Zucchini Stir Fry With Tofu (Vegan)

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 block tofu (firm or extra firm)

Avocado oil spray (or other cooking spray/oil)

1 small shallot, thinly sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups zucchini, chopped into 1/2-inch half moons (approx. 2 medium-large zucchini)

3 cups carrots, peeled + chopped (about 4 regular carrots)

1 large bell pepper, cored + chopped (I used red)

Salt + pepper, to taste

Optional garnish: chopped green onion, chopped parsley, toasted sesame seeds

2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil

3 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce

1/2 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tsp freshly grated)

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

2 tsp cornstarch (or other thickening starch)

Directions

Prep Tofu: Drain tofu and wrap with a paper towel. Gently squeeze to remove excess liquid, then place under something heavy (like a couple cookbooks) while you prep the veggies and sauce.

Mix cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of water in a small ramekin, until a slurry forms. Then, make the sauce by whisking all sauce ingredients (including the cornstarch slurry) in a small bowl. Set aside.

Unwrap tofu from paper towel and cut into cubes of desired size.

Heat cooking spray in a large pan over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add tofu and season with salt + pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, undisturbed. Then flip each piece and cook for an additional 5 minutes, finishing with a quick toss of the pan at the end. Remove and set tofu aside in a clean bowl.

In the same pan, cook shallots and garlic for a couple minutes until lightly browned and fragrant.

Then, add chopped zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers to the pan. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. TIP: you can add additional cooking oil or spray as needed here. Do not salt veggies yet, to prevent zucchini from getting soggy!

Once veggies are mostly cooked, add tofu back in along with sauce. Toss together and cook for an additional 3 minutes. The sauce should thicken slightly and coat everything.

Serve stir fry on its own or over some cooked grains or noodles (see notes for ideas). Add garnish as desired and season with additional salt + pepper, if needed. Enjoy hot!