Indo-Chinese Chilli Garlic Tofu Puff Pastry (nut-free)

These Indian-inspired chilli tofu puff pastry parcels are the perfect fusion appetizer for a Diwali or Indian-themed party. Or really any other party, because they are just so delicious! You all will love these Indo-Chinese Chilli Garlic Tofu in crispy parcels! Options for gluten-free and Soyfree

The festive season is here and I am bringing some fantastic appetizers this year. Flaky puff pastry stuffed with spicy savory, Indochinese chilli garlic tofu stir fry makes a super delicious vegan holiday appetizer. These are amazingly delicious hand pies that will absolutely be a hit at your next holiday party.

We make the Indochinese chilli garlic tofu “paneer”, and then try not to eat it all before we get a chance to stuff it into that puff pastry. Because the tofu is just so tasty by itself! No one will blame you if you snack on it a bit while you fold these.

There are 3 kinds of chilies/heat in these. There’s Kashmiri chili powder, which is usually mild but can be moderately hot depending on the brand. There’s black pepper and there’s hot green chilies such as Serrano or Indian chilies. Green chilies also vary in heat. So adjust these to adjust the heat to preference. Use less of each for mild heat.

I use a mixture of non dairy milk and maple syrup as the pastry wash. This helps the pastries get nicely golden and also help them stick really well when shaping into whatever kind of parcels.

Why You’ll Love Tofu Puff Pastry

• flaky puff pastry with sweet-spicy-savory filling
• 1-pan chilli garlic tofu filling is full of amazing Indochinese flavors!
• festive appetizer for Diwali, Indian dinner party, or any other holiday
• naturally nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options

More Puff Pastry Recipes

• Indian Spinach Puff Pastry
• Ethiopian Lentil Sambusa pie
• Creamy Spinach Pinwheels
• Chickpea Spinach Pie
• Vegan Samosa Pie

Ingredients and Substitutions

• tofu – This is for the filling. To make these without tofu, use chickpea flour tofu or other vegan chicken substitutes. You can also try to make this soy-free by substituting the soy sauce with coconut aminos and making sure that your tofu substitute is soy-free.
• cornstarch – Helps the tofu crisp up and helps the sauce thicken.
• rice flour – Makes the tofu even crispier!
• ground spices – You’ll season the tofu with Kashmiri chili powder or paprika and the sauce with black pepper.
• oil – To sauté.
• aromatics – Ginger, garlic, and green chilli season the sauce.
• soy sauce – Adds umami to the sauce.
• vinegar – White or rice vinegar adds some tang.
• brown sugar – For a touch of sweet to balance the spice.
• puff pastry sheets – To wrap your tofu puff pastry. For gluten-free, use the gluten-free pie crust from my gluten-free Wellington.
• non-dairy milk and maple syrup – For brushing onto the puff pastry to help it brown.
• garnishes – Top these tofu puffs with green onion and vegan parmesan, if you like!

💡 Tips

• You can chop the ginger, garlic, and chilli with a knife or put them all together in a food processor and pulse until they are evenly chopped. Save time by doing this while the tofu cooks.
• You can make these tofu puff pastries ahead by making the chilli garlic tofu and storing that for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Assemble and bake just before serving. You can also assemble the puff pastry parcels and freeze them, unbaked, for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw and bake when you’re ready to serve.

How to Make Chilli Garlic Tofu Puff Pastry

Press and cube the tofu, if you haven’t already. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, rice flour, Kashmiri chilli powder, and salt. Mix well, then sprinkle this all over the tofu in a bowl, then toss it with the tofu to coat.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu, and spread it out into a single layer. Let the tofu sit undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes, then flip it with a spatula, so that the other side can crisp, as well. Continue to cook the tofu until almost all edges are golden and crisp, 7 to 9 minutes. Then, move the tofu to the edges of the skillet (or remove from the skillet for easier cooking of the sauce)

Reduce the heat to medium, and add the other teaspoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic, ginger, and green chilli, and mix and cook for about half a minute. Then, mix in the black pepper, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar.

Mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl, and mix that in, as well. Bring to a boil, and cook for another minute or so to thicken the sauce.

Then, gently fold in the crisped tofu. You don’t want to toss the tofu too much, because the crisp coating might come off because of the sauce is hot. Switch off the heat, and let the sauce cool and thicken over the tofu really well.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400° F (205° C). If you haven’t thawed your puff pastry, remove the puff pastry from the freezer, and let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes. When it’s pliable, open it up, flour your work surface, and roll out the puff pastry by about 2”, which will help the puff pastry get more flaky and also crisp up really nicely.

Slice each sheet into 6 pieces, and brush them with a mix of maple syrup and non-dairy milk on the edges, which will help the pastry get nicely golden.

Spoon some of the cooled chilli garlic tofu into the center of one of your puff pastry squares with some going off a little further on the diagonal, and then fold over two of the diagonal corners, so they meet in the center of the puff pastry. Press and seal the middle, then repeat for all of the squares.

Transfer the puff pastries to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and brush again with the milk-maple syrup mixture. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes. At the 25-minute mark, rotate the baking sheet, and also check if it is getting nicely golden, and continue to bake for 5 minutes or longer, until all of the puff pastries are golden and just a little browned on some edges.

Remove from the oven, and let them sit for another few minutes. Garnish with the green onion and vegan parmesan, if you like, and serve immediately on a serving platter.

What to Serve with Chilli Garlic Tofu Puffs

These are a delicious addition to any party spread! Add them to my vegan Diwali menu, or serve them with my spiced chickpea meatloaf, cranberry chutney, and spiced glazed carrots for an Indian-inspired holiday meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

To make these without tofu, use chickpea flour tofu or other soy-free vegan chicken substitutes. Also be sure to use coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce.

To make this gluten-free, use the gluten-free pie crust from my gluten-free Wellington.

This recipe naturally is nut-free.

Can I make this ahead of time?

These are best when you can serve them within an hour of baking, so you want to bake them right before your party.

You can make them ahead by making the chilli garlic tofu and storing that for up to three days in the refrigerator.
You can also assemble the puff pastry parcels and freeze them, unbaked, for up to two months in an airtight container. If you’re baking from frozen, they will need an extra four to five minutes to bake through.