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    Home » Tofu Recipes

    The Best Marinated Tofu Recipe

    Lindsay Moe

    24960 shares
    pinterest image for the best tofu recipe

    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 in a bed of noodles and salat
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    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.

    perfectly cooked tofu in a light blue bowl

    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.

    Lemon juice, soy sauce, half a lemon, garlic powder, and sriracha, lined up to become a marinade for the best tofu recipe.

    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!

    a bowl of tofu

    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.

    chopsticks holding a piece of perfectly cooked tofu

    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
    the best tofu recipe on a bed of noodles and salad

    Be sure to tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram if 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!

    a bowl of tofu
    a white plate with tofu, rice noodles, and veggies

    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!
    4.18 from 91 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 25 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!

    More Tofu Recipes

    • How to Press Tofu With a Tofu Press
    • Scrambled Tofu
    • Pesto Tofu with Balsamic Vegetables
    • Vegan Ham

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Edna Gonzalez says

      April 05, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      Will this recipe be good for lunch the next day?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 05, 2018 at 2:13 pm

        It will be less crispy, but still tastes wonderful! I frequently eat leftover tofu for lunch the net day. If you miss the crispiness consider adding a sprinkling of chopped peanuts or cashews.

        Reply
    2. Lisa says

      April 13, 2018 at 7:03 am

      You mentioned cornstarch in the discussion but it’s not mentioned in the recipe ingredients or directions. Was this an error or is it optional? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 13, 2018 at 1:44 pm

        It is an optional variation, the recipe as written does not require cornstarch. Sorry for any confusion!

        Reply
    3. Bernice says

      October 03, 2018 at 12:09 pm

      Can I leave off siracha

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        October 05, 2018 at 10:08 am

        Absolutely! I don’t think it makes it spicy at all, but if you’d like to leave it out it might just taste a little more plain.

        Reply
    4. Liana says

      October 13, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      This looks awesome, I’ll try it today and report back. Thanks for posting this recipe along with the tips..

      Reply
    5. Anne Amore says

      November 06, 2018 at 4:50 pm

      If I shouldn’t eat tofu everyday how should I keep it in the fridge and for how long?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        November 07, 2018 at 1:01 pm

        You can store any leftover tofu in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

        Reply
    6. C.d. Cooper says

      January 13, 2019 at 6:17 pm

      How do I figure a serving size for 110 calories?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        January 15, 2019 at 1:58 pm

        There are four servings in the recipe, so one fourth of this would be 110 calories. I think it comes out to something like 4-5 cubes of tofu.

        Reply
    7. April Manzo says

      January 16, 2019 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy:) My kids loved it too!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        January 17, 2019 at 9:14 am

        That’s wonderful, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Alyssa says

      March 27, 2019 at 1:10 am

      5 stars
      Lindsay, it’s really that simple and so tasty, thanks!

      Reply
    9. Olga says

      April 01, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      Lindsay, this looks tasty! These are absolutely mouth watering! It will quickly disappear in our house, very tasty and flavorful!

      Reply
    10. Scott says

      April 22, 2019 at 9:21 am

      5 stars
      So good I cooked it all it was all gone in 1 min and I cooked 15 things of it

      Reply
    11. Lorre’ says

      September 29, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      I like this recipe a lot. I add just a bit of water to cut down the saltiness of it. I’ve made it several times. Yummy!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        September 30, 2019 at 8:21 am

        Thanks for sharing your adaptation, I’m so glad you enjoy it!

        Reply
    12. Zinnia says

      February 02, 2020 at 12:03 pm

      Great recipe! Thank you!

      Reply
    13. Colleen C Robinson says

      March 06, 2020 at 12:50 pm

      I made this last night and my 35 year old daughter thought it tasted like chicken nuggets and asked for honey to dip the tofu in. We all tried it with honey and it were delicious! This recipe is a keeper for me. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        March 09, 2020 at 1:25 pm

        YUM! Great idea, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed it!

        Reply
    14. [email protected] says

      March 19, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love to eat tofu and your suggestion is the good idea for me to prepare the healthy meal. Thank you so much for your sharing. Hope to hear more from your site.

      Reply
    15. Christina says

      May 26, 2020 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Can I leave this marinading in the fridge overnight?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        May 29, 2020 at 2:26 pm

        I think you could!

        Reply
    16. jess says

      June 20, 2020 at 10:47 am

      Can I oven bake this?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 22, 2020 at 4:23 pm

        Yes, I recommend baking it at 400ºF for about 30 minutes, tossing once or twice.

        Reply
    17. Kaleigh says

      November 17, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      I have been making this every other week for about a year now. So it’s probably time I comment and say thank you for sharing this recipe! It’s my boyfriend and 2 year olds favorite.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        November 18, 2020 at 3:27 pm

        This is wonderful, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

        Reply
    18. phx cooks says

      December 03, 2020 at 8:58 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, it looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. Tofu is my favorite food, I love it so much. I will try to make this Tofu for my family. I believe my family will like this very much. Love so much.

      Reply
    19. Linda says

      July 25, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      Love this recipe but I’ve been cooking it in the oven because it sticks to the pan terribly. Any suggestions? Anyone else have this issue?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        July 28, 2021 at 2:09 pm

        I’ve never had this issue, so hopefully we can get it figured out! Make sure your cast iron pan is well seasoned and you could try using a little more oil. When using any kind of pan, make sure the pan and oil are hot before adding the tofu. Let me know if this doesn’t help!

        Reply

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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    24960 shares