Quick and Easy Vegan Fried Rice: Add a Tofu Twist for Extra Deliciousness

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Our family loves Asian-style meals with veggies and tofu and this Vegan Fried Rice recipe is a favorite weeknight meal. I always make extra, so we have plenty of leftovers for lunch that week. The leftovers heat up nicely in the microwave so it’s the perfect candidate to take for school or office lunches. There are just a few key steps that are mentioned below. If you like to meal prep on the weekends, Vegan fried rice comes together in less than 10 minutes.

I love this recipe because it’s so customizable. You can use whatever veggies your family likes and have on hand. The sauce is made of 3 pantry staple ingredients. You can make it as spicy as you want.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating this fried rice recipe. From the aromatic ginger/garlic paste to the vibrant assortment of mixed vegetables and the crispy air-fried tofu, each component adds its own unique touch. With the perfect balance of light soy sauce, maple syrup, and a kick of chili garlic sauce, this dish is a delightful blend of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. Whether you follow a vegan lifestyle or simply enjoy plant-based meals, this vegan fried rice with tofu recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Recipe outline for Vegan Fried Rice with Tofu

Ingredients used to make Vegan Fried Rice

5 cups cooked Brown or White Rice (See note)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons ginger/garlic paste
3 cups mixed vegetables (combination of green/red peppers, baby corn, peas, edamame, carrots
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
4 stalks green onions, chopped
1 recipe of Airfried Tofu
½ cup Light Soy Sauce use tamari if Gluten- free
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2-4 teaspoons of Chili garlic sauce

How to make Vegan Fried rice with Tofu

There are 3 important steps to make Vegan fried rice:

Cooking rice
Airfried Tofu
Cooking Vegetables

Cooking rice

I generally use brown rice to make Vegan Fried Rice but you can use white rice or even quinoa. This is one of the most important steps to make fried rice. Your rice should be cooked and completely cooled before making the fried rice. It’s best to use day-old leftover rice that has been in the refrigerator overnight. If you don’t have leftovers, boil the rice a day before or even a few hours prior and place it in the refrigerator. You can boil the rice as part of meal prep over the weekend.

Airfry Tofu

Airfrying tofu is my new favorite way of cooking tofu. First, I like the method since it’s hands off and you can work on other things while the tofu is cooking. Second, I like the texture of the tofu a bit more than the stovetop-cooked tofu. It is a bit chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. Airfried tofu can be used in so many different ways- in Buddha bowls, tacos, stir-fries, etc. It can also be made as part of meal prep over the weekend.

How to use tofu in this vegan fried rice recipe?

Drain the tofu and press it down for about an hour to remove the extra water.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut the block of tofu into ¾-inch square pieces.
In a flat container, mix the soy sauce, oil, maple syrup, and chili garlic sauce.
Marinate the tofu pieces in the sauce for 10 minutes.
Arrange the marinated tofu pieces on a baking sheet in one layer.
Bake for 8-10 minutes till the tofu is slightly cooked. It will be a bit chewy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Cooking Vegetables

My vegetables of choice for this dish are red and green peppers, carrots and fresh baby corn (if you can find it), and broccoli. But you can also use, peas, edamame, and green beans if you wish. Except broccoli the size of the other vegetables is kept uniform, about a ¼ inch dice. We also cook them for 2 minutes before we add the slightly bigger broccoli pieces. That’s because broccoli cooks faster and no one likes mushy broccoli, at least I don’t! Chopping veggies is half the battle in making this Vegan fried rice. So I would suggest chopping the veggies as part of your weekend meal prep.

How to fry vegetables for vegan fried rice

In a large wok or frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil.
When heated, add the ginger garlic paste and cook for 1 minute.
Add the mixed vegetables and cook on high flame for 2 minutes.
Now add the broccoli florets and cook for 2 more minutes.
Add half of the prepared sauce to the vegetables and stir.
Add the cooked rice to the vegetables and add the remaining sauce.
Stir to combine.
Add the baked tofu to the fried rice and finish with chopped green onions.

Once you have these 3 steps done, the fried rice comes together in less than 10 minutes!

Recipe tips to make Vegan Fried Rice

Here are a few tips to help you make the best possible version of this vegan fried rice recipe:

It is best to use day-old refrigerated rice to make fried rice.
Use vegetables of your choice but be sure to cut them into similar size pieces.
If you do not own an air fryer, you can also bake or sauté the tofu on the stovetop.
Adjust the seasoning- soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and maple syrup to your liking and preference.

FAQs- Vegan Fried Rice

Can this Vegan Fried rice recipe be made gluten-free?

This vegan recipe can be made Gluten- free if you use tamari instead of soy sauce.

How can I meal prep for this recipe?

Rice can be cooked, veggies can be chopped and tofu can be air fried ahead of time on the weekend while meal prepping. Once that is done, the vegan fried rice recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes for a quick weekday lunch.

Other Asian-style meals with Tofu

Vegetable and tofu stir fry

Pineapple and tofu stir fry

Vegetable and tofu stir fry

Try this recipe

Pineapple and tofu stir fry

Try this recipe

Recipe Card: Vegan Fried Rice