu.

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Add onion, chili, garlic until translucent. 

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Add peppers and other veggies in. 

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Add the blended chili ginger vinegar sauce and cook to bring to a boil. 

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Add the tofu and cook to coat. 

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Serve hot over a bowl of rice. 

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com   

Print Recipe
5 from 9 votes

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Gluten-free, Indian-Chinese, Vegan
Servings: 2
Calories: 232kcal
Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

Chilli Sauce mixture:

  • 1 green chile hot or moderate heat
  • 1/2 to 3/4 inch knob of ginger
  • 1.5 to 2 tbsp soy sauce use tamari to make gluten-free
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) sugar
  • 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cayenne or use a combination of cayenne and paprika for less heat
  • 1/4 cup (62.5 ml) water

For the Chilli Tofu:

  • 14 oz (396.89 g) firm tofu
  • 1 to 2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot starch
  • 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) salt
  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1/2 (0.5 ) medium onion thinly sliced
  • 5 to 6 cloves of garlic finely chopped
  • 1/2 (0.5 ) green chile finely chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) salt
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed in 1/4 cup or more water

Instructions

  • Make the chilli sauce mixture. Blend all the ingredients under the sauce mixture until well blended.
  • Drain and Press the Tofu using a tofu press. Or slice and fold paper towels over the slices and press using a heavy weight for atleast 10 minutes.
  • Cube the tofu and toss with starch, black pepper and salt. Add more starch if needed.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the tofu cubes and cook until golden on some edges. Stir occasionally. 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Remove from the pan. Add onions, green chili and garlic to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until translucent. Add green bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the blended sauce mix, bring to a boil and cook for a minute.
  • Add in the tofu and salt and mix in. Add starch mixed in water and mix in. Bring to a boil to thicken. Taste and adjust salt, tang and heat. Simmer for another minute or so for he flavors to infuse or thicken if needed. Garnish with black pepper or pepper flakes, and sliced scallions and Serve as is or over cooked rice or grains, or with indo-chinese hakka noodles

Notes

Nutritional values based on one serving

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 232 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 747mg32%
Potassium 529mg15%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 410IU8%
Vitamin C 54.9mg67%
Calcium 81mg8%
Iron 2.4mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Chilli Tofu - Indian Chilli "Paneer" Recipe. Chilli Paneer is an Indo-chinese fusion stir fry served with other fusion noodles or fried rice. Crisp Tofu replaces the Paneer cheese in this delicious and quick version. Vegan Gluten-free Nut-free Recipe | VeganRicha.com

Local people(Seattle and surrounding). Seattle’s first vegan & gluten-free cooking school opens in a few weeks!

Find out about the classes (ethnic cuisines, easy weekday meals, spice blending 101 etc) and all the fun at Fire and Earth Kitchen’s fb page or site. It’s a brand new school, and they need all the support!

Filed Under: Asian Vegan Recipes, gluten free, Indian Vegan Recipes, main course Tagged With: chinese, vegan



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  1. Emily says

    October 13, 2016 at 10:53 am

    5 stars
    I love Chilli paneer and chilli corn. This made for an amazing dinner! More Indian chinese recipes please!

    Reply
    • Richa says

      October 13, 2016 at 7:43 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
  2. yas says

    October 14, 2016 at 7:55 am

    5 stars
    I cooked this today exactly as specified (in the not-so-hot version) and both my husband and I loved it! <3

    We also bought your book and have been eating your recipes for a few weeks now – we've even brought your meals to potlucks, and everyone, vegan or not, loves them! Thank you for being so awesome! =)

    Reply
    • Richa says

      October 14, 2016 at 10:34 am

      AWesome!! I am so glad that the recipes turn out so well!

      Reply
  3. Mamatha says

    October 15, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    Wonderful! Will definitely be making this again! But I can’t fry tofu in under 20 minutes!

    Reply
  4. Taylor Filaroski says

    October 18, 2016 at 8:28 am

    5 stars
    Made this Sunday night for my brother and myself and we loved it! However, when I made the sauce I didn’t have as much as what I see in your pics! I think I made the sauce correctly…what should I add next time to make a larger quantity of sauce?

    Reply
    • Richa says

      October 18, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Great! Add a bit more water or double the sauce.

      Reply
  5. Sara Hohn says

    October 18, 2016 at 9:05 am

    YUM! Can’t wait to try this! Looks so good and simple, too!

    Reply
  6. Anna says

    October 26, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    5 stars
    I have yet to cook a recipe from this site I have no loved! It is making being vegan extremely easy.

    Reply
    • Richa says

      October 26, 2016 at 11:44 pm

      yay!

      Reply
  7. Diana says

    October 30, 2016 at 12:28 am

    5 stars
    A lovely recipe! Even my daughter who doesn’t like tofu had to admit that it tasted really well! Will be in my favourites book 🙂

    Reply
  8. Alex says

    November 1, 2016 at 7:44 am

    5 stars
    Paneer is one of the things I’ve found challenging to give up. Looking forward to trying this, thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
  9. Charlie Hogue says

    November 23, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for my wife and I last Sunday and it was delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Richa says

      November 23, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      yay!

      Reply
  10. Neeta Renner says

    February 15, 2017 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    Richa, you’ve done it, yet again! This was so delicious.

    I cook on Sundays for the week, & didn’t get to try it until mid-week, but I’ll tell you, I was daydreaming about it at work the day after. It is the perfect savory meal!! You are awesome!!!

    Reply
  11. Kristen says

    March 14, 2017 at 10:36 am

    WOW. So incredibly delicious and flavorful. I added a bit of turmeric and garam masala – try it!

    Served over basmati, with half an avocado and some sriracha.

    Reply
  12. Ethan says

    August 21, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    5 stars
    YES!! LOVE 1-skillet easy and simple but DELICIOUS recipes like this. Right up my alley <3

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options. Read more about me and the blog...

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