Dinner Tonight: Basil tofu
Tear the tofu into chunky pieces, as it will naturally break down further while being stir-fried.
Dinner Tonight
December 2, 2025

Basil Tofu

Basil Tofu
Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne.

Recipe by Hetty Lui McKinnon | Total time: 25 minutes

Inspired by the savory heat of pad krapow, the popular Thai dish of stir-fried ground chicken or pork with chiles, garlic and basil, this tofu version is just as robustly seasoned and satiating. The traditional dish uses holy basil, but Thai or everyday sweet basil will work here. The cooking of this dish happens quickly, so have all your ingredients prepped before cooking. Tear the tofu into chunky pieces, as it will naturally break down further while being stir-fried. Keep the flavor of the basil bright and the color green by adding it right at the end, so the leaves are barely kissed with heat. Thai chiles are spicy, so add according to your taste: Two is a good choice for those who like spicy food, or three if you like it fiery. 

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