A most delicious and easy-to-make vegan stir fry with loads of vegetables and tofu makes these Sweet and sour vegetables one of my favorites. Serve it with some brown or jasmine rice; you will never need the take-out again.
My husband is a big fan of Sweet and Sour Vegetables. This is one thing he always orders when we do take-out from a Chinese restaurant. Many restaurants do not have the vegetarian version or the flavors are not up to what he likes in most places.
The only way out of this is by making the sweet and sour vegetable curry at home.
Why make this recipe
- First and foremost, you won't have to go in search of a take-out.
- It is so easy to make and literally takes less than 30 minutes.
- Add as many vegetables as you like and I see it as a great way to use up all the leftover bits and pieces of vegetables that are in the refrigerator.
- The sauce is so flavorful and can be easily modified to more sweeter or spicier version.
- Last but not least, it is healthy.
How to serve the sweet and sour vegetables?
I usually pair it with rice. My two favorite kinds are the brown rice and jasmine rice. If you want to take it up one level higher, try serving it with this delicious and easy garlic fried rice.
We can also serve it over noodles. My pick would be this vegetable hakka noodles or Vegetable Lo mein.
Ingredients
To make the curry -
Check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements and printable detailed recipes.
- Tofu - I use extra firm or firm tofu.
- Pineapples - fresh or canned
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Mixed vegetables - I used onion, cabbage, bell pepper, carrots and zucchini.
- Oil
To make the sauce -
- Pineapple juice
- Rice vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce
- Hot sauce
Step-by-step process
Make the sauce - Mix all the ingredients needed (1).
- Process the tofu - Drain, dry, cube, and shallow fry (2 & 3). We could also air fry the tofu. Lately, I have been using my air fryer to fry the tofu.
- Make the sweet and sour vegetables - Saute the vegetables (4 & 5), add the sauce (6), and add the pineapple and tofu (7).
Frequently asked question
We can add any vegetables that we would for a stir fry. I usually add onion, cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, broccoli and zucchini. We could also add mushrooms.
Pineapple is what gives the sweet component of the sweet and sour. I would not skip it.
It is a personal preference and we can add any that we have in hand. I like to make this curry anytime I buy a fresh pineapple. But I also always have couple of canned pineapples at home for the ease.
I always go with an extra firm or firm tofu. make sure to drain it and squeeze all the extra moisture before proceeding.
Chop all the vegetables and keep them ready. The tofu can be left to drain inside the refrigerator. Also, make the sauce and refrigerate. All we have to do is cook and serve.
we could use orange juice, broth or even plain water.
Dishes That Pair Well With This Recipe
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | twitter
Recipe
Sweet and Sour Vegetables
Equipment
- wok
Ingredients
- 1 block Extra firm or firm tofu 14 or 16 oz
- 1 cup Pineapples canned or fresh
- 1 Carrot cut into circles or small cubes
- 1 Onion Sliced
- 1 Bell pepper any color of your choice (Cut into small cubes)
- 1 Zucchini sliced
- 1 cup Baby Bok Choy or cabbage chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger grated
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon Vegetable oil
To make the sauce –
- 1 cup Pineapple juice drained from the canned pineapple or fresh
- 4 tablespoon Rice vinegar can be substituted with regular vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Corn starch mixed with 4 tablespoon of water
- 3 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon Soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon Hot sauce depending on your spice level
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients listed under the sauce and keep aside.
- Drain the tofu and pat it dry. I generally wrap the drained tofu in between layers of paper towels or kitchen cloth and place some weight on it to drain all the water out of it. After about 15 mins, cut the tofu into 1 inch cubes. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or a large pan and add the cut tofu. Shallow fry it until light golden brown, drain and keep aside.
- After removing the tofu from the wok, add the remaining 2 tablespoon of oil in the same wok. Once the oil heats up add the sliced onions and sauté until light brown.
- Then add the ginger and garlic and fry for a minute.Now add all the chopped vegetables except the Bok Choy and stir fry on high heat until cooked but still has a crunch.
- Now add the Bok Choy and cook for 3-4 more mins until the Bok Choy softens a bit.
- Mix the prepared sauce well and add it to the vegetables.
- Let the sauce come to a boil and then add the pineapple chunks and the fried tofu to the curry.
- Let the curry simmer for 3-4 mins until it thickens to the desired consistency.Serve hot over rice.
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
Chinese style sweet and sour vegetables look inviting. Packed with flavours and textures that can be enjoyed any day.
Sapana says
My family also loves the sweet and sour vegetables with jasmine rice. I love how versatile this recipe is and personally I prefer the spicier version. But always have to make sweet version for my girls. Wonderful recipe.
Archana says
Wow! That sounds amazing. Actually, we are not fans of sweet-sour vegetables but you are now tempting me to try it out! Sounds absolutely yum.
Vandana says
That sounds so delicious and healthy. I love Asian food so can't want to try this recipe and enjoy it with some Jasmine rice.
Uma Srinivas says
I love this combo of vegetables and sauce! Perfect with rice and I would love to add some crushed red pepper on top!
Seema Sriram says
Oh wow, Pineapples and tofu, I will stop there as I am sure to try the recipe. It looks amazing and will be so easy for my kids to have as well.
Bless my food by Payal says
Such an amazing recipe with uncommon ingredients. Sweet and sour together in a Vegetables gives immense excitement and one would love to try it for sure.
Reshmi Mahesh says
Curry looks delicious and I loved the ingredients that went into it..yum..
Swathi Iyer says
Delicious curry looks perfect meal Sandhya.
divya says
looks mouthwatering...just delicious!
Janani says
yummmm sandhya love the perfect finish with that rice.do u still have more left out???I am coming home right away.....
Priya Suresh says
Thats a very pleasing and inviting dish,excellent dish to enjoy with a bowl of rice.