Indo-Chinese Garlic Pepper Chicken

Super garlicky Indo-Chinese garlic pepper chicken has deep flavors from black pepper, green chili, and ginger and garlic in the sauce! It’s a 1-pan dinner that you can make using your protein of choice. For this vegan version, we are using tofu. (nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options)

This garlic pepper chicken is another one of my favorite recipe. Indo-Chinese cuisine is a fusion cuisine which came about when Chinese migrants as well as the Indians in the region adjusted Chinese recipes to use Indian spices and more Indian flavors.

There are some similar recipes to Chinese cuisine, as well as a lot of new and different flavors and textures. Often the names of the similar recipes have different spellings, and that is an indicator that it is an Indo-Chinese recipe and not a Chinese recipe.

This garlic pepper chicken uses this amazing sauce with a ton of garlic. You chop the garlic into small pieces, but do not mince it, because you want that garlic to show up in the sauce. Then you also add a lot of black pepper to the sauce, as well as to the protein that you plan to use.

Traditionally, you toss the chicken in the garlic, black pepper, and a lot of cornstarch. Then, fry it up until crisp, and fold it into the sauce. You can make it saucier, or you can make it more like a starter with a thicker sauce by adding extra cornstarch. Either way, it has this delicious garlicky flavor that is absolutely addictive!

You can use other plant-based proteins instead of the tofu, such as chickpea flour tofu, pumpkin seed tofu, seitan, soy curls, or white beans or chickpeas.

To coat the tofu, like to use a mixture of cornstarch and white rice flour to make the coating on the tofu, and then pan fry it. The rice flour gives it this nice crispy texture, as if you deep fried the tofu, and it is perfect in this Indo-Chinese garlic pepper chicken recipe! If you are planning to bake it, omit the rice flour, and use more cornstarch instead.

Why You’ll Love Indo-Chinese Garlic Pepper Chicken

• crispy tofu in garlicky sauce with flavors of ginger, green chili, and bell pepper
• easy 1-pan dish that works as an appetizer or an entree
• versatile! Thicken the sauce to your liking, and use your protein of choice.
• Naturally nut-free with easy gluten-free and soy-free options.

Ingredients

• tofu – Use firm or extra firm tofu, and be sure to press it well for 15 minutes.
• sauces – You will toss the tofu in soy sauce (tamari for gluten-free) to help the spices stick. For the sauce, you need ketchup, soy sauce, sambal oelek, and vinegar.
• ground spices – We will season the tofu with garlic powder and black pepper. For the sauce, you just need black pepper.
• corn starch and rice flour – Helps the tofu get crispy! You also use corn starch to thicken the sauce.
• oil – To crisp the tofu and sauté the aromatics.
• aromatics – The sauce uses lots of garlic, ginger, green chili, the white parts of a green onion, onion, and bell pepper. Reserve the green parts of the green onion for garnish.

How to Make Garlic Pepper Tofu

Press the tofu if you haven’t already, then tear it into organic shapes. Add the tofu to a bowl, then add the soy sauce and toss well. In a small bowl, mix the garlic powder, black pepper, cornstarch, and rice flour.

Sprinkle the mixture all over the tofu, then toss for a few seconds to coat evenly.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add two teaspoons of oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the coated tofu. Do not add any extra flour from the bowl, just the tofu. Spread it out evenly in one layer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Flip the tofu and continue to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Continue flipping until all sides of the tofu are golden and crisp, a total of 7 to 8 minutes.

Remove the tofu from the skillet, add another 2 teaspoons of oil, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add in the chopped garlic, ginger, and green chili, and mix well. If the pan is too hot, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly, then continue cooking over medium-low heat so the garlic doesn’t brown or burn. Cook until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes.

Mix in in the green onion whites, onion, green bell pepper, black pepper, and salt. Increase the heat to medium and cook for another 2 minutes. Add in the ketchup, soy sauce, sambal oelek, vinegar, and ¼ cup of the water.

Mix well, and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the remaining ½ cup water, then add it to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then taste and adjust salt and flavor. Add more pepper or heat if you like. You can also add a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors, if you like.

Once the sauce thickens, turn off the heat. Add in the crisp tofu, and toss well.

Garnish with reserved green onion tops, and serve.

What to Serve with Garlic Pepper Chicken

Serve Indo-Chinese garlic pepper tofu over rice or quinoa, as a starter, in lettuce wraps, or stuffed into pita bread. For a thicker sauce, use 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken it up more before adding the tofu. This will make it more like a starter with a thicker sauce. For extra protein, serve with quinoa or blanched broccoli and garnish with sesame seeds or hemp seeds.