Sesame Garlic Tofu and Turmeric Jasmine Rice

Sticky sesame garlic tofu over a bed of turmeric jasmine rice and a side of fresh steamed broccoli. This meal is simple, quick, and easy.

Overview

For this recipe we lean on a microwave, CorningWare dish, and an air fryer to do the heavy lifting. However, if you have a preferred method for steaming broccoli and baking tofu then those can be easily substituted in this recipe.

Once the prep work is out of the way this meal comes together very quickly. Which makes it a great choice for lunch or dinner.

If perfectly steamed broccoli and crispy tofu with sticky sesame garlic sauce sounds intriguing then you are in the right place. In the following section we will walk through the cooking process in depth. The methods discussed are also shown in the accompanying YouTube video below.

Cooking Notes

Start by cutting the broccoli into florets. The stems don’t have to be short. In fact, if a few of the florets remain connected then that would also be okay. The method used to steam the broccoli is very forgiving in this regard.

Place the broccoli florets in a 2 liter CorningWare rectangle dish. Add just enough water to barely cover the bottom of the dish. When I was first learning how to steam broccoli with a CorningWare the process was described to me as, “we want to steam the broccoli; not boil it.” Which is to say that a little water goes a long way. Add some salt to the top of the broccoli, add the lid, and then set off to the side for now.

For this recipe we used extra firm tofu but firm tofu should also work nicely. After removing the block of tofu from the packaging use a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Then cube the tofu into roughly one inch squares.

If you opt to cut the cubes smaller be mindful that the time needed to cook them in the air fryer will also be less. Put the cubed tofu into a medium mixing bowl and add the tofu marinade ingredients. Fold the tofu with a silicone spatula to evenly coat the tofu.

Use a two cup measuring cup, or small microwave safe bowl, and add the 1/2 cup water and microwave for 30 seconds. Then add the remaining garlic sauce ingredients. The heated water will help the other ingredients to dissolve.

Place half the tofu in an air fryer basket. Or if you have a newer and larger air fryer then it would be okay to add all the tofu. Bake at 400ºF for 5 minutes. Shake the basket and use a silicone spatula to ensure the tofu is not sticking to each other. Repeat until the tofu is golden. Depending on the make, model, or size of your air fryer this could be between 10 – 15 minutes.

In a small (1.5 – 2 quart) sauce pan add the water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Add the turmeric, rice, and peas. Stir to incorporate and then add the lid and turn the heat down to between medium-low and low. Cook for 15 minutes. Once the time has elapsed remove the sauce pan from the burner but leave the lid on to allow the rice to continue to cook. Fluff the rice with a fork when you are ready to serve.

Steam the broccoli by placing the CorningWare dish with the broccoli in the microwave. Cook for six minutes. When the microwave counts down to zero use pot holders or oven mitts to turn the CorningWare dish 90º and turn the lid so that it is slightly cracked. Then microwave again for another six minutes. Once the broccoli is done use pot holders or oven mitts to turn the lid so that it is secure on the CorningWare dish and remove the dish from the microwave.

While the broccoli is steaming in the microwave bring a skillet up to medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the air fried tofu and the garlic sauce. Stir the mixture frequently and cook until the sauce thickens.

To serve add the turmeric jasmine rice to the bottom of a bowl. Then on one side add the sesame garlic tofu and on the other add the steamed broccoli. Garnish with sesame seeds or topping of choice and enjoy!

Substitutions and Variations

Broccoli – an easy substitution, in place of broccoli, would be steamed cauliflower.

Tofu – tempeh or tofu knots would be an easy switch. Instead of air frying you can just sauté them.

Turmeric Jasmine Rice – if you don’t have powdered turmeric on hand you could just cook plain jasmine rice. This recipe also works well with other grains such as white rice, brown rice, or quinoa. These other grains will have different cooking requirements so reference the cooking instructions on the packaging.

Storage

Place the jasmine rice on the bottom of your storage container of choice. I usually use these Pyrex containers to store my leftovers. Add the broccoli and tofu on top and store in the refrigerator. This meal should store for up to three or four days before the freshness starts to taper off.

If you liked this recipe be sure to check out our other recipes below:

• Sticky Tofu and Broccoli Quinoa Bowl
• Peanut Curry with Tofu and Veggies
• Sticky Orange Tofu Knots with Veggies
• Coconut Curry Tofu Knots