The Best Tofu Recipe (2024)

The best marinated tofu recipe uses firm tofu marinated in simple ingredients like soy sauce, lemon juice, and maple syrup! If you’ve struggled to find any tofu recipes you love, you need to give this one a try!

The Best Tofu Recipe (1)

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Tofu haters stick around. This recipe is guaranteed to make a lover out of you.

It took me a long time to get on the tofu train. Mashed soy bean curd? I’m not so sure about this.

Pretty much anything new can be scary, and tofu was no different. No one wants to feel like a fool messing up dinner because you just didn’t know what you were doing.

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Whether you’re new to this or not, you’re in luck. You’re about to learn what you need to know to not only rock an easy tofu recipe, but rock it good.

How to press tofu

The first thing you need to do is drain the water. Not just from the box, but also from the block of actual tofu.

To do this you can use a tofu press(<- affiliate link), or go the cheap-o method like me and press your tofu without a press. Slice it in half (like a book). Place a clean kitchen towel or a few paper towels on a plate or cutting board, place one of the tofu slabs on top, top with a couple more paper towels, the other tofu slab, and a few more paper towels.

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Then place something heavy on top to squeeze out all the water. I put the big jar of sugar that sits on my kitchen counter inside a large skillet and set it on top. Let it press for 30-60 minutes.

If you’re in a rush you can get away with 10-30 minutes. I usually do 30 minutes, I’m just letting you know this is a flexible scenario, you’re doing great, and I think you’re really attractive. Let’s keep going.

How to marinate tofu with the best tofu marinade

Next you have to marinate the tofu. Now that the water is gone, your tofu is free to soak up all sorts of flavor!

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I’ve included my favorite marinade below, or you can find another to change up the flavor for different purposes.

How long to marinate tofu

Cut the tofu into squares, then let them rest in the marinade inside a shallow bowl or baking dish for 15-20 minutes, flipping once.

How to cook tofu

Tofu is safe to eat raw, but the texture improves greatly with frying, so cook it to desired crispiness without worrying about getting to a safe temperature. Woo hoo!

See, tofu isn’t as crazy as you may have thought. My kids will even eat it from time to time.

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Tips for customizing the best marinated tofu

  • Add more sriracha to the marinade or drizzle it on when serving for extra heat
  • Serve with brown rice and oven roasted broccoli or snow peas for a healthy, balanced meal
  • Serve with Mai Fun noodles and finely shredded carrots, radishes, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, cilantro, and chopped peanuts
  • After marinating toss with cornstarch to make the best crispy tofu
  • Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving
  • Use it to make a tofu wrap for an easy, healthy lunch!

My best tofu recipe is gluten free and vegan! Just make sure you use tamari instead of soy sauce and check your spices for gluten contamination.

More tofu recipes

  • Pan Fried Peanut Tofu
  • Cajun Tofu
  • Cajun Tofu Wraps
  • Fettuccine Alfredo with Cajun Tofu
  • Balsamic Tofu
  • Scrambled Tofu
  • Pesto Tofu
  • Vegan Ham
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Be sure to tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagramif you make this recipe so I can give you a virtual pat on the back!

Do you want to join a community of people who love meatless meals? You’re invited to join the Meatless Recipes and Tips Facebook Group!

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Recipe

The Best Tofu Recipe (8)

The Best Marinated Tofu Recipe

The best tofu recipe is marinated in simple pantry ingredients and also happens to be vegan and gluten free. It's so easy to make and is sure to make you fall in love with tofu!

4.16 from 98 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 110kcal

Author: Lindsay Moe

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces extra firm tofu, drained, pressed, and sliced into about 24 squares
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • 1-2 teaspoons sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine tofu, tamari, lemon juice, maple syrup, sriracha, and garlic powder, stirring gently to coat. Let marinate 15-20 minutes, stirring gently once or twice.

  • Heat coconut oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add tofu and fry 2-3 minutes per side until crisp and golden. Add any leftover marinade to the pan and cook, stirring, one minute more.

  • Remove tofu from the pan and serve as desired.

Notes

How to press tofu

Use a tofu press, or slice the tofu in half like a book, then stack on a plate with a few sheets of paper towels around both halves. Place something heavy like a cast iron skillet on top and let press 10-60 minutes. The longer you press, the more firm the tofu will be.

Tips for customizing

  • Add more sriracha to the marinade or drizzle it on when serving for extra heat
  • Serve with brown rice and oven roasted broccoli or snow peas for a healthy, balanced meal
  • Serve with Mai Fun noodles and finely shredded carrots, radishes, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, cilantro, and chopped peanuts
  • After marinating toss with cornstarch to make the best crispy tofu
  • Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving
  • Use it to make a tofu wrap for an easy, healthy lunch!

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 817mg | Potassium: 230mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

The Best Tofu Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the tastiest way to make tofu? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

Marinade Ingredients: For this recipe, we use a classic and simple marinade of soy sauce, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Cornflour: To make the tofu really delicious and crispy, we coat the marinated tofu in cornflour before cooking with it. This is the secret to super crispy tofu!

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

It sticks, and the crispy bits end up sticking to the pan, which is a tofu tragedy. Plus, it requires more oil, and you don't need to use a lot of oil to get crispy tofu. When you bake your tofu, you give it time to develop crispy edges and warm, pillowy insides. It's simply the best.

Should I soak tofu before cooking? ›

Many cooking experts champion a quick soak as a way to give the protein more texture and flavor. “Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

What is the healthiest way to eat tofu? ›

Healthier - For starters, broiling tofu is a healthier method of cooking than frying, and it requires less oil to create crispier cubes. Easy - It's also really easy to make.

Is there a downside to eating tofu? ›

The significant disadvantages of Tofu may cause allergies in some people. The symptoms of soy allergies include skin rash, inflammation, itching, fainting, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain and throat swelling. In rare scenarios, Tofu may cause osteoporosis and estrogen-related cancer.

Why can't you eat spinach with tofu? ›

- It is said that tofu cannot be eaten together with spinach at the same time. As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

Is tofu a high inflammatory food? ›

While people with inflammation should generally avoid dairy, soy protein products like tofu and tempeh have been found to reduce pain in joints according to a study from Oklahoma State University. An easy way to add soy to your diet is using soy protein powder. Spices.

What seasoning is good on tofu? ›

Smoked Paprika: Imparts a smoky profundity, just the ticket for a barbecue-style tofu escapade. Cumin Powder: Delivers an earthy warmth, a star in spice rubs or marinades. Garlic Powder: The universal maestro of flavor, perfect for a savory twist.

How long to press tofu before marinating? ›

Drain the water from your tofu block. Place a cooling rack over a baking tray (to catch the excess water). Pop your tofu block on the cooling rack and place your heaviest chopping board over the tofu. Leave for 20-30 mins to press with no need for paper.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it. Not only does it create a super crispy result, but the seasoning further brings out the flavor of the tofu.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

How to make tofu taste good? ›

How to Make Tofu Taste Good
  1. Understand the different tofu varieties. ...
  2. Press your tofu. ...
  3. Marinate the tofu – for a long time! ...
  4. Use cornstarch to make crispy tofu. ...
  5. Use sesame oil for pan-frying. ...
  6. A good sauce is your best friend. ...
  7. Crumble it up. ...
  8. Use your blender.
Apr 6, 2022

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Heat a large oven-safe metal or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the oil and the seasoned tofu. Sauté for 5 minutes, shaking/flipping occasionally to cook on all sides, until tofu has a slight crust on each side and has begun to brown.

Does homemade tofu taste better than store bought? ›

The flavor profile is even more mild than store-bought tofu and it works perfectly in any tofu dish. If you have some time on your hands and want to try a neat food project, try making your own homemade tofu!

How to get more flavour into tofu? ›

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Tofu
  1. Press tofu to help it absorb flavor. Nungning20/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Coat tofu in starch before cooking. ...
  3. Season tofu more than you think. ...
  4. Use a marinade. ...
  5. Toss it in a sauce. ...
  6. Find inspiration from other foods. ...
  7. Roast tofu for tasty caramelization. ...
  8. Try deep frying your tofu.
Jan 7, 2024

Does boiling tofu make it taste better? ›

Heat, however, helps the flavours to permeate. Boiling tofu to obtain a more reliably solid texture and to impart flavour is not a new method, but it's not commonly used in Western styles of cooking. This method of seasoning tofu is suitable for varying levels of firmness, but not for silken or soft tofu.

How is tofu best eaten? ›

It can be blended into smoothies, fried and served in salads and stir-fries or even turned into chunky veggie steaks. It is made by curdling fresh soya milk, pressing it into a solid block, then cooling it – in much the same way that traditional dairy cheese is made by curdling and solidifying milk.

References

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