Pad Thai Tao Hu (Tofu Pad Thai with Garlic Chives)
Crisp golden tofu and garlic chives stir fried with rice noodles and sweet-sour tamarind sauce.
Made with Pad Thai sauce and Chinese chilli oil. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.27 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Soak the noodles in hot water for 8 to 10 minutes until bendy but firm, then drain.
9 min - 2
Pat the tofu very dry. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large non stick wok over a medium high heat and fry the tofu for 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until golden on most sides. Lift out onto a plate.
7 min - 3
Add the last tbsp of oil and the garlic and stir fry for 20 seconds. Push aside, crack in the eggs and scramble for 30 seconds.
0 min 50 s - 4
Add the noodles and your ready made pad thai sauce (see the base recipe). Toss for 2 to 3 minutes until the noodles are tender and have taken up the sauce.
2 min 30 s - 5
Return the tofu, add the garlic chives and beansprouts and toss for 30 seconds until the chives just wilt.
- 6
Serve with lime wedges and the chilli oil from your base recipe drizzled over.
Tips
- Press the tofu for 15 minutes under a plate with a tin on top. Dry tofu fries crisp instead of sticking.
- The sauce contains fish sauce, so this is not vegetarian. For a vegetarian version, make the sauce with gluten free tamari instead, as the base tips explain.
- No garlic chives? Use the green tops of 6 spring onions.
Storing and freezing
Keeps for 1 day in the fridge. Cool within 1 to 2 hours and reheat in a hot pan until steaming all the way through.
Questions
Is tofu pad thai vegetarian?
Not with the standard base, because it contains fish sauce. Make the base with tamari for a vegetarian dish. Check the ready made sauce for fish sauce if you buy one.
Which tofu is best?
Firm or extra firm. Silken tofu breaks up in the wok. Pressing and frying it first gives the chewy, golden pieces you get in Thai street food.
Can I leave out the egg?
Yes, for an egg free dish. Add a few more beansprouts and an extra 100 g of tofu so the noodles still feel filling.
More made with pad thai sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.