Teens will love the way the ingredients combine to make the tofu bits crispy and–you guessed it–fiery! Paired with savory brown rice noodles and a creamy sesame sauce, this recipe is sure to awaken your taste buds and make you a tofu fan by the end of the meal! Whether you’re new to tofu and trying it out for Meatless Monday, or if you already follow a vegetarian diet, this recipe is a keeper!
Ingredients
For the Firecracker Sauce:
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (nut butter or nut-free butter substitute option)
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup sesame oil
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp chili paste (like sambal oelek) ++ for extra fire!
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- A small knob of fresh ginger, peeled
- A clove of fresh garlic, peeled
For the Lettuce Wraps:
- 1 container extra firm tofu
- 4 oz brown rice noodles
- Lettuce leaves for wrapping
- Peanuts, cilantro, lime for serving
Preparation
Noodle Prep: Soak your noodles in a bowl of lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes while preparing the rest of the recipe. You want the noodles to be soft and flexible.
*This is important. If you don’t soak the noodles long enough, they will require more liquid in the pan to cook which makes them boil into a big glob. Be sure to soak them until they are very, very soft–almost ready to eat soft.
Sauce: Blend all the sauce ingredients together in a small blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
Tofu: Press the tofu with a few paper towels to remove moisture. Cut the tofu into small pieces. Heat a little oil in a nonstick skillet. Add your tofu. Stir-fry until golden brown. Add about half of the sauce to the pan. Stir-fry for another 3 to 5 minutes. As the sauce browns, it will form small, crispy pieces around the tofu. Transfer tofu to a bowl.
Noodles: Drain and rinse your noodles. Add another swish of oil to the pan and throw the noodles in. Add about half of the remaining sauce. Stir fry for just a minute or two until coated. Add a splash of water if it’s too sticky. Remove from heat immediately and toss with the tofu.
Wrap It Up: Fill your butter lettuce leaves with the noodle/tofu mixture. Option to top with peanuts, cashews, cilantro, scallions, lime, and/or Sriracha.
Alternatives
Protein Options: It’s easy to swap the tofu out with your protein of choice, such as ground chicken!