30-Minute Vegan Spicy Noodles with Pan-Fried Tofu

The amount of sambal oelek you want to use depends on your desired level of spice. Personally, I prefer using 4 tablespoons because the noodles will be spicy but not overpowering with spice. However, 2 or 3 tablespoons may be enough for others. You can also substitute the brown sugar with other types of sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, maple syrup or honey (if you’re not vegan).

• Author: Lisa Lin
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Tofu

• 16 ounces super firm tofu (see note 1)
• 2 tablespoons safflower oil (see note 2)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Sambal Noodles

• 10 ounces rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons safflower oil
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 3 to 4 tablespoons sambal oelek
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander (optional)
• 1/4 cup canned coconut milk
• sliced scallions for garnish

Instructions

Pan Fry Tofu

1. Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch slices. Then, cut them in half to get 2 smaller rectangles. Finally, take each rectangle and slice them diagonally to get small tofu triangles.
2. Heat a large nonstick pan with 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the tofu to the pan. If all the tofu doesn’t fit inside the pan, fry the tofu in 2 batches.
3. Pan fry the tofu for 3 to 4 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown. Then, flip over the tofu and pan fry the other side for another 3 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and leave the tofu in the pan and set aside. 

Cook Noodles

1. In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to boil. Add the rice noodles and cook them according to the package directions (I cooked mine for 5 to 6 minutes). Stir the noodles frequently to keep them from sticking together. This is particularly important when you first add the noodles to the saucepan. 
2. Once the noodles are cooked, drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water (see note 3).

Cook Sauce & Noodles

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook them for about 3 minutes, until they soften. Next, add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook them for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
2. Add the tomato sauce, sambal oelek, brown sugar, salt, and coriander (if using) to the skillet. Stir to combine. Cover the skillet with the lid, and let the sauce cook for several minutes, until bubbly.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. Uncover the skillet, add the coconut milk, and stir to combine.
5. Scoop out 1/3 cup of the sauce and toss it with the tofu.
6. Add the rice noodles to the remaining sauce and toss to coat the noodles with the sauce. Turn off the heat.
7. Serve the noodles with the tofu. Garnish with sliced scallions, if desired. 

Notes

1. You can also use extra-firm tofu for this recipe. Drain the block of tofu, wrap it in a layer of paper towels, and press it under a stack of plates for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. You can use any neutral-flavored oil in this recipe, such as canola oil, vegetable oil, etc.
3. If you are cooking these noodles before you even start pan-frying the tofu, toss the cooked and rinsed noodles with 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil. This will prevent the noodles from getting gummy and sticking together.