Szechuan Garlic Tofu with Green Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crispy pan-fried tofu tossed in a spicy-savory Szechuan sauce with fresh garlic and green onions, a simple yet flavorful weeknight dinner. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs firm tofu, vegetable oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Chinese cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

14 ounces, pressed and cut into 1-inch cubes firm tofu
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves, minced garlic
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon, toasted and ground Szechuan peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2, sliced green onions

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat 14 ounces pressed tofu cubes dry with paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu cubes and cook for 5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
Step 2: Add remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the skillet. Sauté 4 minced garlic cloves for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
Step 3: Stir in 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon ground Szechuan peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 4: Return tofu to skillet and toss to coat evenly. Cook for 2 minutes until tofu is fully coated and heated through.
Step 5: Stir in 2 sliced green onions and cook for 1 minute. Serve immediately.