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Spicy Gochujang Tomato Tofu

30 min

Main

10 ingredients or less

A spicy, umami and slightly sweet sauce coats chewy tofu pieces, cooked to golden perfection. This dish is super flavourful and made with only 7 ingredients, perfect as a quick weeknight meal or a lazy weekend dinner.

Servings

Total

30 min

Prep

14 min

Cook

16 min

Contains

Soy symbol

soy

Gluten symbol

gluten

Free from

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (185 g)
    uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 Tbsp (15 mL)
    vegetable oil
  • 11 oz (320 g)
    firm tofu, pressed, cut into 1 cm cubes
  • ¼ cup (72 g)
    gochujang chili paste, or less for less heat
  • 5
    cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 Tbsp (45 mL)
  • 2 Tbsp (28 g)
    brown sugar
  • 3½ cups (525 g)
    cherry tomatoes, halved

Optional garnish

  • toasted sesame seeds
  • sliced green onion

Directions

  1. Cook the rice according to the package instructions.
  2. Meanwhile, add the oil to a sauté pan over medium-high heat and cook the tofu until golden on all sides, about 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, mix the gochujang, garlic, soy sauce, and sugar in a bowl. Set aside.
  4. When the tofu is golden, transfer it to a plate. Add the tomatoes to the now-empty pan, and cook for 3 minutes.
  5. Then, add the sauce and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
  6. Stir in the tofu, then serve alongside the warm rice. Garnish as desired, and enjoy!

Storage

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Plate method

The Plate Method is a visual tool that helps us ensure our dietary needs are on track. Touch the image below to see how this recipe measures up.

Grains & Starches 38%

uncooked long-grain white rice

Proteins 16%

firm tofu

Fruits & Veggies 46%

clove garlic

cherry tomato

Calcium

firm tofu

Fat

vegetable oil

Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

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Liza - April 22, 2024, 5:34 p.m.

I made this for dinner last night and can't believe how easy and delicious it was! I used passage rather than cherry tomatoes as I didn't have any and I added a few fried mushrooms but OMG it was so full of flavour!
I'll definitely be making this again!

PUL Team - April 22, 2024, 9:08 p.m.

Woop woop! So glad it was a success, Liza 🙌


Dulcie - April 22, 2024, 8:51 a.m.

Some great Korean flavors. Simple yet DELICIOUS!


lisa - April 16, 2024, 4:50 a.m.

This was super easy and quick to make. I already had some leftover rice so all I really needed was to whip up the tofu and tomatoes together. The dish was really flavorful, will definitely keep making this!


Karen Coloma - April 15, 2024, 2:20 p.m.

Easy, quick and delicious!


Inu - April 15, 2024, 12:33 p.m.

Super tasty. Super quick home-office lunch. You need a few ingredients but will get a wonderful meal.
Will make again and again ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

PUL Team - April 15, 2024, 4:13 p.m.

Woop woop! This has been one of our favourite quick lunches these days too. Thanks, Inu ☺️


Mara - April 10, 2024, 2:56 p.m.

Absolutely delicious! Also works very well without the chilli (i cooked with and without for younger family members)

PUL Team - April 10, 2024, 7:06 p.m.

🙌 so happy to hear, Mara!


Luigi - April 6, 2024, 8:23 p.m.

Quick, easy, and delicious!


Lily White - April 6, 2024, 3:14 p.m.

Very nice 💯 🙂


Anna - April 4, 2024, 3:55 p.m.

This has become one of my favourite ways of preparing tofu!


Freya - April 3, 2024, 1:27 p.m.

This was super delicious! Exceeded my expectations. We only added 75% of the gochujang and it was the perfect spice level for us. We fried up some bok choy with sesame oil, garlic and soy sauce to go with it. Sensational! Will make again.

PUL Team - April 3, 2024, 6:54 p.m.

A lovely idea to adjust the spice level and serve it with bok choy, Freya! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to leave the review 💛


Laura - April 2, 2024, 6:23 p.m.

so easy and so yummy! LOVE
will be making this again


Ashwini - April 2, 2024, 5:19 p.m.

This was a good weeknight recipe! I added bokchoy too. I have a medium spice tolerance and this recipe had the perfect amount of spice (I also added a bit of maple syrup to it). Thanks for the recipe!!

PUL Team - April 2, 2024, 7:38 p.m.

Woop woop! It means a lot that the tofu recipe was enjoyed, Ashwini ☺️


Alejandra DMG - April 2, 2024, 3:29 p.m.

Very delicious! I might reduce the sugar slightly next time, but this recipe is a good combination of heat, richness, crunch… loved it!!!


Rose L - March 31, 2024, 8:19 p.m.

This was so wonderfully simple and tasty! Thank you!
I'm just starting out with a mostly vegan diet and this was a great intro to plant based :)

PUL Team - April 1, 2024, 8:34 a.m.

Aw thanks for welcoming us on your journey with plant foods, Rose! So glad the tofu was enjoyed 😊

Lily White - April 6, 2024, 3:16 p.m.

keep going on your vegan lifestyle🥺🥰


Kim Taylor - March 31, 2024, 8:55 a.m.

I've looking for an opportunity to try gochujang, and this recipe did the trick.


Lisa - March 31, 2024, 1:30 a.m.

Quick and great flavor.


Kyle - March 29, 2024, 4:12 a.m.

This is a wonderful recipe. Simple, fast and easy to customize.


Kyra - March 28, 2024, 1:40 p.m.

Delicious and easy! I added some frozen veggies (I cooked them first and then added the tomatoes), would recommend to make it even healthier & fulfilling. Great for lunch prep as well!


Mary Rosa - March 28, 2024, 2:24 a.m.

Absolutely delicious!! And surprisingly not too spicy for me to handle. This will become a go to recipe for sure 😋


Amelie Chatelain - March 27, 2024, 11 a.m.

I've made this recipe 3 times since it came out, I love it!
I have kind of an odd question: I would love to cook this to my Mum. Unfortunately, due to an illness, she cannot eat anything spicy 😞. What would be a good substitute for the gochujang to keep the umami and sauciness but make it not spicy? I reckon it's a bit odd since the gochujang is kind of the base of this dish but would rather ask. Thank you for all these gorgeous recipes ❤️

PUL Team - March 29, 2024, 3:05 p.m.

Hi Amelie, so glad this recipe was enjoyed! We haven't experimented with it, but you could make the base more tomato-y, by replacing the gochujang with tomato paste. Perhaps start with adding 3 Tbsp of tomato paste for 3 servings, then you could also experiment with adding a bit more soy sauce for the umaminess. Or add some sesame oil as well, which also pairs great with these ingredients. Let us know if you give it a go! 😊

Amelie Chatelain - April 1, 2024, 8:35 p.m.

Thank you for taking the time to make those lovely suggestions, I'll give it a try! 🥰


Annaka - March 26, 2024, 4:26 a.m.

Simple and delicious! Will make again


Floortje Washington - March 25, 2024, 6:47 p.m.

So easy to make and absolutely delicious!! I made it with normal tomatoes and it worked out perfectly. I can recommend making a simple side salad, went really well with the spice of the dish ✨


Vendula Cmolová - March 24, 2024, 7:18 p.m.

Amazing! I used sweet-chilli sauce instead of typical chilli - just to make it a bit more kids friendly - and it was delicious. Thank you!

PUL Team - March 24, 2024, 8:16 p.m.

Ooo thanks for the idea, Vendula! So glad the toy was enjoyed :)


Eva-Maria Treml - March 22, 2024, 11:02 a.m.

This is one of the best Tofu-Dishes I've ever had 🥰

PUL Team - March 23, 2024, 6:16 p.m.

What a big compliment, Eva-Maria, thank you! 😊


Vera - March 21, 2024, 12:59 p.m.

I took only 20g of Gochujang and it was already pretty spicy, but tasty!


Genesis Hargrave - March 21, 2024, 3:37 a.m.

LOVED IT! Will be making it again soon. My husband has the idea of tossing in some roasted broccoli, so I'll try that next time.

PUL Team - March 21, 2024, 4:46 p.m.

Mmm that sounds incredible, Genesis 🙌


Robyn - March 20, 2024, 10:45 p.m.

Simple and delicious!! 😋


clara - March 20, 2024, 8:05 p.m.

i had an open can of chopped tomatoes to use up so i used that instead of cherry tomatoes and it worked really well!! can’t wait to try it with actually cherry tomatoes though

PUL Team - March 20, 2024, 11:30 p.m.

Such a tasty twist, Clara, thank you! 🫶


Jack - March 20, 2024, 1:12 a.m.

This was amazing! The tomatoes are like vibrant little bursts of flavour from soaking up all the gochujang in the dressing.


Csenge Berta-Jenei - March 19, 2024, 4:34 p.m.

I will make it again! This was so delicious. I’m not a chili fan, but in this recipe was so tasty.


Kitty - March 19, 2024, 2:20 a.m.

So fast! (I cheated and airfried the tofu)
* I discovered that gochujang paste and sauce are different things. I caught it just in time. The sauce already has quite a bit of salt, so I reduced soy sauce to one tablespoon. This is great- I will make it again!

PUL Team - March 19, 2024, 4:42 a.m.

A lovely idea to air fry the tofu, Kitty! So glad it was enjoyed 😃


Luiza Freitas - March 18, 2024, 6:28 p.m.

Easy and delicious, but I'd recomend putting less gochujang. I followed the proportions in the recipe and it turned out strong. I balanced it with some yogurt.


Jennifer - March 18, 2024, 11:10 a.m.

Delicious! I used less than half of the recommended amount of gochujang, it still turned out great! Quick and easy to make

PUL Team - March 20, 2024, 8:30 p.m.

So glad that you enjoyed it, Jennifer!


Ashley - March 18, 2024, 1:25 a.m.

We used canned diced tomatoes because that's what we had, and it was delicious! Will make it again.


Tiana Bogaert - March 17, 2024, 11:33 p.m.

I love gochujang but never would have thought to cook it with tomatoes. Delish! Already looking forward to the leftovers.


Sabine Hein - March 17, 2024, 6:18 p.m.

Had to massively decrease the amount of gochujang due to baby mouth - but even then, this was still so delicious and very easy to make. Will absolutely make again!


Lenka Klapalová - March 17, 2024, 4:45 p.m.

This recipe is fire! I and my husband are loving it. We've put in a bit less gochujang but the final meal was still pretty spicy. Thank you for PUL-ling out such an easy and still so satisfying recipe!
(Yes, pun was absolutely intended 🤍)

PUL Team - March 19, 2024, 1:47 a.m.

Hehe love the pun, Lenka, and we're so glad that the tofu was enjoyed 😃


Aurinija - March 16, 2024, 10:12 a.m.

Made for late breakfast. Amazing taste and it is easy to make! Loved it 🍛


Lara - March 16, 2024, 3:44 a.m.

So quick and easy to put together, and just delicious!


Alix_ B - March 15, 2024, 6:27 p.m.

All ingredients where very good and of course I loved the tofu but I personally felt that the tomatoes made the sauce seem more like marinara.


Ritu - March 15, 2024, 1:23 p.m.

Used the very little cherry tomatoes I had. So yummy and so quick!! I added roasted broccoli for some veg.

Ritu - March 15, 2024, 1:25 p.m.

I used agave instead of brown sugar. Also, had no idea this was a new recipe! So good.


kat - March 14, 2024, 11:21 p.m.

Fast and delicious!!!!


Marianne - March 14, 2024, 7:53 p.m.

5 stars ⭐️ I made it for my husband and I and we both loved it so much! Will make it again for sure as it’s quick and easy! Thanks for the recipe ☺️

PUL Team - March 15, 2024, 9:13 p.m.

Woohoo! So glad that the recipe was enjoyed, Marianne, it means a lot 🤩


G - March 14, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

Looks so good! What other veg would you recommend to add? Would spinach be a good addition?

Ritu - March 15, 2024, 1:21 p.m.

I put in roasted broccoli!

PUL Team - March 15, 2024, 9:06 p.m.

Hey G, spinach would be a fantastic addition! Love the idea to use broccoli as well, Ritu 🙂 Some other ideas or bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini.


Maxime - March 14, 2024, 2:34 p.m.

I thought that Gojajang was nothing for me, but with the sugar this sauce tastes delicious! I really like that it is spicy yet somehow sweet!


Miroslawa Krol - March 14, 2024, 12:16 p.m.

Just the best!


Autumn Robertson - March 13, 2024, 10:02 p.m.

This dish was divine! I have a big tub of gochujang and I’m always looking for new ways to use it. The spice of the Gochujang with the cooked tomatoes, crispy tofu, and comforting rice was incredible. This will become a regular dish in my home. Thank you PUL 👏🏽👏🏽

PUL Team - March 13, 2024, 10:49 p.m.

A big tub sounds lovely, Autumn! So glad that the gochujang flavoured tofu was enjoyed 😃


Mays - March 13, 2024, 10:02 p.m.

This is such a good and versatile recipe!
I had some squash on hand, so I put it in the dish and it’s really good. I ate this with some fresh cucumbers and a side of kimchi, loved it!

PUL Team - March 13, 2024, 10:46 p.m.

Mmm sounds lovely, Mays! So glad that the tomato tofu was enjoyed :)


Anita - March 13, 2024, 7:41 p.m.

I wish there has been some heads up about how spicy the dish is. Definitely too much for my taste 😣 maybe some additional marking for such recipes? 🙏🏻

PUL Team - March 13, 2024, 7:43 p.m.

Hey Anita, oh no sorry to hear it! It's right there in the title but this is great feedback, we'll also add it into the ingredient notes to be even more clear :). In case it helps for now, if you're still looking to enjoy the dish, adding a bit more sweetener can help cut through some of the heat.


Elena Cruz - March 13, 2024, 2:36 p.m.

Oh my oh my it really is spicy ! It was soooooo good, will try adding a bit less sauce cuz I feel like fire!!! Amazing job as always♥️


james - March 13, 2024, 2:10 p.m.

You weren't kidding when you said 'flavor bomb'!


Flaminia - March 13, 2024, 11:39 a.m.

I loved it. Prepared it yesterday,filling, easy to make and an explosion of taste 🥰


Martunia - March 12, 2024, 5:58 p.m.

Oooh, that was spicy! I definitely recommend serving it alongside some fresh cucumber. Other than that, the recipe is great: quick, easy, and delicious!


Rika - March 12, 2024, 4:23 a.m.

soooo good!!! 🔥💖


Lisa - March 11, 2024, 9:40 p.m.

Another wonderful PUL recipe! I wondered if the sauce would take long, but it was super easy to put together. I didn’t have any tomatoes on hand (& it’s too frigid to venture out!) so I made this with spinach and it still turned out great. I’ll definitely be making this again and trying with different veggies. Thanks, Sadie!

PUL Team - March 11, 2024, 11:18 p.m.

Woop woop - so happy to hear that the recipe was enjoyed with spinach, Lisa! Happy experimenting 🤗


Mimi - March 11, 2024, 7:44 p.m.

This is a wonderful, quick and simple dish with amazing flavour!!!

The Gochujang wasn‘t as spicy as I expected, but definitely not mild.
I added some pickled red onions on top and I am considering adding broccoli or brussel sprouts next time for some more veggie action.

Thank you for your wonderful work to everyone at Pick Up Limes. Everything we tried in the last years was a treat for the taste buds.

(Thanks to my boyfriend for making this tonight) :D

PUL Team - March 11, 2024, 7:49 p.m.

Aw how nice of your boyfriend to make it, Mimi! It means a lot that the recipe was enjoyed and love the veggie action additions. Thank you for sharing your love and light 💛


Daniela - March 11, 2024, 6:31 p.m.

First time we tried gochujang but definitelly not the last one :). Very nice recipe for spice and tofu lovers! Simple, easy but full of taste!

PUL Team - March 11, 2024, 7:46 p.m.

Ooo welcome to the world of gochujang, Daniela! So happy to hear that it was a success 🙌


Julia - March 11, 2024, 12:21 p.m.

Wow! We loved it 😍😍 The dish was super easy to prepare and tasted amazing. It was a little too spicy for me, so next time I’ll use a little less gochujang!


Jo - March 10, 2024, 9:11 p.m.

Holy moly! This is a flavor bomb. Would 100% make again! Great way to use up access tomatoes or fresh garden tomatoes.

PUL Team - March 11, 2024, 7:46 p.m.

Yay we're so thrilled that the Gochujang Tomato Tofu was enjoyed, Jo! Thank you 🤗


Richard Bonomo - March 10, 2024, 8:52 p.m.

Even tastier than it looks!