# Tofu Vegetable Soup > Make Chinese-style tofu vegetable soup with tofu cubes, mushrooms, spinach or bok choy, carrot, ginger, green onion, soy sauce, and sesame oil. This recipe is written for international English-speaking home cooks. Ingredient notes prioritize items available from regular supermarkets, Asian grocery stores, or common online retailers. Image preview: /images/recipes/tofu-vegetable-soup-1200.webp Image full quality: /images/recipes/tofu-vegetable-soup-1536.webp ## Overview Tofu vegetable soup gives vegetarian visitors a warm comfort option that is lighter than saucy tofu stir-fries. The ingredients are easy to buy in Western supermarkets, especially when spinach or cabbage replaces specialty greens. This recipe teaches gentle simmering and ingredient timing: mushrooms and carrots go in first, tofu is added carefully, and tender greens finish at the end. That keeps the broth clear and the tofu intact. ## Facts - Servings: 4 - Prep time: 12 minutes - Cook time: 14 minutes - Difficulty: Easy - Heat level: None - Tags: soup, tofu, vegetarian, comfort-food ## Why It Works It gives vegetarian and tofu visitors a warm comfort option using ingredients that are easy to buy and hard to overcook. ## Ingredients - vegetable stock: 5 cups. - tofu: 350 g / 12 oz firm or medium tofu. - mushroom: 1 cup sliced. - spinach: 2 handfuls. - carrot: 1 small (optional). - green onion: 2. - ginger: 3 thin slices. - soy sauce: 1 tbsp. - toasted sesame oil: 1 tsp, optional (optional). - white pepper: Pinch, optional (optional). ## Equipment - Medium saucepan - Cutting board - Knife - Ladle ## Steps 1. Cut tofu and vegetables gently Drain the tofu and cut it into bite-size cubes. Slice mushrooms and carrot thinly so they cook quickly. Keep spinach or other tender greens separate from the harder vegetables because greens only need a short time in hot broth. 2. Flavor the broth with ginger Pour vegetable stock into a saucepan and add ginger slices. Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes so the ginger flavors the broth without becoming harsh or overpowering. 3. Cook the firm vegetables first Add mushrooms and carrot. Simmer until the carrot bends slightly and the mushrooms look darker and tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the soup bubbling gently; a hard boil can break tofu after it is added. 4. Add tofu without breaking it Slide the tofu cubes into the pot and use a spoon to nudge them under the broth. Do not stir hard. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, just until the tofu is hot through and has absorbed some of the broth flavor. 5. Wilt the greens at the end Add spinach or chopped bok choy leaves and stir once or twice. Tender greens should wilt in less than 1 minute. If using cabbage or bok choy stems, add them earlier with the mushrooms because they need more time. 6. Season and serve cleanly Turn off the heat and season with soy sauce, white pepper, sesame oil if using, and green onion. Taste before adding extra salt. Serve hot in bowls, making sure each portion gets tofu, vegetables, and broth. ## Western Grocery Notes - Firm tofu is easiest for beginners because it holds its shape better than silken tofu. - Baby spinach, bok choy, napa cabbage, or mixed mushrooms all work with the same broth method. ## Substitutions - Use chicken stock if you do not need the soup to be vegetarian. - Use cabbage, bok choy, or frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach. ## Ingredient Alternatives - Tofu: Adds protein and soft texture to the soup. Alternatives: Firm tofu, Medium tofu, Extra-firm tofu. Firm tofu is the safest beginner choice because it is less likely to break. - Greens: Add freshness, color, and vegetable depth. Alternatives: Spinach, Bok choy, Napa cabbage. Tender leaves cook at the end; cabbage or bok choy stems need a few extra minutes. - Stock: Creates a simple clear broth. Alternatives: Vegetable stock, Chicken stock, Water plus extra soy sauce. Use vegetable stock for a vegetarian soup and chicken stock for a fuller non-vegetarian version. ## Cook Better Next Time - Cut tofu into even cubes so every spoonful has a similar texture. - Keep the soup at a gentle simmer after tofu is added so cubes do not crumble. - Add sesame oil after turning off the heat so the aroma stays fresh. ## FAQ ### What tofu is best for soup? Firm or medium tofu is easiest for beginners. Silken tofu is softer and can break if stirred roughly. ### Can tofu vegetable soup be vegan? Yes. Use vegetable stock and check that your soy sauce and optional sauces fit your dietary needs. ### Can I use frozen vegetables? Yes. Frozen spinach, peas, corn, or mixed vegetables can work, but add tender vegetables near the end. ## Related Recipes - [Weeknight Mapo Tofu](/recipes/weeknight-mapo-tofu/): A simplified mapo tofu with supermarket tofu, ground pork, garlic, ginger, chili bean paste, and rice. - [Broccoli Mushroom Stir-Fry](/recipes/broccoli-mushroom-stir-fry/): A vegetable-forward stir-fry with broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and a simple savory glaze. - [Egg Drop Soup](/recipes/egg-drop-soup/): A simple Chinese-style soup with golden egg ribbons, light stock, green onion, and a gentle cornstarch body. ## Recipe Topic Hubs - [Easy Weeknight Chinese Recipes](/collections/easy-weeknight-chinese-recipes/): Fast Chinese home-cooking ideas for busy nights, built around supermarket ingredients and simple pantry sauces. - [Beginner Chinese Recipes](/collections/beginner-chinese-recipes/): Starter Chinese recipes for new home cooks, with clear substitutions and low-risk cooking methods. - [Vegetarian Chinese Recipes](/collections/vegetarian-chinese-recipes/): Vegetarian-friendly Chinese recipes and meat-free substitutions using tofu, noodles, eggs, vegetables, and pantry sauces. - [Chinese Tofu Recipes](/collections/chinese-tofu-recipes/): Chinese-style tofu recipes for Western kitchens, including saucy rice bowls, crisp skillet tofu, vegetables, and practical meat-free substitutions. - [Budget Chinese Recipes](/collections/budget-chinese-recipes/): Affordable Chinese home-cooking ideas built from rice, noodles, eggs, cabbage, mushrooms, and basic sauces. - [High-Protein Chinese Dinners](/collections/high-protein-chinese-dinners/): Protein-focused Chinese dinner ideas using chicken, beef, tofu, eggs, pork, and practical meat-free alternatives. ## Internal Links - Static recipe page: /recipes/tofu-vegetable-soup/ - Markdown recipe mirror: /recipes/tofu-vegetable-soup.md - Recipe JSON-LD: /structured-data/recipes/tofu-vegetable-soup.jsonld ## Community Prompt Which greens did you use in your tofu vegetable soup?