Indian Tofu Kadai With Bell Pepper

Name: Indian Tofu Kadai With Bell Peppers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 16 oz tofu (pressed); 1 red bell pepper (cubed); 1 green bell pepper (cubed); 1 onion (cubed); 1 1/2 cup tomato puree; 1 tsp kitchen king masala powder; 1/2 tsp garam masala powder; 1/4 tsp turmeric powder; 1/2 tsp kashmir red chili powder; 1 tbsp coriander seeds (crushed); 1 tsp fennel seeds (crushed); 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1 tbsp nutritional yeast; 2 tbsp cashews (crushed); 2 tsbp kasuri methi; 1 tsp ginger (grated); 1 tsp garlic (minced); 1 tsp chili flakes; 2 tbsp vegan butter; salt to taste; 1 bay leaf

This Indian Tofu stir fry is easy to get a restaurant-style dish with your ordinary pantry ingredients.

Tofu cubes fried and cooked with bell peppers, onions, and fragrant spices give a delicious flavor you will remember forever.

A small copper bowl is with tofu kadai stir fry.

This is a vegan-friendly recipe with simple step-by-step instructions that you can follow along easily and steal all the attention at your next family get-together!

With these simple instructions, you'll get an amazing Indian Tofu Kadai with Bell Pepper that will make your taste buds go wild!

If you have followed my recipes by now, you would know that I love Indian tofu recipes like tofu tikka masala, tofu butter masala, and tofu makhani recipes.

This tofu bell pepper Indian recipe is one more item on that list!

An easy-to-prepare, flavorful, stir-fry-style vegan dish similar to Vegan jalfrezi and my Instant Pot tofu curry recipe that I have shared in the past.

Jump to:

Reasons to make this recipe
Ingredients
Instruction
Storage
Serving suggestion
Top tips
Recipe FAQ
Related recipes
📖 Recipe
Comments

Reasons to make this recipe

It's an easy and delicious way to enjoy tofu.
The flavors are amazing as the bell peppers mix perfectly with the fried tofu cubes.
This vegan dish is great for friends, family, or any occasion.
Tofu is a good substitute for panner - So enjoy this as a "Kadai paneer" recipe.
This tofu bell pepper stir fry is incredibly simple and has a lot of flavor.

Ingredients

Firm tofu - You can also use extra-firm tofu
Bell peppers -I used green bell pepper and red bell peppers.
Onions
tomato puree - you could also use tomato sauce
Spices - Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and kitchen king masala
whole spices - cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds,
Nutritional yeast(optional) - This will add a cheesy flavor
Cashew nuts
Kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves)

See the recipe card for a list of ingredients and quantities, plus recipe instructions. You can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Instruction

Prepare tofu - Remove excess water by pressing the tofu blocks. Place a paper towel around the tofu block and place the heavy object like a pan on top. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then cut it into cubes.

Air fryer basket is with fried tofu cubes.

Air Fry - I used an air fryer to cook the tofu cubes, bell pepper, and onion. First, air fry tofu cubes at 360 F for 12 minutes. (spray oil)

Air fryer basket is filled with fried bell peppers and onions.

After that, air fry bell peppers and onions for 8-10 minutes at 360 F. Spray oil in between shake them. Place it aside.

Using a Pan or skillet - Alternatively, stir fry the tofu and bell peppers using a pan. Place a pan or kadai on medium heat and add 2 tablespoon olive oil.

Once the oil is hot, add the tofu cubes and bell peppers. I recommend you to fry it for 4-5 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Make sure not to overcook them.

Tofu Kadai method

A kadai is with vegan butter and chili flakes over the flame.

Place a kadai or deep bottom pan on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add 2 tablespoon of vegan butter.

A heated pan is with crushed whole spices and ginger & garlic.

Add all the crushed whole spices and chili flakes one by one and minced ginger and garlic.

A heated pan is with tomato puree and spices.

Once the spices are cooked, add tomato puree. Add red chili, turmeric, garam, and kitchen king masala powder. Mix well.

A pan is with tofu kadai masala mixture.

Once the masala is cooked, add the nutritional yeast, crushed cashews, salt, and bay leaf. give a nice stir.

A pan of tofu, bell peppers and spices over the flame.

Last, add the kasuri methi, air-fried tofu cubes, and bell peppers. Mix well. Cook for 2 minutes and turn off the heat.

A pan is filled with tofu kadai Indian stir fry.

Your Vegan Indian Tofu Kadai With Bell Pepper is ready to be served. Enjoy it with your favorite Indian flatbread or rice!

Storage

If you have any leftovers, place them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container and reheat them in an air fryer or pan before serving. Also, check out my detailed post about how to tell if tofu is bad.

Serving suggestion

Try this Indian Tofu Kadai with your favorite white rice, naan, chapati, or roti. You can also enjoy it as a side dish with dal and other curries.

This vegan-friendly recipe will delight and satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike! Enjoy!

Top tips

You can use any bell peppers you have on hand for this dish.
Air fry the tofu cubes and vegetables for a healthier version.
Feel free to adjust the Indian spices according to your taste preferences.
Add other vegetables like mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, and green onions.
Pressing tofu before stir-frying is a must.

Recipe FAQ

What is kadai tofu?

Kadai, meaning Kadai, is a type of Indian cooking vessel, usually made from cast iron. It cooks dishes like curries, stir-fries, and deep-fried snacks. Kadai tofu is an Indian dish that combines tofu cubes with bell peppers and spices cooked in a kadai or skillet.

What can I substitute for kitchen king masala?

If you don't have kitchen king masala, use tikka masala, tandoori masala, or curry powder.

What is a substitute for Nutritional yeast?

You can use vegan cheese, extra cashews, or garlic powder if you don't have nutritional yeast.