Flavourful Cooking

Nº 59 · World Dishes · serves 4

Sweet and Sour Tofu with Peppers and Pineapple

Crispy tofu, peppers and pineapple in a glossy sweet and sour sauce, just like from the Chinese takeaway: completely plant-based, mild and ready with a pan of rice.

€7–9approx. €1.75–2.25 ppMildVegetarian20 min prepLOW 3–4 hrs · HIGH 1½–2 hrs
Sweet and Sour Tofu with Peppers and Pineapple

Ingredients serves 4

Tick off what you already have at home.

  • Any supermarket

    Aisle: conservas. 'En su jugo' means in juice; 'en almíbar' is in syrup.

  • MercadonaCarrefourTienda asiática

    Aisle: salsas / internacional. Look for 'baja en sal' or 'reducida en sal' among the soy sauces.

  • Any supermarket

    Aisle: frutería. Loose or in nets; purple garlic (ajo morado) is often the most aromatic.

  • MercadonaTienda asiáticaMercado municipal

    Aisle: frutería. Usually sold loose with the vegetables; breaking off a piece is fine.

  • MercadonaLidlCarrefour

    Aisle: lácteos / refrigerados. In the chilled section with the vegetarian products, next to seitan and hummus; Mercadona sells it as Hacendado tofu firme.

  • Any supermarket

    Aisle: harinas. Maizena is a brand; 'harina fina de maíz' is the same thing.

  • Any supermarket

    Aisle: frutería. Spanish 'cebolleta' is bigger than a spring onion; the green part is usable too.

  • MercadonaTienda asiáticaCarrefour

    Aisle: especias / frutos secos. Look in the spice or seeds section; Asian shops sell bigger bags.

To serve

  • Tienda asiáticaCarrefourLidl

    Aisle: arroz y pasta / internacional. Not always stocked; Asian shops reliably have it, often in large bags.

Method

  1. 1

    Stir the pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger together in the slow cooker. Keep the pineapple chunks covered in the fridge.

  2. 2

    Add the onion, pepper and carrot (optional) and toss. Don't add any water: the vegetables release their own liquid. Cook for 3–4 hours on LOW or 1½–2 hours on HIGH, until the vegetables are soft.

  3. 3

    Drain the tofu, pat it very dry with kitchen paper and cut it into 2 cm cubes. Toss the cubes in 2 tbsp cornflour and fry them in the oil for 8–10 minutes until golden all over. Meanwhile, cook the rice.

  4. 4

    Turn the slow cooker to HIGH. Mix the rest of the cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water and stir it into the sauce along with the pineapple chunks. Cook for another 15–20 minutes until the sauce is glossy and thickened.

  5. 5

    Only fold the tofu through just before serving, so the coating stays crispy. Sprinkle with spring onion (optional) and sesame seeds (optional) and serve with the rice.

Flavourful Cooking · slowcookerspain.com/en/recipes/sweet-and-sour-tofu-with-peppers-and-pineapple/