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Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — finished dish, ready to serve.

Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens (Qingcai Chao Doufu)

青菜炒豆腐 · pan chinese cuisine

20 min total10 min cooking11 stepssavorylight

This dish is a go-to after holidays and festivals, when heavy festive meals call for something lighter. A simple plate of greens and tofu is both healthy and great over rice. The author notes it is a personal favorite: easy to make and very good with rice.

Kwame Boateng's profile photoKwame BoatengGhanaian-American guy learning to recreate my mom's groundnut soup and jollof without calling her every time. Currently obsessed with getting smoky flavor on a stovetop.

Nutrition & allergens

Contains:SoyWheat

Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.

Per serving (4 servings)

Energy (kcal)
Unknown
Protein (g)
Unknown
Fat (g)
Unknown
Carbs (g)
Unknown
Sodium (mg)
Unknown

Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.

  • tofu ingredient

    tofu豆腐

    1.0 whole

  • Shanghai bok choy ingredient

    Shanghai bok choy上海青

    12.35 oz

  • Garlic ingredient identification photo

    garlic大蒜

    3.0 clove

  • Fine salt ingredient identification photo

    salt盐

    0.02 oz

  • seasoning sauce ingredient

    seasoning sauce调味汁

    as needed

  • Oyster sauce ingredient identification photo

    oyster sauce蚝油

    0.74 oz

  • Light soy sauce ingredient identification photo

    light soy sauce生抽

    1.2 oz

  • Ground white pepper ingredient identification photo

    white pepper powder白胡椒粉

    0.11 oz

  • Granulated sugar ingredient identification photo

    sugar糖

    0.11 oz

  • Dark soy sauce ingredient identification photo

    dark soy sauce老抽

    0.3 oz

  • Water ingredient identification photo

    water水

    0.42 cup

Techniques you'll use

Steps

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 1 visual checkpoint.

    Wash the baby Shanghai greens (if the small ones are unavailable, use larger Shanghai greens cut in half lengthwise).

    ✅ Done when: The greens are clean, with no grit or dirt remaining on the leaves.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 2 visual checkpoint.

    Cut the firm tofu into thick slabs.

    ✅ Done when: The tofu is in evenly sized, thick slabs ready for pan-frying.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 3 visual checkpoint.

    Combine the sauce ingredients listed above in a small bowl and stir to mix.

    ✅ Done when: The sauce is uniformly mixed, with the sugar fully dissolved.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Medium-high heatPan-frying (jian) ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 4 visual checkpoint.

    Add oil to the pan, sprinkle in a little salt evenly, and heat. Once hot, lay the tofu slabs in the pan to pan-fry.

    ✅ Done when: The oil is hot and shimmering before the tofu goes in.

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Medium heatPan-frying (jian) ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 5 visual checkpoint.

    Fry the tofu until golden brown on both sides.

    ✅ Done when: Both sides of the tofu slabs are golden brown.

  6. 6

    Step 6

    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 6 visual checkpoint.

    Remove the tofu from the pan, leaving the base oil in the pan.

    ✅ Done when: The tofu is out of the pan and a thin layer of oil remains coating the bottom.

  7. 7

    Step 7

    Medium heatAromatic blooming (bao xiang) ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 7 visual checkpoint.

    Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

    ✅ Done when: The garlic is aromatic and lightly golden, without burning.

  8. 8

    Step 81 min

    High heatStir-frying ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 8 visual checkpoint.

    Add the Shanghai greens and stir-fry for 15 seconds.

    ✅ Done when: After about 15 seconds of stir-frying, the greens are just beginning to wilt.

  9. 9

    Step 91 min

    Medium heatSimmering (dun) ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 9 visual checkpoint.

    Return the tofu to the pan, pour in the sauce, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce to medium heat, and simmer for 1 minute.

    ✅ Done when: The sauce has come to a full boil, and after 1 minute covered the tofu is heated through.

  10. 10

    Step 10

    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 10 visual checkpoint.

    Uncover and stir everything evenly to coat.

    ✅ Done when: The tofu and greens are evenly coated with the sauce.

  11. 11

    Step 11

    Starch thickening (gou qian) ↗
    Stir-Fried Tofu with Shanghai Greens — step 11 visual checkpoint.

    Finish by drizzling in the starch slurry (1 spoon of starch mixed with about half a small bowl of water) and stir until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve.

    ✅ Done when: The sauce has thickened and glossily coats the tofu and greens.