This Szechuan-style dish gets its heat from the chili sauce. Look in your Asian market for chili sauce or garlic chili sauce that has red chilies as its primary ingredient. Try to find the kind with the seeds intact, not the smoother type. Then adjust the amount to your desired level of spiciness.
Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch slices and press them lightly between towels to get some of the moisture out. Combine the 3 tbsp. soy sauce with the 2 tbsp. water and 1/2 tsp. sesame oil. Dip each slice of tofu into the mixture and set on a plate.
Heat a non-stick skillet until hot. Place the tofu slices in the skillet and cook until browned. Turn over and brown the other sides. When the tofu is completely browned on both sides, remove it from the skillet and place it on a cutting board. Cut each slice into 8-10 cubes. Set aside.
Heat a non-stick wok and add the eggplant and 1/3 cup water. Cover and cook, stirring often, until eggplant begins to brown. Uncover and add the garlic and ginger and cook for 2 more minutes.
While the eggplant is cooking, make the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine the 3/4 cup vegetable broth or water, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sweetener, chili sauce, and tomato paste.
Add the sauce to the eggplant. Simmer uncovered until all the eggplant slices are completely cooked–they will be very soft and start to fall apart. Add the tofu cubes and tomato and cook until heated through. Serve over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Reduce the sodium by using water instead of broth, regular rice vinegar instead of seasoned, and reduced sodium soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce.*Sesame oil gives this dish its authentic Szechuan flavor. You can leave it out, but the taste won't be the same, so I recommend reducing it rather than eliminating. The nutritional data below includes the full amount of sesame oil.