This vegan tofu fried rice recipe ticks all the boxes for an easy, delicious, protein-rich meal ready in 20 minutes or less. Made with air fryer crispy tofu and vegetables, my plant-based veggie fried rice is bursting with flavors.
I love making this vegan veggie fried rice for a quick and easy meal option on weeknights and for school lunches too. Plus, it's a fantastic recipe to use up any leftover white basmati rice, clear out the fridge of veggies and protein. The best part is that it’s filling enough for a main dish or can be served as a side with cauliflower Manchurian or soy Manchurian.
What I love about my version is how quickly it comes together. While my tofu crisps up in the air fryer or oven, I start preparing the fried rice, and then it’s just a matter of assembling everything. It’s fast, flexible, and comes together so quickly that it feels like a healthier takeout option!
This recipe is Indo Chinese cuisine inspired, served in Indian restaurants.It tastes so good, you’ll wonder why you never tried it before.
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👩🏻🍳Sandhya's Expert Tips
- Add sauces over the rice, not the veggies — the rice gets coated in flavour while the veggies stay bright.
- Use cooked rice from the day before — day-old white basmati rice or brown basmati rice— so it keeps a bit of bite instead of turning soft.
- Cook the tofu separately — air fry, pan fry, or bake — to keep it deliciously crispy.
- For extra heat, stir in chilli flakes or sliced chillies while cooking, or finish with a drizzle of chilli oil.
- Add a splash of water if the rice feels too dry — it makes tossing everything together much easier.
📋Ingredients Needed for Tofu Fried Rice
- Extra firm tofu: I use Tofoo brand (UK). No pressing needed — just drain and it’s ready to cook.
- Cornstarch (cornflour): The secret to that restaurant-style golden crunch. Don’t skip it.
- Cooked rice: Cold, day-old leftover basmati rice or brown rice stays fluffy and easy to separate.
- Onion and spring onion: Both white and green parts for flavour and garnish; white onion for sautéing.
- Vegetables: Carrots, bell peppers, and peas — or swap in mushrooms, corn, or broccoli.
- Garlic and ginger: Freshly minced for the best flavour; ginger-garlic paste works too.
- Soy sauce: Light soy for classic taste. Use Tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free.
- Rice vinegar: Brings a gentle tang to balance flavours. I use it in my veggie fried rice recipe.
- White or black pepper: Adds mild heat and depth.
- Salt: Use lightly — soy sauce already seasons the dish.
- Chilli sauce: A touch of heat and extra flavour.
- Sunflower oil: For cooking tofu and veggies; swap with any neutral oil.
- Sesame oil: For that nutty, toasty finish.
🔪How to Make Crispy Tofu in Air Fryer / Oven / Pan?
To make veggie fried rice with tofu, start by preparing the tofu. Toss the tofu cubes with corn flour, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Air fryer method: Transfer the tofu to the air fryer basket and air fry at 180°C for 7–9 minutes until crispy.
- Oven method: Spread the tofu on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 12–15 minutes until crispy.
- Pan-fry method: Heat some oil in a large skillet and pan-fry the tofu for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on a paper towel–lined plate.
(See crispy tofu video in the recipe card below for the full method.)
🔪How to Make Tofu Fried Rice?
While the crispy tofu is being made in the air fryer, I prepare the fried rice.
Step 1. Heat sunflower oil in a pan/ skillet over medium heat. Add the diced white onion, scallions, ginger, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent.
Step 2. Add the bell peppers, carrots, and peas, and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
Step 3. Add the rice, sauces(over the rice), salt, and pepper. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for about 1 minute.
Top Tip: At this stage, this vegan fried rice is ready to serve. You can add any protein like scrambled egg, fried paneer, fried tofu or soya chunks too.
Step 4. Add the crispy tofu and a drizzle of sesame oil, then toss everything together.
Transfer vegan fried rice with crispy tofu to bowls, garnish with scallions and enjoy.
Variations and Substitutions
- Fried rice can be made with any kind of rice - jasmine rice, brown rice, or long grain rice.
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari sauce instead of soy sauce.
- To make this tofu fried rice low-carb, use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- You can also make tofu fried rice with scrambled large eggs or fried soy chunks. That's double dose of protein added.
- Vary the vegetables to change up the dish by using mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, or sweet corn or just air fryer veggies—literally anything you like in your rice dish.
- Have you got my Stir fry sauce stored in the refrigerator? Then simply add it to the rice, veggies and air fried crispy tofu for a quicker fried rice recipe.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve this tofu fried rice on its own as a main dish. If you want to serve it with a side, pair it with cauliflower Manchurian or cauliflower wings.
🧂Storing Leftovers
Store leftover tofu fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 5 days. To reheat, transfer the container to the microwave and heat thoroughly before serving. Alternatively, reheat in a skillet or wok on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Recipe FAQs
For tofu fried rice, I like to press extra-firm tofu first to remove excess water, then cut it into cubes. I either air fry or bake the tofu until crispy, then stir it into the fried rice during the last couple of minutes of cooking. This way, the tofu keeps its crispy edges while soaking up all the flavours from the rice and vegetables.
My simplest method to make crispy tofu is to air fry / bake. To make crispy tofu, I use extra-firm tofu, toss it with cornflour, soy sauce, salt, and pepper, then air fry at 180°C for 7–9 minutes until golden. You can also bake it at 180°C for 12–15 minutes. Both methods give you tofu that’s crisp on the outside and soft inside — perfect for fried rice, stir-fries, or salads.
Yes, you can freeze tofu fried rice. Just know that the tofu won’t stay as crispy after freezing and reheating, though the flavour will still be delicious. If I’m making it ahead, I sometimes freeze the fried rice separately and make fresh crispy tofu to stir in before serving.
More Easy Vegan Indo Chinese Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon sunflower oil
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 280 g extra firm tofu
- 2 tablespoon corn flour corn starch
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 small white onion diced
- ¼ cup mixed bell pepper yellow and red, diced
- ¼ cup green peas
- ¼ cup carrots diced
- 3 stalks spring onion thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoon soy sauce or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoon chili sauce or chili garlic sauce
Instructions
Prepare the Crispy Tofu:
- Pat dry the tofu and cut it into 1 cm cubes.280 g extra firm tofu
- In a medium bowl, add the tofu cubes, corn flour and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Toss to combine.280 g extra firm tofu, 2 tablespoon corn flour, 4 tablespoon soy sauce
- Transfer the tofu to the air fryer basket and air fry at 180°C for 7-9 minutes until crispy.
Cook the Fried Rice:
- While the tofu is cooking, heat a pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the sunflower oil, onion, white part of the spring onion ginger, garlic, and chilli (if using). Sauté for about a minute, ensuring they do not brown.2 tablespoon sunflower oil, 1 inch ginger, 1 small white onion, 3 stalks spring onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the mixed bell peppers, green peas, and carrots. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.¼ cup mixed bell pepper, ¼ cup green peas, ¼ cup carrots
- Add the cooked rice to the pan. Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli sauce, salt, and pepper over the rice. Gently toss the rice until all the ingredients are evenly mixed and the sauces are well incorporated.4 cups cooked rice, 4 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, 1-2 teaspoon chili sauce or chili garlic sauce, salt and pepper to taste
Combine and Serve:
- Add the crispy fried tofu to the rice mixture. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and toss to combine. Sprinkle the green parts of the scallion over the top.2 teaspoon sesame oil, 280 g extra firm tofu, 3 stalks spring onion
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Tips for Making Tofu Fried Rice
- Always add the sauces over the rice instead of the veggies. This way, the rice is colored with the sauce, and the veggies retain their bright colors.
- Use previously cooked rice, like day-old white basmati rice or brown rice, as it will still have a bit of bite, rather than soft fresh rice.
- Always Cook the tofu separately. Whether by air frying, pan frying, or baking, to keep it crispy.
- If you like it spicier, add chilli flakes or sliced chillies to the rice while cooking. Alternatively, finish with a drizzle of chilli oil.
- Add a splash of water, if the rice seems too dry. You will find it easier to toss together.
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