Chinese
Garlic Soy Braised Tofu and Chicken
Tender chicken and tofu braised in a savoury garlic-soy sauce, perfect served over rice.
About this recipe
Garlic Soy Braised Tofu and Chicken is a chinese lunch for 2 that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot. It’s built around chicken and tofu, and it takes about 30 min total but only ~15 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 200g Chicken
- 150g Tofu
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 2 stalks Spring Onion
- 3 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1/4 tsp White Pepper
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1 cup (uncooked) Rice
Equipment
Method
- 1
Cook rice in the rice cooker.
~20 min
- 2
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cut tofu into cubes. MinceMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → garlic. Slice spring onions.
~5 min
- 3
Heat cooking oil in a pot over medium heat (setting 6/9). Add mincedMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → garlic and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until fragrant.
~1 min
- 4
Add chicken pieces and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until lightly browned on all sides.
~4 min
- 5
Add tofu cubes, soy sauce, oyster sauce, water, and white pepper to the pot. Stir gently.
~1 min
- 6
Bring to a simmerSimmer.Cook in liquid with gentle bubbling, just below a boil.Glossary →, then reduceReduce.Simmer to evaporate water and concentrate the flavour of a sauce.Glossary → heat to low (setting 3/9), cover, and let it braiseBraise.Sear first, then slow-cook in a little liquid until tender.Glossary → for 10-15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce has slightly thickened.
~15 min
- 7
Stir in sesame oil and most of the spring onions. Cook for another minute.
~1 min
- 8
Serve the braisedBraise.Sear first, then slow-cook in a little liquid until tender.Glossary → chicken and tofu over the cooked rice, garnished with remaining spring onions.
~1 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Chicken
- pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast.
- Tofu
- tempeh, or chicken/prawns if you eat meat.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Spring onion
- thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
- Oyster sauce
- hoisin loosened with a splash of soy, or soy sauce + a small pinch of sugar.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Press the tofu to squeeze out water first — dry tofu browns and crisps instead of steaming. How to press & prep tofu →
- Keep the white and green parts separate — whites go in early with the aromatics, greens at the end. How to chop spring onions →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 15 min.
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Garlic Soy Braised Tofu and Chicken take to make? +
About 30 min from start to finish, but only roughly 15 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: pot, gas stove, rice cooker. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Chicken → pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast; Tofu → tempeh, or chicken/prawns if you eat meat; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Garlic Soy Braised Tofu and Chicken ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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