The secret to loving tofu is knowing how to prepare it and use different marinades to flavor it. Here is a collection of tofu marinade recipes to make you a tofu lover!
I love tofu, and the marinade for tofu makes the perfect tofu. Unfortunately, most people who don't like tofu don't know how to prepare it. Pressing the tofu, as well as the marinades for tofu, makes or breaks tofu success.
Jump to:
- The Benefits of Eating Tofu
- The Different Types of Tofu
- Pressing Tofu Before Marinating
- The Best Marinades for Tofu
- How to Cook Marinated Tofu
- Recipe FAQS
- 💬 Reviews
The Benefits of Eating Tofu
As an excellent source of protein, add tofu to various recipes. Although tofu on its own is pretty bland, marinades for tofu elevate the taste and texture.
Generally, tofu haters need to learn how to prepare it properly. At the beginning of my plant-based journey, I, too, was a tofu hater.
I distinctly remember my first tofu experience of ordering tofu at an Asian restaurant instead of meat in my dish, and the tofu was soft and tasteless. I remember picking it out of my veggies like a little kid and making a sour disappointed face.
Since then, however, I discovered the trick to pressing and marinating tofu.
The Different Types of Tofu
- First and foremost, the type of tofu you buy is essential. For instance, soft or silken tofu is used for dressing, dips, and sauces.
- Firm tofu, as well as firm-silken tofu, is best used for quiche or vegan cheesecake.
- On the other hand, extra-firm tofu is made for entrees and can be baked, air-fried, grilled, or sauteed. I always buy the firmest tofu I can find as a general rule.
- Sprouted tofu is the firmest tofu, and it does not require pressing. This one is my favorite because I don't have to press it. Instead, I use a paper towel to dry it off, and it's ready.
- For soy-free free tofu, try chickpea tofu .
Pressing Tofu Before Marinating
First, carefully remove the tofu from the package, discarding the fluid from the container.
Then, place the tofu in the middle of a tofu press and turn both knobs equally about four turns. I usually set the tofu press in the sink on its side, but I put it on a plate to drain this visual post.
- Turn the knobs every two minutes, equally, until you have the result (the last picture).
- Most people stop here...NOT YET. So keep turning until the knobs are screwed as far as possible.
- Although I have never tried this, I decided this time to measure the amount of water I got from the bottom of the plate at the end.
- The amount was ¾ cup fluid.
- Now, remove the press from the plate, and I give it another press with a paper towel for excess fluid removal.
The Best Marinades for Tofu
Regardless of the type of marinade chosen, I suggest marinating overnight for the best results.
Are you looking for a vegan burger that grills well? This tofu burger is marinated in a savory "steak" marinade that takes your tofu burger to the next level.
Tofu Burger
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Tofu burgers are so easy to make and simply fabulous. Marinated in my favorite burger marinade, tofu burgers are so tasty; they may be your favorite veggie burger—top with my secret sauce or BBQ coleslaw, or top with your favorite toppings.
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Staying with the Asian theme, this tofu poke bowl marinade is slightly spicy with an umami flavor. It's delicious.
Vegan Poke Bowl
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Plant-based vegan poke bowls are easy to make and much cheaper at home than at a restaurant. Make your own creative concoction or try this one; you will love it.
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Tofu Banh Mi, anyone? This Asian tofu marinade is based on a traditional Banh Mi bowl. You will love the combination of sweet and spicy!
Bahn Mi Bowl
Total Time: 50 minutes mins
What's a Bahn Mi Bowl? A healthy vegan deconstructed Vietnamese sandwich! Loaded with greens, raw veggies, spicy tofu, brown rice, pickled veggies, and drizzled with a tangy Sriracha vegan mayo dressing.
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If you love citrus, you will love this combination of orange, lemon, and lime juice with garlic and a hint of spice.
Grilled Tofu
Total Time: 31 minutes mins
It's chillin' and grillin' time! Grilled tofu is a fresh summery meal! The citrus marinade combined with the mango salsa makes this grilled tofu recipe the perfect meal for a spring or summer night.
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Tofu Banh Mi
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
The tofu Banh Mi sandwich is packed with fresh coleslaw of carrots, cabbage, and red onions. Then topped with seared Sriracha tofu and topped with handfuls of cilantro, jalapenos, and crisp cucumber slices with spicy vegan mayo.
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Lemongrass is the secret ingredient in this lemongrass tofu marinade. It tastes so fresh; it's perfect for rice or noodle bowls or on its own.
Lemongrass Tofu
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Lemongrass tofu is the perfect topping for salads, noodle bowls, inside a wrap or in a rice bowl.
This almond butter marinade is the magic of this grilled Asian tofu bowl. It's creamy, tangy, and delicious.
The marinade for the tofu in the dragon noodle recipe is simple yet addicting.
Vegan Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles with Seared Tofu
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Savory, sweet, and spicy, drunken noodles are a simple, few ingredient recipe for making oil-free Thai food at home. Add some seared tofu some favorite veggies, or eat these savory noodles alone.
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Everyone loves sweet and sour sauce, so add some tofu and vegetables, and it's a winner!
Sweet and Sour Tofu
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Sweet and Sour Tofu Recipe is crispy tofu in a healthy sweet and sour sauce served with sautéed vegetables on a bed of brown rice and then drizzled with extra sauce for added bliss.
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This lemon tahini marinade is perfect for marinated tofu salad.
Tofu Salad
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Tofu salad is a cold summer salad with grilled tofu and corn and an array of colorful vegetables and herbs, topped with toasted blanched almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries, dressed in a lemon tahini vinaigrette.
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I love vegan feta cheese, and this tofu feta cheese marinade makes the perfect homemade tofu feta cheese.
Tofu Feta Cheese
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Tofu feta cheese is great to add to salads, sandwiches, and a perfect topping for pasta dishes. Or, eat it with your favorite Mediterranean vegan nosh board.
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If you love Jamaican jerk sauce, you will love this tofu jerk marinade. Add it to a bowl of fresh veggies, pineapple, and rice, and you'll feel like you're on the beach in Jamaica.
Vegan Jerk Tofu
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Jamaican grilled jerk tofu is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Crispy on the outside and delicate on the inside, jerk tofu is wonderful in a Caribbean bowl, sandwich, wrap, or salad topper if you don't eat it all before you decide how to eat it.
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Barbeque lovers rejoice! This BBQ tofu marinade makes the best BBQ tofu for a bowl, sandwich, wrap, or salad.
BBQ Tofu
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
BBQ season is here and BBQ tofu is a great entree, sandwich, or salad topping. Marinated in homemade BBQ sauce and grilled to perfection, BBQ tofu is a great summer meal.
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Enjoy the flavors of Korean BBQ with this delicious Korean tofu marinade. The secret is the Gochujang sauce.
Vegan Korean Tofu
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Korean tofu is a sweet yet slightly spicy, crispy grilled tofu recipe. Crispy on the outside with the usual soft tofu texture inside, this sweet, tangy tofu can be added to a dish to add a slight tanginess to your next meal.
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Nothing is better than a peanut sauce marinade for a nutty, creamy, slightly spicy marinade and sauce.
Tofu with Peanut Sauce
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Tofu with peanut sauce is marinated in a Thai peanut dressing and grilled to perfection. Perfect for a bowl, stir fry, sandwich or as a meal on its own, tofu with peanut sauce is savory and delicious.
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For a sweet teriyaki marinade made with fresh pineapple juice, try this tofu teriyaki marinade.
Teriyaki Tofu
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Teriyaki Tofu is sweet, tangy, and savory served on a bed of brown rice, with kale, edamame, snap peas, baby bell peppers, greens onions, and fresh pineapple, topped with homemade teriyaki sauce.
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Maple syrup and stone-ground mustard create a lovely and savory tofu marinade.
Grilled Maple & Stone Ground Mustard Tofu
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
With this tasty maple syrup and stone ground mustard marinade, tofu is transformed into a mouth watering addition to any salad, sandwich, or pasta dish.
This sweet and sour tofu marinade is used as a marinade and a sauce for this delightful and sour tofu recipe.
Tofu Nuggets
Total Time: 26 minutes mins
Tofu nuggets are a party in your mouth. Air-fried or baked, these bite-sized nuggets are a perfect entree or snack. They are so easy to make and even easier to eat! The kids LOVE them! And wait until is taste the sauce!
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This delicious orange tofu is made with an orange citrus marinade and is grilled, baked, or air fried and added to quinoa and sauteed vegetables.
Orange Tofu
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Orange tofu recipe is marinated in a tangy orange sauce and grilled to perfection, then added to a bowl of red quinoa and stir-fried vegetables.
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Try this miso tofu marinade for a savory umami stir fry with grilled, baked, or air-fried tofu.
Miso Stir Fry
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
If you loved buttered noodles as a kid, this miso stir fry recipe is calling your name. Make it simple with miso noodles, or add vegetables and tofu for an incredible miso stir fry meal.
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With the variety of marinades for tofu and different cooking methods, tofu is one of the most versatile proteins. So, the next time you want to add healthy protein to any vegan dish, consider marinating some tofu.
How to Cook Marinated Tofu
Once marinated, cook tofu in a variety of ways. My favorite way to prepare tofu is to grill it, but that is only sometimes an option. So, here are several different ways to cook tofu.
Grilled
- Preheat grill to 350 or medium-low.
- You can place the marinated tofu directly on the grill or use agrill basket.
- Grill for 7 minutes on each side.
- Let cool slightly.
Baked
- Follow the same directions for marinating.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
- Place tofu pieces on a baking sheet with parchment paper orsilicone baking mats; I used mycopper crisper pan.
Air Fryer
- Dip the marinated tofu on each side with cornstarch
- Place large pieces into the basket, not touching each other.
- Cook on 370 for 10 minutes
- Open the basket and turn large tofu pieces over.
- Bake for 10 more minutes
Pan Searing
- Heat a non-stick skillet to medium.
- Add marinated tofu, only adding a small amount of the marinade at a time.
- As the tofu cooks, using a spatula, turn it over, adding the additional marinade.
- Cook until brown on all sides and the marinade has diminished.
Recipe FAQS
What flavors go well with tofu?
Since tofu is porous, it can easily absorb any flavor surrounding it, making it ideal for seasoning and marinating.
What is the healthiest way to cook tofu?
I think the healthiest (and easiest) way to cook tofu is by grilling it. And there's very little mess.
What is tofu made of?
Tofu -- or bean curd -- is made by pressing curdlingsoy milk into a solid block. Some tofu is firm, while others are soft and smooth.
Now that you know how to prepare, marinate, and cook tofu, you will be a lifelong fan!Try these tofu marinades to liven up your tofu.