Spicy Tofu and Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry With Korean-Style Sauce

Gochujang is made from red chillies, glutinous rice [sticky rice, gluten-free] and soy beans.
It's a bit hot, a bit fermented, funky, and a little sweet, with that umami factor that we love so much. We loved this stir-fry and it was quick and easy to make (even with slicing the sprouts!). The vegan "bacon" definitely added to the dish with it's sweet/salty/smokey notes. This dish will definitely be a keeper.

Spicy Tofu and Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry With Korean-Style Sauce [Vegan]

Ingredients

For the Dish:

• 14 oz. extra-firm tofu
• 1 1/3 cups thin strips of browned tofu "bacon"
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced into 3 or 4 slices each (about 1/4" thick)

Tofu "Bacon"

•  12-16 ounces extra-firm tofu

Marinade:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup  soy sauce (low salt)
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
• Dark sesame oil

Cooking Sauce:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons gochujang (spicy Korean bean paste/Korean red pepper paste)
• 3/4 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 large clove garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
• a few sprinkles kosher or flake salt
• freshly-ground black pepper

Garnish:

• crushed or ground toasted sesame seeds

Preparation

For the Tofu "Bacon":

1. Pat the tofu with a clean cloth and shave it into long, thin slices with a cheese slicer
2. Mix together the Marinade ingredients in a shallow container. Carefully add the tofu slices to the Marinade, making sure that they are covered by the Marinade. Cover the container and refrigerate it. Let the tofu marinate for at least 8 hours, or for a few days.
3. When you are ready to cook the "Bacon", heat a large, sturdy nonstick skillet over high heat. Add about 1/2 tablespoon of dark sesame oil to the skillet and swirl it around the pan to cover the bottom. When the pan is hot, add some of the slices.
4. Fry the slices on both sides until golden-brown and a little crispy. Turn the slices several times as the cook. If you cool the slices in the pan, they crisp up more that way, but I just cool them on a plate and cook the next batch. (Add a bit more dark sesame oil for each batch.)

For the Tofu Stir Fry:

1. Pat the tofu to get rid of excess water and cut it into 1/2" cubes. Heat the oil in a stir-fry pan or heavy 10 to 12" skillet over high heat. Season with a bit of salt. Stir-fry until it is browned on at least two sides. Scoop out and set aside.
2. Mix the Cooking Sauce ingredients together and set aside. Over high heat, add the sprout slices and garlic and stir-fry, add in squirts of water from a squeeze bottle as needed to keep the sprouts from sticking or drying out. Add about 2 tablespoon water and cover and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the sprouts are crisp-tender.
3. Add the Cooking Sauce, browned tofu cubes and vegan "bacon" strips and stir-fry for about 4 minutes. If it looks too dry while you are cooking it, add a few squirts of water. Be careful not to overcook the sprouts. Season with a bit of salt and some freshly-ground black pepper and serve immediately over steamed brown rice.
4. Sprinkle each serving with ground or crushed roasted sesame seeds, if you like.

Notes

You'll want to make the tofu bacon in advance since it needs to marinate. Make a day or two ahead for optimal results, but you can set it up in the morning to prepare for dinner that evening as well.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/spicy-tofu-and-brussels-sprouts/