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    Home » All Recipes » Asian Recipes

    15 Minute Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow)

    Published: Mar 11, 2019 · Modified: Aug 19, 2020 by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 50 Comments

    11.2K shares
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

     


    Try this easy and fast recipe for vegetarian Thai basil tofu stir fry aka Tofu Pad Krapow. Stir fried ground tofu with garlic, ginger, and veggies in a spicy, savory soy sauce!

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) in a white bowl with chopsticks

    This vegetarian Thai basil tofu stir fry is so freaking delicious! Can you believe this is made with tofu? I usually make this dish when I'm rushed for time. As in, I'm about to head out to the nearest fast food joint and order something ungodly bad for me. That's when I realize, I can whip up this amazing Thai basil tofu in no time. I'm talking 15 minutes start to finish for an amazing, protein packed meal ready in no time!

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) in a white bowl with chopsticksThis is a dish I frequently order at Thai restaurants and it's called Pad Krapow, Pad Kra Pao.  It's usually made with ground meat, but tofu is an excellent substitute because it acts as a sponge and absorbs all of that savory, spicy soy sauce.

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) topped with fried egg in a white bowl with chopsticks

    Top with a crispy fried egg for extra goodness. The egg yolk adds a richness to the dish and melds all the flavors together. Mix it all together with rice and chow down. I promise this will be a favorite you'll come back to over and over again.

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) topped with fried egg in a white bowl

    Tips for Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Tofu Pad Krapow)

    Start with extra firm tofu. This is crucial because it holds less water and its texture is most similar to ground meat for stir fries. Soft tofu will be too watery and it's a completely different texture, almost pudding like. There are amazing things you can do with soft tofu but stir frying is not one of them!

    tofu on a plate with a fork with red peppers and green beans

    When you remove the tofu from the container, squeeze out as much water and you can. Really give it a good squeeze. Then grab some paper towels and press out some of the water even more. Your tofu will start breaking apart during the squeeze and that's totally fine. Next you want to break the tofu apart with your hands or fork to get 'ground' tofu.

    ground tofu in a dark pan

    Add your ground tofu into a hot pan with oil and stir fry it until it becomes dry. tofu, red peppers and green beans in a pan

    Then add your veggies and sauce and stir fry some more. Tofu, green beans, and red peppers in frying pan

    Turn off the heat and add in your Thai basil. Give it a good stir in the pan to let the Thai basil wilt a bit before serving.Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) in a white bowl with chopsticks

    And there you have it, Thai basil tofu stir fry ready in under 15 minutes! Make this today for a quick and easy meal.

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow) on a spoon

    I hope you make this Thai basil tofu stir fry, tofu Pad Krapow! Please share, rate, and comment below. 

    Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for recipe updates and occasional kitchen tips and tricks! Also come find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Stop by and leave me a message! I love reading your comments!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

    Jamie

    Check out these other Asian vegetarian recipes!

    PF Chang's vegetarian lettuce wraps with tofu, mushrooms, carrots, and lettuce on a wooden board
    PF Chang's Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps
    Thai peanut noodles in a bowl held by chopsticks
    Vegan Thai Peanut Noodles
    Spicy Asian cucumber salad with herbs and red pepper in a blue bowl next to garlic and chopsticks
    Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

    baked thai tofu satay skewers dipped in peanut satay sauce on a white plate with wooden board
    Baked Thai Tofu Satay
    pad see ew thai noodles on chopsticks with vegetables
    Pad See Ew Thai Noodles
    Chinese style dry fried garlic green beans, Din Tai Fung green beans
    Chinese Style Dry Fried Garlic Green Beans

    *This post may contain affiliate links which means any purchases made through my link pay out a small commission without any extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only recommend products that I know, personally use, and trust. For more information, please see my Privacy Policy.

    Vegetarian Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Tofu Pad Krapow) in a white bowl with chopsticks

    15 Minute Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry (Pad Krapow)

    Try this easy and fast recipe for vegetarian Thai basil tofu stir fry aka Tofu Pad Krapow. Stir fried ground tofu with garlic, ginger, and veggies in a spicy, savory soy sauce!
    5 from 116 votes
    Pin Share Print
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine Asian, Thai
    Servings 2

    Video

    ☑ Ingredients
     

    • 1 packet extra firm tofu - 16 oz (454 g)
    • 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
    • ½ large red bell pepper - sliced
    • ¾ cup green beans - cut to ½ inch long pieces
    • ½ medium onion - chopped
    • 1 cup Thai holy basil
    • 2 large eggs - optional
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Sauce Ingredients

    • 3 Tablespoons dark soy sauce
    • 2 ½ teaspoons brown sugar
    • 4 cloves garlic - chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger - grated
    • ½ teaspoon Thai chili pepper flakes - optional for spice, or add fresh Thai chili peppers
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Take your extra firm tofu and squeeze out as much water as you can with your hands and some paper towels. Next crumble it up with a fork or your hands to get 'ground' tofu.
    • Add the ground tofu to a hot pan with oil and saute until it becomes dry, about 5 minutes. Optional: meanwhile in a separate pan, cook two eggs sunny side up over high heat until the edges become crispy.
    • Add the sauce, bell peppers, green beans, and onions to the pan and saute everything together for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked but still crispy.
    • Season your tofu mixture with salt & pepper to taste. Tofu is pretty bland so it may need a pinch of salt. I added about ¼ teaspoon.
    • Turn off the heat and stir in your Thai basil and mix it together until the basil wilts.
    • Serve over rice and top with the crispy fried egg.

    ✎ Recipe Notes

    • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
    • Substitute other types of basil if you can't find Thai basil
    • Low carb options: 
      • serve over cauliflower rice
      • serve in lettuce cups
      • replace brown sugar with a few drops of liquid stevia
    • Additional veggies: broccoli, carrot, celery

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 211mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 316mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1875IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and give it a 5 star rating! Tag @drivemehungry to show off your creations! I love seeing your photos!

    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.

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    11.2K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Madhu Khaitan

      July 09, 2021 at 9:57 am

      This recipe is just perfect. Loved it

      Reply
      • Jamie

        July 09, 2021 at 5:50 pm

        Thanks Madhu! So happy to hear that! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Chiseche Rachel KapapaHey

      May 17, 2021 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      This dish is absolutely delicious. I licked my plate clean. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        June 09, 2021 at 2:07 am

        Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Erica

      March 18, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      5 stars
      I rarely rate online recipes but this recipe is so delicious that I have to give it five stars! It is so easy to make, yet packed with flavor. This is a restaurant-quality recipe. My family loves this dish. It comes out just as good as Pad Kaprow that I’ve had at nice Thai restaurants!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        March 19, 2021 at 3:43 am

        Thanks so much Erica! I'm so happy to hear your family loves this. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Christina

      February 20, 2021 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      Hey Jamie, I just tried this the other night but with firm tofu cubes, and it was a hit 🙂 Already got a request to make this again. Great flavor! I also appreciate how your ingredients and directions were straightforward and unfussy, so I didn't have to keep reading the directions over and over while cooking. Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Jamie

        February 24, 2021 at 8:36 pm

        Thanks Christina! So glad you liked this recipe! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Seems

      December 15, 2020 at 12:23 am

      5 stars
      I tried this with Impossible meat, and it was wonderful. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        December 17, 2020 at 1:40 am

        Thanks Seems, glad you liked it! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Bert

      October 02, 2020 at 4:29 am

      5 stars
      Outstanding dish. Simple to make with a great flavor profile. I will be making this one again.

      Reply
    7. Aubrey

      September 12, 2020 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      My Mum was given some tofu to try (a new brand!) and we were looking for some creative ways to use it. This dish was definitely my favourite - I think tofu needs a great flavour base, and this was the dish that really won me over. Thai basil is so delicious - I need to use it more!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        November 20, 2020 at 3:51 am

        Thanks Aubrey! This is definitely my favorite way to prepare tofu too! So happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    8. Christine

      September 10, 2020 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      I made this last night using Trader Joe's Super Firm tofu, which worked beautifully. I'd never used tofu to create a "ground meat" texture - so yummy! Thank you for this quick and easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        September 11, 2020 at 2:39 am

        Thanks Christine! I'm so glad you gave this a try! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Rita

      September 06, 2020 at 11:54 am

      5 stars
      I just made it and I love it! even my boyfriend who doesn’t like tofu loved it, he says it tastes like fried rice 😉 I was even more shocked when he asked me “do we have leftovers for dinner? wow, he really liked it. Thank you for this wonderful recipe 🌺

      Reply
      • Jamie

        November 20, 2020 at 3:43 am

        Thank you Rita! I'm so glad you and your boyfriend loved this! 🙂

        Reply
    10. Sylvia

      July 25, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      ABSOLUTELY delicious and so easy to make! Minimal number of ingredients with maximum taste! I'll certainly be making it again. So Yummy! I highly recommend anyone trying it.

      Reply
      • Sylvia

        July 25, 2020 at 1:41 pm

        BTW, I used the basil flowers to make a tea - so delicious basil meal all the way around!

        Reply
    11. Noel

      July 05, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      I am growing Thai basil and was looking for a recipe. Based on the reviews, I thought I would give this recipe a try. OMG! I didn't know something so simple could taste soooo good. I made it two days in a row. Simply delicious. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Noel

      July 05, 2020 at 6:25 pm

      I am growing Thai basil and was looking for a recipe. Based on the reviews I thought I would give this recipe a try. OMG! I didn't know something so simple could taste soooo good. I made it two days in a row. Simply delicious. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        July 05, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        Thanks Noel! So glad you enjoyed the thai basil tofu! It's one of my go to meals for something quick and delicious! 🙂

        Reply
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