Make your favorite Thai dishes at home, starting with this Pra Ram Tofu recipe! Whisk together a easy Thai peanut sauce and grab one-pot…20 minutes later and you have yourself a delicious healthy, vegan, gluten-free meal your entire family will love!
It’s no surprise that one of my favorite cuisines is Thai food. I was fortunate to have been introduced to Thai Food quite early in my life, with my parents frequently taking us our local Thai restaurants. My mom even started to experiment with Thai flavors at home. From store-bought curry paste, to making her own from scratch, she soon had a few staple dishes under her belt and Thai food became a weekly rotation in our home. She made curries, noodles, and appetizers with her own unique twist, but they always tasted delicious!
I owe my hand in cooking Thai food to my mom. Even now, I frequently ask her how she created a sauce to achieve the perfect balance of Thai flavors in her dishes. Even though we still love going out to eat at Thai restaurants, when you enjoy a cuisine that much, it’s nice to be able to easily recreate your favorites at home. Also, I’ve been finding out that more and more Thai restaurants are unable to make a dish vegetarian or vegan (especially curries) due to the use of fish sauce and oyster sauce in their cooking. And sometimes when they attempt to make the dishes vegan, the flavors can be off (especially for noodle dishes).
The key to cooking Thai food is finding the right balance of these 5 flavors:
Sour
Sweet
Salty
Spicy
Bitter
Knowing what ingredients contribute to these flavors, and experimenting with different combinations will allow you to create your own Thai dishes at home. With a stocked pantry and few attempts at flavor combinations, you will learn how easy it is to cook Thai food. Whether it’s a quick stir-fry, eggplant dish, tofu dish, fried rice, spring rolls, or curry, this cuisine is a frequent go-to in our home.
So, if you’ve been wanting to try cooking Thai food at home, but are still skeptical on whether you can easily recreate your favorites without a recipe, don’t worry… that’s where I come in to help! Meet one of our FAVORITES, Easy Thai Pra Ram Tofu! This recipe is made up of a one-bowl easy Thai peanut sauce using peanut butter as the base. Simply pan-fry the tofu while you’re mixing all the sauce ingredients together, pour the peanut sauce over the tofu, add loads of fresh spinach, and cook for 5-10 minutes. The easy thai peanut sauce is quick to throw together and tastes similar to Thai Pra Ram at restaurants. You can find all the ingredients at your local grocery store, it requires only one pan, and takes only 20 minutes to make. Serve it over some cooked quinoa or brown rice and you have yourself a complete meal the entire family will love!
This is also my husband’s go-to recipe when he makes dinner for the family. He typically makes this dish for us at least once every 2 weeks and doubles or triples the recipe so we have enough leftovers for lunch the following day.
If you’re looking to start cooking Thai food, an easy tofu recipe or peanut sauce, a quick family meal, or another school lunch idea, this Easy Thai Pra Ram Tofu (Peanut Butter Sauce) recipe is the one to try! If you do, I would love to hear from you or see it on Facebook or Instagram, @vegetariangastronomy #vegetariangastronomy .
What’s your favorite Thai dish you’d like to re-create at home? Tell me in the comments below!
Easy Thai Pra Ram Tofu (Peanut Butter Sauce)
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 cups fresh spinach leaves , roughly chopped
- 14 oz firm tofu
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp natural creamy peanut butter I used the natural one from Trader Joes, no added sugar
- 3-4 teasp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro , finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1-2 tbsp tamari , or soy sauce
- 1 teasp red crushed pepper
- 1/4-1/2 cup warm water
INSTRUCTIONS
To Prepare the Tofu.
- Cut the block of tofu in half. Place each half in 2 clean paper towels one at a time and gently press/squeeze to remove excess stored liquid (without breaking up the tofu).
- Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes and pan fry on medium-high heat with 1 1/2 tbsp cooking oil. Mix and turn frequently until all the water is burned off and the tofu is lightly golden brown on most sides (be sure not to burn the tofu). If you find that the tofu is sticking to the pan, add a little more oil. Set aside.
- While the tofu is cooking, continue on to prepare the peanut sauce.
To Prepare Peanut Sauce.
- Whisk all the ingredients listed for peanut sauce, adding the warm water last. Combine with a spoon until the peanut butter is well blended.
- In a wok or large non-stick skillet, combine pan fried tofu, chopped spinach, and prepared peanut sauce. Mix together on low-medium heat for 5-10min until the spinach is slightly cooked and the tofu has time to marinate in the sauce.
- Be careful not to let the sauce simmer and start to thicken too much. You can stir in a small amount of water if needed.
- Serve hot over cooked rice, quinoa, or fresh spinach for a lighter version.
Anonymous
I used the sauce recipe to mix with tofu and veggies…really good!
anjali
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Tina P
I made this a few nights ago. It was super easy and tasted great with some rice. The sauce is just prefect over tofu. I didnt have cilantro but I threw in some basil and it was just fine. Also love that there is spinach in it for the kiddos along with the protein of the peanut butter!
anjali
Everything you love about this dish is exactly why I love it so much! Thanks Tina, and glad you enjoyed it. It’s a sauce to quickly whip up on any given night.
Arpita
Just finished making this and absolutely love the sauce! It’s sweet and creamy and compliments the tofu so well. I added broccoli and some soba noodles and the whole dish just tastes perfect!
anjali
Love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed the dish…The sauce is nice and creamy because of the peanut butter…and a great quick sauce to top over any veggies or tofu! I’ll have to try them over noodles next time! Thanks again! And thanks for following and the comment!
Marianna Salmon
It’s my favorite vegan recipe! Absolutely delicious!
anjali
Oh wow…this is definitely up there on our list as well! So great to hear…thank you!
Avani
Suggestions on what to do if you don’t have rice vinegar? Don’t want to buy it because I don’t know when else I’ll use ig
anjali
The best substitute for rice vinegar is probably cider vinegar if you have that. The other ones (white vinegar or others) will leave you with a different taste. Do you have cider vinegar? They also have small bottles of rice vinegar available, and this dish is one of our favorites! I’m sure you will love it, in which case you’ll use up that bottle of rice vinegar in no time (it stays well in the fridge for a long time). Let me know if you try it!
Ami V
I made this a couple of nights ago to take to work. Working 12 hour night shifts I usually don’t have time to cook meals. I usually prepare a few dishes the night before. This was so easy to make and not time consuming at all. This is absolutely delicious…even a few of my coworkers who are not big fans of tofu loved it.
anjali
Thanks Ami! So glad you enjoyed it…especially after a 12 hour shift I’m sure you just want to sit down to some good food! This is a staple in our house also and we love it every time! Thanks for trying it out!
Rashmi
This looks magnificent.
That’ peanut sauce looks heavenly
Awesome dish 🙂
anjali
Thanks Rashmi!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
Another cuisine I am totally intimidated by making at home, but really enjoy eating out. And you just made it look/sound so easy! That’s so true about the balance of all 5 flavors, no wonder Thai sauces are always so delicious. And it’s a helpful simplified way to think about it too 🙂
anjali
Super easy cuisine Natalie to cook at home. It’s just a matter of stalking your pantry with a few ingredients and letting your taste buds go from there! Especially if thai food is one of your favorites…I have a few great recipes including my thai basil eggplant, garlic pepper tofu, etc. where the sauces are super easy. Hope you try it sometime at home! Thanks Natalie!
Reshana
This dish looks incredibky delcious! I must be honest here, I dont eat much thai food but everyone that i know, raves about it.. and i havent had much thai food anyway but i am going to change that 🙂
I am actually going to Thailand for my honeymoon 🙂 and i plan on trying authentic thai food so i cant wait for the experience.. I will be sure to take loads to pics of my food and share with you xx
anjali
Oh wow! That’s awesome Reshana! I went to Thailand awhile back with my husband…I totally have tons of recs if you want them! Just email me and i’ll send you a few depending on where you are going. Especially if in chiang mai, i have a great elephant sanctuary you guys should book and visit where they don’t harm elephants and are trying to create awareness…the food there is awesome too! Yes…you’ll love thai food, most Indian people do =) Email me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Love that peanut sauce!
anjali
Thanks Rebecca!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
Love peanut butter sauces! So yum. I bet it would be great over some nice fat noodles and veggies!
anjali
yes!! We’ve done it over noodles as well and love the sauce! It’s also a great dipping sauce! This is my husbands go-to so I leave it up to him =)
Sarah
I love Thai food, love the ease of this recipe AND it sounds delicious…can’t wait to try!
anjali
Thanks Sarah! You need to try it…you’ll love the recipe! Let me know if you do!
Julie | This Gal Cooks
The sauce looks incredibly thick and creamy. I bet it would be great tossed with steamed veggies!
anjali
I’ve actually used this sauce over noodles as well…and yes, the sauce itself is delicious. My favorite is in this dish especially served over cooked brown rice or quinoa so that it soaks up the sauce!
Platter Talk
Oh BOY! Your dish looks like it could become a good friend of mine! Thanks. Can’t wait to try this out.
anjali
Thank you! Let me know if you do…you’ll LOVE it!
swathi
Looks delicious, I need to try it as I like Thai food.
anjali
Then you’ll definitely love this dish…super easy, full of flavor, and so healthy!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
Oh Yum! Looks absolutely delicious and this is something we all would love in our house.
anjali
Thanks Sandhya! My entire family loves it, so i’m sure you would too! Let me know if you try.
Linda @ Veganosity
This looks amazing! I’m totally drooling over this. Too bad I can’t reach through the screen and grab that pan-haha!
anjali
Haha…i wish you could! That would be awesome. Thanks Linda!
Sandwich Recipes
wow, This is looking really healthy and tasty recipe. Love this idea. Tofu recipes are my favourite all the time. Thank you.
anjali
Thank you! Tofu is great, just has to be cooked right!
Uma
Mouth watering! I think I can try this with Indian bread 🙂 Thanks!
anjali
I typically serve this over some cooked quinoa or brown rice to soak up some of the sauce, but i’m sure it’d go well with anything or even by itself! Let me know if you try it out!
Hauke Fox
Yes, yes YESSS!! This looks soo good, Anjali! I love peanut butter sauce. I’ll definitely have to try it Thai style 🙂
anjali
Thanks Hauke! Thai style peanut butter sauce is delicious!
Charl
Can I make this fish a day ahead? My vegan son will not eat the turkey, and I do love him and want him to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.
anjali
I replied to your next comment…let me know if you don’t see it!
Charl
Dish, not fish! Sorry
anjali
Ha that’s ok! I figured it out 🙂 Yes absolutely! We make double and even triple of this dish to serve leftovers the next day since my family loves it. Simply reheat in microwave or stovetop. If it gets too thick, just add a tiny bit of water to heat, but usually it’s perfect as is once you heat it up so that the sauce gets mixed in again! Hopefully your son will LOVE it just as much as we do! Let me know! Another fav. of my kids is my Tofu Lettuce Wraps dish (I just tear up the pieces of lettuce in a bowl with the mix so it’s mess-free for them). Happy thanksgiving!
Amee
Made this today for my mum who is visiting from London- loved it!
It’s fast, easy and delicious! I served this with spaghetti squash and to my surprise, the kids devoured it! Will definitely be making this again!
anjali
So great to hear! This is one of my FAVORITE recipes! I’ve never thought to serve it with spaghetti squash, only quinoa or brown rice, but what a great idea to get more veggies in! Plus, I’m always down for any spaghetti squash dish. So glad you guys loved it. Another similar one-pot easy recipe is the tofu peanut lettuce wraps! you should definitely try them…I usually just piece in the lettuce for the kids so it’s easier for them to eat! Thanks again Amee!
Avani S
I made this again today!! One of my fav recipes Anjali!!
anjali
That’s so great to hear Avani! Thank you!! One of our favs also! You can even try the sauce over noodles and it’s delicious. Try my lettuce wraps next time!
Cathy
I just made this now for lunch, and I love it! What a great, easy, delicious recipe!
anjali
Awesome to hear Cathy!! Especially since my family loves this recipe also…it’s one of our go-to! Thanks so much for the comment and trying out the recipe!!
Isabella
I made this tonight as part of my meal prep and yum! Quick, delicious, a little spicy. Perfect.
anjali
Thanks Isabella…what a perfect meal to prep with! So glad you liked it since it’s my family’s go-to!
Sophie
I used Sambal Olek instead of the Chili flakes and otherwise was 100% on the recipe. It was DELISH!
anjali
I love sambal olek!! So glad you loved it! Thanks so much for trying it out and letting me know! Haha totally random but I’m enjoying this right now for lunch as I work =)
Gabrielle
Hi!
Just wondering if you can substitute the peanut butter for some other nut butter (almond, cashew)?
anjali
Yes absolutely! I’ve had a few readers sub in almond butter with great results! Let me know what you think! Cashew butter would also be great, just may need to adjust the sweetness a little since cashew butter is on the sweeter side!
Shima
We made this for dinner and everyone loved it! So yummy. Thank you
anjali
So awesome to hear! And thanks for sending me the picture of it…made my day! Another awesome favorite is my garlic pepper tofu or sweet chili lime tofu. They have some spice so you’ll have to check if it’s also for your kids. Or the Tofu Stir-Fry recipe is a go-to!
Kristen
Love this vegan thai option! Made this last night with my boyfriend (who’s a meateater!) and we both loved it. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Didn’t have rice vinegar so subbed some apple cider vinegar. So easy to make!
anjali
Oh awesome!! thank you for trying it and glad you guys loved it! Thai is a forte…try my tofu teriyaki, black pepper tofu, and thai basil eggplant next!
DonnaLouWho
Oh my…this recipe is amazing! My husband is in the “conversion” stage of going vegan so I’ve been trying to make recipes that have lots of flavor and voila…this one has been his favorite I’ve made so far. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!
anjali
Thank you for the great review! Glad you loved it! Please let me know if you have any other questions about going vegan…i went vegan about 5 years ago and feel like i have a great grasp on all the vegan products out there that taste great, and replacements for my non-vegan favorites! You can contact me or email me too!
Yael, Israel
The best tufu dish i have ever cooked. Thanks!
anjali
Oh that’s so awesome to hear!! Thank you so much so glad you loved it! There are some other great tofu ones on the blog.
Dean
Impressed! First recipe that I have made on the list of “25 Healthy Plant Based Recipe the whole family will love” and it did not disappoint. I did not have the chili flakes for this recipe so I bought some Thai Red Chili Paste. Unfortunately, that is a Anchovie/Fish Sauce based paste. It made the dish taste great but not vegan for sure.
anjali
Thanks for the great review Dean and so glad you loved the dish!
Jasmine
This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! Do you have any recipes for a massaman curry that’s vegetarian? It’s one of my favourite dishes !!
anjali
Thanks Jasmine! You’ll LOVE this dish…it’s one of my most popular recipes! I don’t have a specific massaman curry recipe but i have a Red Thai Curry that’s slightly on the sweeter side and DELICIOUS!! It’s an old but amazing recipe. Here’s the link for it Thai Red Curry . It uses a thai curry paste that i easily make at home and freeze for use when I need. Try it out you’ll love it!
Heather
We are vegans. I made this a few nights ago with 14 ounces tofu and half the sauce (to save some calories). It was delicious with brown rice. I would have bought lite tofu if I found it and used that. It’s a little on the caloric side but good for a not too frequent treat. It has a vegetable, protein, “good” fat and starch with the rice. Easy to make and the tofu browned well. I will make this again.
anjali
Awesome glad you loved it Heather! Yes…that’s exactly why i love it so much…vegetable, protein, good fat, and grains if you add in the rice or cooked quinoa! This dish is definitely over sauced, so i’m sure half the amount would’ve been fine as well. If you want another low calorie option, sometimes instead of serving it with a bed of rice, I serve it on top of even more fresh raw spinach and it tastes great! Thanks for the review…glad you liked it. Try the teriyaki tofu next!
Amanda
Do you know the calories and fat per serving on your dish? Would love to make it tonight but on a strict calorie intake.
Thanks
anjali
I just updated the recipe card to my new plugin that has an automatic nutrition calculator so the nutrition label is there now if you check again. Please note that there’s no way for me to 100% verify the calculator and all the ingredients and their nutrition facts in their database, but it’s as close as I can get. Also, I often serve this dish over a bed of fresh baby spinach leaves and love it (instead of rice or quinoa). let me know if you try it!
Cindy
My 16 year old and I have been having a standoff…he refuses to eat vegan anything…until tonight! He assumed it was chicken. I never said a word. He loved it! Thank you for this delicious recipe ?
anjali
You MADE my day!! I’m soo happy he loved the tofu dish, and a vegan dish! If he likes tofu, i’ve found that it’s all about getting the right texture for the tofu and pan-frying or baking before marinating in some sauce! The garlic pepper tofu and chili lime tofu are another two of my favorites! also, if you like lasagna, try making my tofu basil ricotta and using that in lasagna…i bet he wouldn’t even notice the difference! Thanks so much for the awesome review!
Chris
Any substitute for peanut? Severe allergy here
anjali
Yes! I had a reader substitute almond butter instead of peanut butter! I haven’t tried it myself but she loved it!
Richard
I had a taste for spinach with peanut sauce all day, and I was happy to find your recipe. It was so delicious! I used lite coconut milk in the peanut sauce, and I put the tofu in the air fryer for 5-minutes. This is a keeper!
anjali
Awesome! So glad you loved it…I have yet to use an air fryer so I’m sure that turned out great. Yes this recipe will definitely satisfy your spinach and peanut sauce needs 🙂 thanks for the comment!
Susan
I made this dish last night. I was nervous about the peanut butter. I like peanut butter, but I love it on everything. I was thrilled after we ate it. This dish feels like you are cheating on a diet. So rich it’s decadent. Love it! Thank you for sharing it.
anjali
Isn’t it creamy and delicious?? We love it and make it all the time, so glad you loved it too! Thanks for the review!
Jane
Delicious. I had kale in the fridge and used it instead of spinach.
1 & 3 yr olds loved it.
Next time I’ll try it with baby corn & carrots.
Thanks so much.
anjali
That’s great to hear! I’ve never subbed in kale, so thanks for letting me know! I think any veggies, even had one reader add in chickpeas, should work! Thanks for the feedback and glad you loved it!
Racer X
Tried this…came out awesome. Thanks for the tip!
anjali
So glad you liked it! Thanks for adding in the rating!
Racer X
Forgot to rate…
Cindi
This is so easy and so delicious that it’s going into heavy rotation at our house. I’ll be checking out your other recipes too! Thanks so much for this yummy recipe!
anjali
That’s so great to hear! Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed it! If you need any recs let me know. The teriyaki tofu is great as well.