Braised Tofu with Green Bell Peppers

Name: Braised Tofu with Green Bell Peppers
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 (15 oz) block tofu; 1 cup hoisin sauce; 1 star anise pod; 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced; 2 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 1 cup jasmine rice; 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted; 1 large scallion, thinly sliced

This braised tofu dish combines silky tofu and green bell peppers in a deeply flavored sauce built from hoisin, fresh ginger, garlic, and star anise. Served over jasmine rice, it delivers layered Asian flavors with minimal ingredient count.

🌍Asian 🥗Vegan 🥗Vegetarian 🏷️Tofu 🏷️Hoisin sauce 🏷️Bell peppers

Total

1h 20m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Ingredients

1 (15 oz) block tofu
1 cup hoisin sauce
1 star anise pod
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup jasmine rice
1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
1 large scallion, thinly sliced

9 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Cut tofu into ½-inch wide planks and spread out evenly on a kitchen towel. Top with another kitchen towel, and weigh down with a heavy pot. Let sit while preparing the other ingredients.
2
In a Suvie pan, stir together 1 cup hoisin sauce, 1 pod star anise, 1 piece ginger, and 2 garlic cloves. Place 1 green bell pepper in a separate Suvie pan and insert into the top zone of your Suvie.
3
Nestle pressed tofu into hoisin sauce mixture, turning to coat, and insert pan into the bottom zone of Suvie. Input settings, and cook now or schedule. Bottom Zone: Slow Cook on High, 1 hour
4
Place 1 cup jasmine rice in the Suvie rice pot (black handles) and cover pot with lid. Place pot inside the Suvie Starch Cooker, ensuring pot is centered on the hot plate. Input settings and cook now. Rice, Long grain, 1 cup
5
After the cook, combine peppers and tofu in one pan, stirring to gently break the tofu into bite-sized pieces. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6
Divide rice between bowls and top with tofu and bell pepper. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions, and serve.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Press or drain your tofu block well before cooking to remove excess moisture and help it absorb the braising sauce.
Keep the heat at medium or medium-low during braising to maintain a gentle simmer—high heat can cause the tofu to break apart.
Add the green bell peppers in the last 5–7 minutes of cooking so they stay crisp and bright rather than becoming mushy.
Toast the sesame seeds separately in a dry pan for 1–2 minutes before garnishing to unlock their nutty aroma and flavor.

Substitutions

Green bell pepper → red, yellow, or orange bell pepper (similar texture; slightly sweeter)
Star anise → 1/4 tsp five-spice powder (mimics the licorice note with less intensity)
Jasmine rice → white basmati or sushi rice (neutral base; adjusts cooking time slightly)
Sesame seeds → chopped peanuts or cashews (adds crunch and richness instead)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled braise in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat, adding water if the sauce has reduced too much.