Black Rice Noodles Stir Fry With Tofu & Edamame
Black Rice Noodles With A Tofu & Edamame Stir Fry.
A High Protein Vegan Recipe That’s Gluten Free, Quick, And Full Of Colour.
Protein Packed, Tasty, And Easy. Ready In About 35 Minutes.
Introduction to black rice noodles with tofu stir fry
Black rice noodles are gluten free noodles made from black rice, and they turn a deep purple when cooked. In this recipe, I top them with a crunchy vegetable stir fry, strips of firm tofu browned in tamari, and bright green edamame beans. It serves 2 to 4 people, takes about 35 minutes, and it’s fully vegan. The tofu and edamame make it one of my most filling high protein vegan recipes.
Why do I love it? It looks amazing on the plate. It fills you up for hours. And you can use almost any vegetables you have in the fridge.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact us. Or chat with me at a Flametree yoga or meditation class via these timetables.
Black rice noodles, ready to eat
Black rice noodles with the tofu and edamame stir fry piled on top. Lunch is served!
Ingredients for black rice noodles with tofu & edamame stir fry
Here are the ingredients for this Flametree Yoga Studio dish. It serves 2 to 4 people.
The noodles and protein
- 1 packet of black rice noodles (look for “gluten free” on the packet)
- 1 block of firm tofu, drained and cut into thin strips
- 1 cup of edamame (shelled young soya beans), thawed if frozen
The vegetables (you choose)
- Red cabbage, finely sliced
- Kale, finely chopped
- Carrot, cut into thin sticks
- Red capsicum, cut into strips
- Zucchini, cut into thin sticks
- Broccoli, cut into small florets
- Mushrooms, sliced
The flavour
- 1 shallot, finely diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely diced
- A knuckle-length piece of fresh ginger, finely diced
- A knuckle-length piece of fresh turmeric, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon of tamari, plus an extra good dash for the tofu
- 1 tablespoon of mirin
- 1 dessert spoon of rice wine
- A couple of dashes of chilli pepper
- A dash of sesame oil
- Olive oil for cooking
- Salt and pepper to taste
In Darwin, I buy fresh turmeric and ginger at the local markets. They grow well in the Top End, and fresh turmeric gives a much brighter, earthier taste than the powder.
The vegetables, cut and ready to go
Top bowl: edamame, red cabbage and kale. Bottom bowl: the denser vegetables that go into the wok first.
Firm tofu and gluten free black rice noodles
Cut the firm tofu into thin strips. They brown better, and soak up more of the tamari.
How to make black rice noodles with tofu stir fry
Use these steps to make this black rice noodles dish.
Step 1: Brown the tofu
- Drain the tofu and cut it into fine strips.
- Cook the strips in a little olive oil until golden.
- Finish with a good dash of tamari. Set aside.
Step 2: Start the stir fry
- Heat a wok. Add oil, then the shallot, ginger, turmeric and garlic.
- Stir until they start to brown.
- Add the vegetables a few at a time. Put the denser ones in first, like carrot and broccoli.
- Add extra oil as you need it, plus a tablespoon or so of water.
- Put the lid on for a few minutes, so the vegetables steam.
Step 3: Add the tofu and flavour
- When the vegetables are nearly cooked, add the edamame and the tofu.
- Add the tamari, mirin, rice wine, chilli pepper, salt and pepper. Stir it through.
- Turn off the heat, and add the dash of sesame oil.
Step 4: Cook the black rice noodles
- While the stir fry cooks, cook the noodles following the packet.
- Watch them closely. Black rice noodles go soft quickly if you overcook them.
- Rinse, drain, and serve them into bowls.
- Pile the vegetable and tofu stir fry on top.
Tofu strips browning in tamari
The tofu strips, browned and finished with tamari. Try not to eat them all before the noodles are ready!
The seasonings
Tamari, mirin, sesame oil and chilli, with shallot, garlic, fresh ginger and fresh turmeric.
Are black rice noodles gluten free?
Yes. Black rice noodles are made from black rice flour, so they are naturally gluten free. That makes them one of the tastiest gluten free noodles you can buy. But always check the packet, because a few brands mix in wheat.
To keep the whole dish gluten free, use a tamari that says “gluten free” on the label. Most do.
Is this a high protein vegan recipe?
Yes. The protein comes from two soya foods: firm tofu and edamame. Edamame has about 11.9 g of protein in every 100 g, according to the USDA FoodData Central database. Firm tofu adds even more.
Protein keeps you full for longer. It’s also the thing many new vegans forget to eat enough of. So I always build my stir fries around it.
Why are black rice noodles purple?
Black rice gets its dark colour from natural plant pigments called anthocyanins. They’re the same family of pigments that colour blueberries. A 2024 review in Food Production, Processing and Nutrition looks at how black rice and its anthocyanins may help with blood sugar and blood fats after a meal.
When you cook the noodles, some of that colour comes out, which is why they look purple in the bowl.
A closer look at the tofu noodle stir fry
Close up: capsicum, broccoli, carrot, red cabbage, edamame and tofu over purple black rice noodles.
Black rice noodles: quick questions answered
How long does this take to make?
About 35 minutes. That’s roughly 20 minutes to cut everything, and 15 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
One packet of black rice noodles with this stir fry serves 2 to 4 people, depending on how hungry you are.
Can I use other vegetables?
Yes. Use whatever is fresh. Just put the harder vegetables, like carrot and broccoli, into the wok first.
Can I use dried turmeric instead of fresh?
Yes. Use about half a teaspoon of ground turmeric. Fresh turmeric tastes brighter, and you’ll often find it at Darwin’s markets.
Where did this recipe come from?
It’s my own easy stir fry, which I cook at home in Darwin. Many of my other recipes on this page come from the Flametree Bali retreats.
More Flametree stir fry and black rice recipes
If you like this, try my easy tofu vegetable stir fry, my quinoa noodles stir fry, or my Indonesian black rice pudding, which I first ate at the Bali retreat.
Do you have a vegan recipe or dish you’d like to share?
Please contact me with any dishes you’d like to share with me.
Obviously, I’m especially interested in any dish that is already a great Darwin vegan option.
Alternatively, it may be a potential vegan Darwin recipe that I could adapt, or be inspired by, as I did here.
Experience eating alternatives at a Flametree Yoga Retreat
By the way, there are several upcoming Flametree yoga retreats in Bali in 2027.
Contact us for details of our Darwin yoga retreat packages, or our yoga class packages in the orange lines below.
Top yoga & meditation retreats, classes, & videos
Meanwhile, start or re-start yoga or meditation with one of the HALF price deals below, or check out the retreat deals.
Learning to eat mindfully, as a result of yoga and pranayama meditation, is a great way to start more of a vegetarian or vegan journey, or simply mindfully eat whatever you choose.
Flametree upcoming yoga & meditation retreats
2 FREE yoga classes with each HALF price 10 pack; for yoga newcomers or 3 months lapsed
HALF price video yoga classes, plus FREE LIVE classes
Recipe by Chris Lalor, Flametree Yoga Studio, Darwin NT. General information only.
