The tofu vegetable hot pot recipe in an old Cooking Light issue was one of the first meals I made after our household went completely dairy-free so many years ago. It was the beginning of my love for cooking, and a great introduction to plant-based cuisine. It isn’t truly a “hot pot,” since you don’t cook it at the table. But honestly, I’ve struggled to find a better name. It’s a “kitchen sink” type recipe with Thai and Cambodian influences, and has a curry vibe. But really, it doesn’t fit neatly into one specific type of recipe. Unless you count easy and delicious as a type.
Photo from myrecipes.com
Kitchen Sink Tofu Vegetable Hot Pot with Creamy Coconut Milk
Unlike Chinese-style stir-fries, this version has a fragrant, creamy sauce with rich flavors of turmeric, ginger, garlic, onions, soy sauce, and coconut milk. It isn’t really a curry, but the flavor does have a strong Thai food influence. Tony loves it, and he isn’t a curry fan, or a anywhere near a vegetarian for that matter.
Like most stir-fries, this Thai tofu recipe is a great way to use up any vegetables you have in the fridge. You don’t have to stick to the ones in the recipe. And if you prep the chopped ingredients, this meal can come together in 15 minutes! You can use leftover rice, or even cook the rice while you are cooking the stir-fry.
Special Diet Notes: Kitchen Sink Tofu Vegetable Hot Pot
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 cup thinly sliced shallots
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ serrano chile, seeded and thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms, baby bellas, or button mushrooms
- ½ cup sliced carrot
- 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
- ¼ to ½ cup water, as needed
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or wheat-free tamari (for gluten-free)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
- 1 pound water packed firm tofu, drained and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 2 tomatoes, cut into 1-inch thick wedges
- ½ cup torn fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice or brown rice
- 4 lime wedges, for serving
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute for 3 minutes. Add the ginger, turmeric, chile, and garlic, and saute for 1 minute. Add the cabbage, mushrooms, and carrot, and saute for 3 minutes.
- Stir in the coconut milk, ¼ cup water, soy sauce, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, add the tofu, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato and continue to cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it's too thick, add the remaining water as needed.
- Stir in the basil and green onions, turn off the heat, and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Serve over rice with lime wedges on the side for squeezing.
More Tofu & Vegetable Main Dishes
Spicy Grilled Tofu Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Golden Tofu and Mixed Vegetable Rice Bowl
Mexican Tofu Tortilla Salad with Avocado
