The secret to loving tofu is knowing how to prepare it and using different marinades to flavor it. Here is a collection tofu marinade recipe Make you a tofu lover!
I love tofu, and the marinade for tofu makes perfect tofu. Unfortunately, most people who don’t like tofu don’t know how to prepare it. Pressing tofu, as well as marinades for tofu, makes or breaks tofu success.
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Benefits of eating tofu
As an excellent source of protein, add tofu to a variety of recipes. Although tofu is quite bland on its own, marinades for tofu enhance the flavor and texture.
Generally, tofu haters should learn to prepare it properly. At the beginning of my plant-based journey, I was also a tofu hater.
I vividly remember my first tofu experience at an Asian restaurant ordering tofu instead of meat on my plate, and the tofu was bland and tasteless. I remember picking it out of my vegetables as a little kid and making a sour disappointed face.
Since then, however, I have discovered the technique of pressing and marinating tofu.
Different types of tofu
- First and foremost, the type of tofu you buy is essential. For example, soft or silken tofu is used for dressings, dips and sauces.
- Farm tofu, as well as farm-silken tofu, is best used for quiches or vegan cheesecakes.
- On the other hand, extra firm tofu is made for entrees and can be baked, air-fried, grilled or sautéed. I always buy the firmest tofu as a general rule.
- Sprouted tofu is the firmest tofu, and does not require pressing. This is my favorite because I don’t have to press it. Instead, I use a paper towel to dry it and it’s ready.
- For soy-free tofu, try chickpea tofu .
Press the tofu before marinating
First, carefully remove the tofu from the package, discarding the liquid from the container.
Then, place the tofu in the center of a tofu press And turn both knobs equally about four turns. I usually set the tofu press on its side in the sink, but I put it on a plate to drain this visual post.
- Turn the knobs evenly every two minutes until you get your result (last picture).
- Most people stop here…not yet. So keep turning until the knobs are screwed in as far as possible.
- Although I have never tried this, I decided this time that I would measure the amount of water from the bottom of the plate to the end.
- The amount was ¾ cup of liquid.
- Now, remove the press from the plate, and I give another press with a paper towel to remove excess liquid.
Best Marinades for Tofu
Regardless of the type of marinade chosen, I recommend marinating overnight for best results.
Are you looking for a vegan burger that grills well? This tofu burger is marinated in a delicious “steak” marinade that takes your tofu burger to the next level.
Tofu burgers are so easy to make and simply fabulous. Marinated in my favorite burger marinade, tofu burgers are so delicious; They can be your favorite veggie burger—with my secret sauce or BBQ coleslaw, or topped with your favorite toppings.
Check out this recipe
For a tangy peanut satay marinade, try this delicious Asian marinade. It’s great for tofu satay and cubed tofu for an Asian bowl.
Tofu satay is full of flavor and served as a peanut dipping sauce or as a topping in a salad or noodle bowl.
Check out this recipe
Keeping with the Asian theme, this tofu poke bowl marinade is slightly spicy with an umami flavor. It is delicious.
Plant-based vegan poke bowls are easier to make at home and much cheaper than at restaurants. Create your own creative collection or try it; You will love it.
Check out this recipe
Tofu banh mi, anyone? This Asian tofu marinade is based on a traditional banh mi sandwich. With you love the combination of sweet and spicy!
The tofu banh mi sandwich is loaded with fresh coleslaw of carrots, cabbage and red onion. Then topped with seared sriracha tofu and topped with spicy vegan mayo topped with handfuls of cilantro, jalapeños and crispy cucumber slices.
Check out this recipe
If you like citrus, you’ll love this combination of orange, lemon and lime juice with garlic and a hint of spice.
It’s chillin’ and grillin’ time! Grilled tofu is a fresh summer meal! Citrus marinade combined with mango salsa make this grilled tofu recipe the perfect meal for a spring or summer night.
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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 is the perfect topping for salads, noodle bowls, wraps, or rice bowls.
Check out this recipe
This almond butter marinade is the magic of this grilled Asian tofu bowl. It is creamy, tangy and delicious.
Enjoy a quick and satisfying dinner with grilled Asian sesame tofu on a bed of Asian vegetable slaw.
Check out this recipe
The marinade for the tofu in the dragon noodle recipe is simple yet addictive.
Savory, sweet and spicy, drunken noodles are an easy, few-ingredient recipe for making oil-free Thai food at home. Add some favorite tofu, or eat these delicious noodles alone.
Check out this recipe
This tofu skewer marinade is sweet and tangy and tastes great on both the tofu and the vegetables.
Tofu Skewers are layered in a tofu steak marinade with the flavors of charred red onion, mushroom, and roasted red pepper. So, next time you’re grilling and chilling, grill up some tofu skewers.
Check out this recipe
This lemon tahini marinade is perfect for a marinated tofu salad.
Tofu Salad is a cool summer salad with grilled tofu and corn and colorful vegetables and herbs, topped with toasted blanched almonds, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries dressed in a lemon tahini vinaigrette.
Check out this recipe
I love vegan feta cheese and this tofu feta cheese marinade makes the perfect homemade tofu feta cheese.
Tofu feta cheese is great for adding a perfect topping to salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Or, eat it with your favorite Mediterranean vegan nosh board.
Check out this recipe
If you like Jamaican jerk sauce, you’ll love this tofu jerk marinade. Add it to a bowl of fresh veggies, pineapple and rice and you’ll feel like you’re on a Jamaican beach.
Jamaican Grilled Jerk Tofu is a combination of sweet and savory. Crispy on the outside and delicate on the inside, jerk tofu is great in a Caribbean bowl, sandwich, wrap, or salad topper if you don’t eat it before you decide how to eat it.
Check out this recipe
Barbecue lovers rejoice! This BBQ tofu marinade makes the best BBQ tofu for a bowl, sandwich, wrap, or salad.
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 dish.
Check out this recipe
Enjoy the taste of Korean BBQ with this delicious Korean Tofu Marinade. The secret is the gochujang sauce.
Korean Tofu is a sweet but slightly spicy crispy grilled tofu recipe. Crispy on the outside with the usual soft tofu texture on the inside, this sweet tangy tofu can be added to a dish to add some tanginess to your next meal.
Check out this recipe
For nutty, creamy, slightly spicy marinades and sauces, nothing is better than peanut sauce marinade.
Tofu with peanut sauce is marinated in a Thai peanut dressing and grilled to perfection. Perfect for a bowl, stir-fry, sandwich, or meal on its own, tofu with peanut sauce is delicious and flavorful.
Check out this recipe
For a sweet teriyaki marinade made with fresh pineapple juice, try this tofu teriyaki marinade.
Teriyaki tofu served on a bed of sweet, tangy, and yummy brown rice, kale, edamame, snap peas, baby bell peppers, green onions, and fresh pineapple, topped with homemade teriyaki sauce.
Check out this recipe
Maple syrup and stone-ground mustard make a beautiful and delicious tofu marinade.
With this delicious maple syrup and stone ground mustard marinade, tofu transforms into a mouth-watering addition to any salad, sandwich or pasta dish.
This sweet and sour tofu marinade is used as both a marinade and a sauce for this delightful and sour tofu recipe.
Sweet and Sour Tofu Recipe is crispy tofu in a healthy sweet and sour sauce served with stir-fried vegetables on a bed of brown rice and then drizzled with extra sauce for added indulgence.
Check out this recipe
This delicious orange tofu is made with an orange citrus marinade and grilled, baked or air fried and added to quinoa and roasted vegetables.
The orange tofu recipe is marinated in a tangy orange sauce and grilled to perfection, then added to a bowl of red quinoa and roasted vegetables.
Check out this recipe
Try this miso tofu marinade for a delicious umami stir fry with grilled, baked or air-fried tofu.
If you loved buttered noodles as a kid, this miso stir fry recipe is calling your name. Keep it simple with miso noodles, or add vegetables and tofu for an incredible miso stir fry meal.
Check out this recipe
With a variety of marinades and different cooking methods for tofu, tofu is one of the most versatile proteins. So, the next time you want to add healthy protein to a vegetarian meal, consider marinating some tofu.
How to Cook Marinated Tofu
Once marinated, cook the tofu in different ways. My favorite way to prepare tofu is to grill it, but that’s sometimes an option. So, here are different ways to cook tofu.
Ggroove
- Preheat grill to 350 or medium-low.
- You can place the marinated tofu directly on the grill or use a grill basket.
- Grill for 7 minutes on each side.
- Let cool slightly.
baked
Air Fryer
- Dip marinated tofu on each side with cornstarch
- Place large pieces in the basket, do not touch each other.
- Cook at 370 for 10 minutes
- Open the basket and turn the large tofu pieces.
- Bake for another 10 minutes
Pan searing
- Heat a non-stick pan to medium.
- Add the marinated tofu, adding only a small amount of the marinade at a time.
- As the tofu cooks, using a spatula, turn it over to add additional marinade.
- Cook until browned on all sides and the marinade has reduced.
Recipe FAQS
Because tofu is porous, it can easily absorb any flavors around it, making it ideal for seasoning and marinating.
I think the healthiest (and easiest) way to cook tofu is to grill it. And there is very little chaos.
Tofu – or bean curd – is made by pressing the soy milk into a solid block of curd. Some tofu are firm, while others are soft and smooth.
Now that you know how to prepare, marinate and cook tofu, I’m sure you’ll be a fan for life!
Oh! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher and vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is completely plant-based vegan. I truly believe that what we eat and how we live determines our health and the preservation of our planet! 🙂