Tofu Marinade Recipes

MARINATED TOFU (THE BEST TOFU EVER!)

Steps:

• Quick press the tofu: Cut the tofu into cubes. Place them evenly on a flat surface such as a cutting board lined with paper towels or a clean towel. Cover with a layer of paper towels, set a baking sheet on top and then something heavy, like a large book or cast iron skillet. Press like this for 15 minutes while you make the marinade.
• Make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
• Marinate the tofu: Place the pressed tofu pieces in a shallow dish. (In the photos above I doubled the recipe, so I used a 9 x 13 inch dish, but for one batch you will need a smaller dish, such as an 8 x 8 inch.) Pour the marinade over the tofu. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour, covered, in the refrigerator. If you want to leave it overnight, it will be even more flavorful.
• Cook the tofu: In a large skillet, cast iron preferred, add a few tablespoons of a neutral oil, such as canola oil and heat over medium-high heat. You can omit the oil if needed, but you will need a very good non-stick pan so the tofu pieces don't stick. Remove the tofu pieces from the marinade and add to the pan. Do not discard the marinade sauce. Fry the tofu until golden brown on each side.
• Once the tofu pieces are browned, pour any leftover marinade sauce into the pan with the tofu, and stir to coat. This makes the tofu even more flavorful! The tofu will quickly absorb the sauce. Remove from heat, and serve with rice and stir fried vegetables such as baby bok choy, mushrooms and carrots.
• Store leftover tofu in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It's also good cold, as a high protein snack or in sandwiches and salads.

7 HEALTHY TOFU MARINADE RECIPES

Steps:

• Remove the tofu from the package and drain any excess liquid. Place the tofu on 3-4 paper towels. Then add another 3-4 paper towels on top. You can also wrap the tofu in a clean dish towel for this process.
• Place a clean heavy frying pan or pot on top of the tofu for 30 minutes. This will "press the tofu" and squeeze out any excess moisture. If your pan isn't too heavy you can add canned beans on top to create more weight.Replace the paper towels halfway through if they become too wet.
• Once tofu is pressed, use a knife to cut it into 1-inch cubes. Place in a ziploc bag or glass container.
• In a bowl or jar, combine the marinade ingredients and mix together.
• Pour the marinade into a bag with chopped tofu. Place in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes or longer.Note: These marinades create the best flavor when tofu can be soaked for at least 2-4 hours - I prefer to marinate overnight.
• Heat a frying pan with a bit of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Pan should be hot before adding in the tofu and sauce. Cook until the tofu is browned on each side, about 8-10 minutes.The sauce will reduce during this time and the tofu will get crispy.
• Lightly coat the inside of the air fryer tray or basket with avocado oil spray or other cooking spray. Add the chopped tofu to the tray. Cook at 400°F for 16-20 minutes, tossing them halfway through. Tofu will be done when brown and crispy on the sides.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tofu in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 16-20 minutes or until tofu is crispy on the edges. Toss and flip the tofu with a spatula halfway through.
• Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight glass container. You can reheat the tofu leftovers in the frying pan or microwave.

SPICY TOFU MARINADE

Steps:

• Whisk together all of the ingredients in a bowl. Use as a marinade and/or dipping sauce for pan-seared, grilled or plain tofu.

PERFECT GRILLED TOFU

Steps:

• Wrap tofu in a clean dish towel and weight it with something heavy such as a large can; leave it to drain for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together remaining ingredients in a bowl.
• Cut each piece of tofu crosswise into 6 thick slices and put it all in a baking dish. Pour marinade over tofu, turning to coat, and chill, covered, turning occasionally, at least 30 minutes or up to 48 hours. Longer is better, but shorter is totally fine.
• Preheat a gas grill on high heat (450 degrees F to 650 degrees F) 10 minutes, then reduce heat to medium (325 degrees F to 375 degrees F)--or do whatever the equivalent is if you're using charcoal. Oil grate.
• Transfer tofu from marinade (letting excess drip off and reserving marinade) to grill with a spatula. Cover grill and cook tofu, turning once, until well browned but before grill marks get black, 10 to 15 minutes total. Transfer tofu to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Bring reserved marinade to a boil in a saucepan and boil until it reduces to about 1 cup, about 2 minutes. Pour over tofu and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.