Copycat Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Stir Fry

If you have always loved eggplant tofu but Panda Express doesn’t serve it near your location anymore or if you always wanted to try it but never had a chance, you should fry up your skillet now and make this tofu, eggplant, and bell pepper dish stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce.

If you are looking for more copycat Panda Express recipes, you should try first and foremost the best vegan version of their famous orange chicken. For even more copycat recipes, check out this copycat IKEA veggie balls, this copycat Chipotle veggie bowl, or this copycat Chipotle veggie burrito with fajita veggies. More to come I promise. Email us which copycat recipe you would like to see next.

What to expect from this recipe?

If you ever wanted to go to Panda Express, you may already know what they publicly confirmed in a 2019 article in VegNews while some dishes don’t have animal products, “all items are cooked and prepped in the same shared facilities”.

In 2022 vegan menu items in Panda Express are super greens mixed veggies, eggplant tofu, chow mein, vegetable spring roll, steamed white and brown rice as well as 7 types of sauces. However, eggplant tofu is a regional dish and it is only available in 8% of US restaurants. So you’re best chance to eat it is to make it at home.

In this recipe, we tried to mimic the taste and texture as best as we could but we also tried to make it healthier. What Panda Express says about this dish is that “it boasts of the delicate flavors of the lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce”. However, what Mashed says about it is that “it is too fatty and sugary“.

We took these two things and came up with a version that tastes amazing without having any of the above flaws. According to their nutritional calculator 1 serving size of 6.10 oz is 340 calories and has 24g of total fat. Compared to our recipe, where an approximately same serving size is only 168 calories and has 7g of fat.

Ingredients

So what do you need to make Panda Express eggplant tofu recipe at home? Apart from the obvious vegetables you see in this dish, the heart of this recipe is in the sauce.

• Eggplant -> They come in various types. What you see in the photo is a globe eggplant. But if you can, try using Japanese eggplant since they have a thinner skin which makes for a tastier eggplant stir fry.
• Tofu -> We recommend using a firm or extra-firm tofu since they are easier to turn crispy.
• Red peppers -> Any color really, but Panda Express uses the red one since it makes the dish bright and colorful.
• Ginger -> Use fresh if you can.
• Garlic -> Use fresh if you can.
• Optional toppings: sesame seeds, chopped green onion, red pepper flakes

Sweet & spicy sauce

• Spicy chili paste – We used sriracha in this recipe, but you can use any of your favorites from around the world may it be sambal oelek, peri peri, gochujang, or harissa.
• Sesame oil – All Asian-inspired recipes are better with sesame oil than with regular sunflower oil.
• Rice vinegar -> Make sure to check if you use a gluten-free vinegar
• Soy sauce -> To make it gluten-free chose one of the 5 best gluten-free soy sauce substitutes.
• Sweet chili sauce -> We recommend using this brand since it is not only vegan but is also labeled gluten-free.
• Hoisin sauce -> We recommend this brand since it is certified gluten-free.
• Vegetable broth
• Cornstarch -> Alternatively, you can use any other thickener like tapioca or arrowroot.

🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Instructions

Preparing the ingredients

• While we love a variety of shapes and sizes, if you want to mimic the original Panda Express eggplant tofu dish, you need to cut them into small thick triangles.
• Once again, if you want the Panda Express experience wash and cut the eggplant into larger chunks leaving the peel on.
• Wash and cut bell peppers into larger chunks as well.
• Peel and mince garlic and ginger.
• Take a small bowl and whisk together all ingredients for the sweet & spicy sauce.

Stir-frying

1. Take a large skillet, wok, or non-stick frying pan and preheat it to medium-high heat.
2. Add vegetable oil and cubed tofu.
3. Fry them for 6-8 minutes until all sides are golden brown and the texture is puffy and crispy (see the below photo as reference). When they are ready, set them aside. We usually place them on a plate with a paper towel to drain any excess oil.

4. Take the same skillet and saute minced garlic and ginger in the leftover oil for approx. 1 minute over medium heat.
5. Turn it to high heat and stir fry eggplant and bell pepper chunks (photo #1) for 6-8 minutes. If eggplant absorbs the oil and it starts to dry out much, add extra Tablespoons of oil.
6. Add the sweet and spicy sauce (photo #2) and fry them for 2-3 minutes until the corn starch activates and the sauce thickens and glazes the vegetables.
7. Finally, add the pre-fried crispy tofu (photo #3) and stir them well. Serve and enjoy!

What to serve with it?

So what to serve with this sweet & spicy eggplant tofu recipe? It is an entree at Panda Express, which means they usually serve it with steamed rice, mixed veggies, or chow mein noodles. You can sprinkle it with some sesame seeds and chopped green onion which suits most Asian dishes.

We also have even more garnish ideas if you are interested:

• Other grains like quinoa, millet, or buckwheat
• Fried rice
• Riced sweet potato or cauliflower rice
• Noodles (not all noodles are gluten-free)
• Any green salad or side salad

Top tips to make it perfectly

• Cut them evenly – You have a better chance of making it quickly if you cut all ingredients the same size. This means all tofu cubes should be even. Bell pepper chunks are cut the same. As well as eggplant chunks should be as even as possible.
• Frying is about high heat – It is not a sauteed eggplant recipe, where it gets soggy after absorbing oil or other liquids. It is frying on high heat. This means that the vegetables will stay crunchy at the end rather than soft.
• Japanese eggplant compared it Globe eggplants – If you don’t like crunchy eggplant, we recommend using the Japanese type. It is softer, and smaller with a thinner peel. That is why it is also quicker to make tender.
• How to cut tofu? You can use a variety of shapes and sizes (cubes, steak slices, triangles, thin slices, or torn into bites) if you don’t want to cut them into chubby triangle-shaped cubes.

FAQs and substitutions

What else can you add?

It is an entree. So if you serve it with rice or other grains you have a complete meal. We don’t think you need anything else really. You already have tofu as protein. But if you have an array of vegetables in your pantry, by all means, add some mushrooms, broccoli, green peas, or even a bit of wilted spinach. Let us know in the comments, what you have come up with.

Is Panda Express eggplant tofu healthy?

According to their nutritional calculator 1 serving size of 6.10 oz is 340 calories and has 24g of fat. Compared to our recipe, where an approximately same serving size is only 168 calories and has 7g of fat.

How to store it?

You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days at most. We don’t recommend freezing it since that will change the texture significantly. The eggplant will be soggy and the tofu will be gummy.

Allergen info

This Panda Express Eggplant Tofu recipe is meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. 

• Vegan – All ingredients are supposed to be vegan even hoisin sauce and sweet chili sauce.
• Nut-free – All ingredients are supposed to be nut-free, but check for cross-contamination issues in any products you buy.
• WFPB-friendly (whole foods plant-based) – It is not a compliant recipe since we use oil to stir-fry the main ingredients. You can try using an air fryer but the texture will be different compared to frying them in a pan.
• Gluten-free – There are some ingredients that you need to pay attention to. If you use raw tofu it is probably gluten-free, but not all flavored or smoked ones are. Soy sauce is definitely not gluten-free so choose one of these 5 gluten-free soy sauce substitutes like tamari. Hoisin sauce may contain soy sauce, but this brand does not. You also need to choose your sweet chili sauce wisely. We recommend using this brand since it is not only vegan but is also labeled gluten-free. Finally, check your vinegar bottle to see if it is gluten-free or not. All other ingredients are supposed to be gluten-free, but always check the packaging for cross-contamination info.
• Soy-free – It is a tofu dish, so you need to use something instead of tofu. Maybe mushrooms or other vegetables. There are certainly many variations you can try. Soy sauce is also not allowed, but you can use liquid aminos instead. Hoisin sauce may contain soy sauce, so you need to search for a soy-free brand.

More vegan tofu stir fry recipes

If you love tofu, check out the most flavorful tofu marinades or choose from the below list:

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