Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Recipe
Panda Express’s Eggplant Tofu is a bold, savory stir-fry where crispy tofu, tender eggplant and bell peppers are tossed in a sweet and spicy garlic sauce that’s as addictive as it is satisfying.
Make our Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Recipe at home. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Eggplant Tofu will taste just like Panda Express.
Photo by Rick Cox
Panda Express Eggplant Tofu
A Panda Express Copycat Recipe
To See ALL of Our Panda Express Copycat Recipes – Click HERE
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Panda Express
Panda Express, a renowned fast-food chain renowned for its fusion of American and Chinese cuisine, was born in California in 1983. What started as a single family-owned eatery has now blossomed into a global sensation, boasting a staggering 2,200+ locations worldwide. It proudly holds the distinction of being the largest Asian food restaurant chain in the United States.
Originally, Panda Express was synonymous with shopping mall food courts, offering a convenient dining option to mall-goers. However, its evolution has been nothing short of remarkable. While it maintains its presence in malls, the brand has diversified its footprint to encompass various settings. From freestanding restaurants, where patrons can savor their meals in a more relaxed ambiance, to unconventional locations like universities, casinos, airports, military bases, and amusement parks, Panda Express has adapted to meet the diverse needs and preferences of its ever-expanding customer base. This adaptability has allowed Panda Express to bring its distinctive blend of American Chinese cuisine to an array of audiences, reaffirming its commitment to making these delectable flavors accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Stir Fry Eggplant Tofu
Stir Fry Eggplant Tofu is a vibrant, plant-forward dish rooted in Chinese cuisine, particularly popular in Sichuan and Hunan provinces where bold flavors and spicy-sweet sauces are celebrated. This dish combines the creamy, tender texture of eggplant with the crispy or silky bite of tofu, creating a satisfying balance of flavor and mouthfeel that makes it a staple in both home kitchens and restaurants. While traditionally prepared with Chinese long eggplant for its tender skin and mild taste, Japanese or Italian eggplant can also be used, depending on regional availability.
The tofu, usually pressed and cubed, is either deep-fried or pan-fried until golden to provide structure and contrast. Eggplant slices are stir-fried separately until soft and lightly browned, absorbing flavor like a sponge. The ingredients are then brought together with a robust sauce, often made from a blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, hoisin, vinegar, and sometimes chili paste or fermented black bean sauce. A dash of sesame oil adds aromatic depth, and vegetables like bell peppers or onions may be included for color and crunch.
This dish gained popularity in Chinese-American cuisine as a flavorful vegetarian or vegan entrée, offered at many Asian restaurants including fast-casual spots like Panda Express. It’s commonly served over steamed rice or noodles, and pairs beautifully with jasmine rice, scallion pancakes, or even a side of simple cucumber salad for contrast.
Stir fry eggplant tofu is especially popular in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Southeast Asia, valued for its bold umami taste and satisfying texture. It showcases how humble ingredients can transform into a richly flavored and balanced meal, and has become a go-to favorite for those seeking meatless yet deeply savory comfort food with international flair.
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Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Recipe
Panda Express’s Eggplant Tofu is a bold, savory stir-fry where crispy tofu, tender eggplant and bell peppers are tossed in a sweet and spicy garlic sauce that’s as addictive as it is satisfying. Make our Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Recipe at home. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Eggplant Tofu will taste just like Panda Express.
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients
Tofu and Vegetables
- 1 block Extra-Firm Tofu pressed and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium Japanese Eggplant sliced into half-moons
- 1 small Red Bell Pepper sliced into thin strips
- 1 small Green Bell Pepper sliced into thin strips
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- Vegetable Oil for frying
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Lightly coat tofu cubes in cornstarch and set aside on a plate.
- Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add tofu cubes and fry until golden and crisp on all sides, about 6 - 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- In the same skillet, add sliced eggplant. Sauté until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add bell peppers. Cook another 2 - 3 minutes until just softened.
- Whisk together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
- Return tofu to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour in prepared sauce and toss everything to coat. Cook for another 2 - 3 minutes, letting sauce thicken and cling to each piece.
- Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice or noodles, garnished with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Panda Express Eggplant Tofu
A Panda Express Copycat Recipe
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Photo of “Spicy Eggplant with Tofu” is by Rick Cox and is used by permission under the Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.enlegalcode.en. Photo of “Panda Panda Panda Yum” is by Eric Mills and is used by permission under the Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0) Creative Commons License. Read the Full License Here – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode. Thank you, Rick and Eric. Great Pictures. Photos may be “representative” of the recipe and not the actual finished dish. All photo licenses listed were correct at the time of the posting of the page. Recipe is original to Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes. Recipe created by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes based on information from the restaurant and other sources on the internet – many courtesy of the Wayback Machine. Additional Information is from original research done by Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes and/or courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
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