Thai Tofu Basil Stir-Fry Recipe (Thai Tofu Recipe)

Last Updated On: February 2, 2026 by Aarti

Thai Vegetarian pad kra pow also known as Thai tofu basil stir fry is one of the popular Thai dishes all over the world. Traditional pad kra pow is made using ground pork or chicken, garlic, cayenne pepper, and Thai basil. This vegan twist on an authentic dish is delicious and will be a highlight on your family’s dinner table.

Basil Tofu Stir-Fry Recipe

You all know my love for pad kra pow from my chicken basil stir fry. One of the Thai dishes that I often make is that. Spicy chicken with fragrant Thai basil is a perfect combination with steamed jasmine rice and I make it every time I get Thai basil.

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About Pad Kra Pow Vegan

The last few months we have been on a vegetarian journey. So I gave some of my favorite dishes a vegetarian or vegan twist. One of the most loved dishes is this vegan pad kra pow.

The tofu pairs beautifully with the Thai basil and absorbs the flavors of the garlic, chili and sauce very well. I served it with steamed brown rice and everyone in the family loved it

Pad kra pow vegan which loosely translates to stir-fried basil tofu is a Thai vegetarian dish made by sautéing garlic, onions, red chilies with sauce, spices and finishing with basil leaves at the end. This is a vegetarian twist on the world famous Thai basil chicken stir fry.

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The recipe starts with mincing garlic, shallots, cayenne pepper, then frying in oil. Crushed tofu is added to the garlic along with sauce, seasonings and finished with Thai basil. This dish is packed with flavor and tastes so good with steamed rice.

When I made this dish I had leftovers, the next day I added rice to it and fried it in a pan to make basil fried rice quickly and easily and it tastes even better.

Ingredients

• taste – garlic, shallots and Thai bird’s eye chilies are coarsely ground to make a stir-fry base.
• Know – use extra firm tofu as the protein in this dish. Make sure to squeeze the tofu to remove excess water so the sauce is better absorbed.
• Sauces and seasonings – I use soy sauce, hoisin sauce, salt, sugar and ground white pepper as seasoning.
• Optional – You can use vegetables such as green beans, long beans or bell peppers.
• Basil leave – Thai basil leaves are ultimately used for the original aroma, but you can also use regular basil leaves.

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Step by Step Images

1) Place the garlic, shallots and Thai chilies in a food processor and roughly chop. Alternatively, you can chop it finely using a knife. Press the tofu in several layers of paper towel to remove excess moisture. Mash until smooth and set aside.

2) Garlic, chilies and shallots are crushed.

3) Heat oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the crushed garlic chili mixture and sauté briefly until the spices are absorbed into the oil.

4)Add the crushed tofu and stir with the garlic mixture over high heat for 2 minutes.

5)Add green beans and cook for 2 minutes on high.

6) Now the tofu has changed color and the green beans are tender.

8) Add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, salt, ground pepper, then stir well.

9)taste and adjust the seasoning.

10) Add Thai basil leaves at the end and stir.

11) Turn off the heat and serve with white rice.

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Expert tips

Know – choose the right tofu for this dish. Soft or silky tofu cannot be used in this recipe, instead use firm or extra firm tofu. Be sure to press the tofu with several layers of paper towel to remove excess moisture. Make sure to crush the tofu into fine crumbs so it mixes better with the sauce.

Taste – Be generous with the garlic, as it is a major flavouring. You can use onions instead of shallots. Adjust the amount of Thai red chilies depending on your taste and spice tolerance.

High heat to add flavor – use high heat to cook this dish for maximum flavor concentration.

Basil leave – Thai basil leaves are ultimately used for their natural aroma, but you can also use regular basil leaves.

Storage and Serving – vegan pad kra pow can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated when serving. This dish tastes best with steamed jasmine rice.

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