The 20 Best Tofu Recipes (2024)

These 20 tofu recipes will definitely change the way you look at tofu! Tofu doesn’t have to be boring and plain. In fact, it’s super delicious, extremely versatile, and packed with protein! These 20 vegan tofu recipes are the perfect proof!

I’m sure you’ve heard someone saying that tofu is super plain and has a weird texture. Or maybe you even think so yourself? I’ve been there! When I became vegetarian, I didn’t like tofu at all! In fact, I hated its texture and taste. However, over the years I learned how to prepare it the right way and I now absolutely LOVE it!

It’s such a healthy and versatile product and often plays an important part in vegan cooking!

Tofu is:

  • a great source of protein
  • extremely versatile
  • budget-friendly
  • kind of tasteless, so you can add any kind of flavor to it by using spices and sauces
  • super delicious
  • a real super star in the vegan kitchen!

I have some delicious vegan tofu recipes on the blog myself. But to provide you with even more recipes with tofu, I teamed up with some fellow food bloggers.With these 20 tofu recipes you will never think again that tofu is boring!!

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This roundup includes:

  • crispy tofu recipes (like Nashville hot tofu nuggets or baked sesame tofu cubes)
  • Chinese tofu recipes (how does general tso’s tofu sound?)
  • tofu skewers
  • crusted tofu as well as baked tofu recipes
  • a tofu chili with beans and corn (it’s packed with protein!)
  • tofu burgers and sandwiches
  • and lots of other simple tofu recipes!

So let’s get started with all the yumminess!!

1.Vegan Bibimbap with Crispy Sesame Tofu

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Crispy tofu cubes with sesame seeds on top are the superstar in this vegan bibimbap. The whole dishcomes together pretty quickly and you can prepare most of the ingredients in advance. It’s a Korean classic that is packed with flavor and color – all in one bowl!

2. Vegan Nashville Hot Tofu Nuggets

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These vegan Nashville hot tofu nuggets by Lauren from Rabbit and Wolves are the perfect comfort food! They’re kind of like a vegan take on deep fried Nashville hot chicken!

But the best part is that Lauren’s tofu nuggets are super crispy and crunch all without frying! The sauce is a little sweet and very spice. BIG yum!!

3.Afghan Cauliflower and Tofu Tikka Kebab Skewers

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These smokey cauliflower and tofu tikka kebab skewers byEva from The Curious Chickpea are perfect for summertime barbecues! Before Eva grilled the skewers, she marinated the cauliflower and the tofu in a vegan spiced yogurt sauce. They’re great on a bed of rice or you could also serve them in wraps with some extra vegan yogurt sauce.

4. Spicy Vegan Tofu Chili with Sour Cream

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You definitely won’t miss the meat in this spicy vegan tofu chili with cashew sour cream! It’s super easy to make and packed with protein! It has been one of my favorite vegan weeknight meals for a long time. Top it off with some homemade cashew sour cream, avocado, and tortilla chips.

5. Almond Rosemary Lemon Crusted Tofu

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Doesn’t this almond rosemary lemon crusted tofu by Sam from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken look absolutely delicious? It’s super crispy and crunchy and makes a great meal. Maybe in combination with a side of greens and potatoes or on top of a salad. All in all, this crusted tofu is ready in just under 40 minutes.

6.Vegan Battered Tofu Mexican Tortas

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I wish I could just bite right into this vegan battered tofu Mexican sandwich by Eva from The Curious Chickpea! It’s filled with refried beans, vegan mayonnaise, seitan bacon, roasted poblanos, and cabbage slaw. And the main part is a vegan battered tofu steak! This is what I call an AWESOME vegan sandwich!

7.Vegan Sheet Pan Fajitas with Chipotle Lime Tofu

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This recipe for vegan sheet pan fajitas with chipotle lime tofu by Caitlin from From My Bowl couldn’t be easier! All you need for the preparation is your oven and a sheet pan! It makes a perfect weeknight dinner for busy days. Such a great and easy way to use tofu!

8. Tofu and Kale Pesto Sandwich

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This vegan tofu and kale pesto sandwich with carrots, grilled zucchini, and lettuce is perfect for a quick and healthy lunch! Maybe the best vegan sandwich I had in a long time. And it’s packed with protein and vitamins!

9.Vegan Thai Red Curry with Tofu and Vegetables

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This vegan Thai curry with tofu and mixed vegetablesby Ruchi from Ruchi’s Kitchen makes a great weeknight dinner. All in all, it comes together in less than 30 minutes and is packed with flavor. Furthermore, it’s very easy to customize to your personal liking. For a healthier version serve it with brown rice.

10.Sweet and Salty Tofu Bowls

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These sweet and salty tofu bowls by Cindy from Vegetarian Mamma are such a great way to use tofu. They are very easy to make and, thus, make a great weeknight dinner.

Besides, they have the perfect balance between sweet and salty! And for an extra boost of vitamins you could add some broccoli.

11.Baked Spicy Peanut Butter Tofu by Amber from Quite Good Food

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These baked spicy peanut butter tofu cubes by Amber from Quite Good Food are the perfect protein bomb! You can add them to salads or warm meals. For her blog post, Amber served them with pre-shredded slaw, mint leaves, and more sesame seeds. For an extra kick of flavor, drizzle some hot sauce on top.

12.Vegan Sunbutter Chocolate Pretzel Pie

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Yes, you can also make sweet recipes with tofu. This vegan sunbutter chocolate pretzel pie by Dianne from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen is the perfect proof! You need only six ingredients for this pie: silken tofu, chocolate chips, maple syrup, sun butter, and crushed pretzels. Sounds pretty easy, right?

13.General Tsos Tofu

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This general tsos tofu by Melissa from Vegan Huggs is such a sticky sweet goodness! The recipe is originally from Chloe Coscarelli’s cookbook Chloe Flavor, which Melissa reviewed on her blog. Instead of chicken, Chloe used tofu for this delicious Chinese American classic! For more spiciness add some extra sriracha.

14.Black Bean Tofu Tacos with Walnut Crumble

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Don’t these vegan loaded black bean tofu tacos by Anjali from Vegetarian Gastronomy look delicious? They make such a great weeknight meal. And the best part is that they’re super delicious while being pretty healthy and protein-packed at the same time. Anjali served these tofu tacos with walnut crumble lettuce, avocado, and vegan sour cream.

15.Vegan Goulash with Smoked Tofu and Potatoes

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This vegan goulash with smoked tofu by Bianca from Elephantastic Vegan is a great recipe for fall and winter. It’s very comforting and requires only very few ingredients. And it’s also pretty budget-friendly! Plus, it practically cooks by itself and you only have 5 minutes of actual preparation time!

16.Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Silken Tofu

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Here’s another great vegan dessert recipe with tofu! If you haven’t tried vegan chocolate pudding or mousse au chocolat with silken tofu yet, you should really give it a try! Sara from Beaming Banana has a great recipe on her blog!

17.Chilled Smoked Tofu Sesame Rice Noodle Salad

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If you’re looking for a fresh summer recipe, this cold noodle salad with smoked tofu and sesame dressing by Linda from Veganosity is perfect for you! It’s packed with healthy protein and vitamins. I mean just look at all those different colors! It definitely won’t put you down. And it’s also pretty easy to make!

18.Easy Tofu Teriyaki Skewers

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These teriyaki tofu skewers by Steven from The Nut-Free Vegan make such a great finger food! Or serve them as a tasty protein in combination with a salad, vegetables, or over rice.

19.Teriyaki Grilled Tofu Kabobs

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Are you looking for a vegan barbecue recipe? Then these teriyaki grilled tofu kabobs with pineapple and red bell pepper are perfect for you!Amy from Veggies Save The Day did such a great job creating these! They’re super easy to make and very delicious. And the recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free.

20.Easy Cheezy Tofu Loaf

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This tofu loaf by Joann from Woman In Real Life sure is a creative way to use tofu. It makes such a delicious and festive entree for the holidays. Who thought that tofu could be this festive?

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS!

I hope you like these vegan tofu recipes. There are so many different ways to use tofu! What’s your favorite tofu recipe?

If you give any of these recipes a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Justleave me a commentbelow. Your comments really make my day!

You like my recipes and roundups and want to see more? Then follow me onFacebook,Instagram, orPinterest!

Sina – xx

The 20 Best Tofu Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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.

What is the tofu rule? ›

No one cares about unblocking a task as much as the person doing it. That's why it's important for that person to follow the Take Ownership and Follow Up (TOFU) principle. That means taking ownership of the task and chasing the people you are waiting on until it gets done.

Why won t my tofu get crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

What makes tofu taste better? ›

How to Cook Tofu That Actually Tastes Good
  1. First, you need to "press" tofu. Here's how: ...
  2. It tastes best when marinated, just not with oil. If you don't marinate it, it won't taste like anything. ...
  3. Use cornstarch to make tofu crispy. ...
  4. You can also broil and grill it. ...
  5. Here's what you can make with tofu:
Mar 20, 2019

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.

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.

Is it okay to eat tofu every day? ›

Similarly, the American Cancer Society sees no dangers from eating soy. "For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said.

How much tofu is safe to eat per day? ›

A moderate amount is defined as one to two servings of whole soy foods such as tofu, soy milk, edamame or soy nuts per day. Some studies have also reported a protective effect of soy for prostate and lung cancers.

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Cut tofu into cubes. Step 2: Place those cubes in a bowl, and toss gently with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Step 3: Arrange tofu on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and salt. Step 4: Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, or until as crispy as you'd like.

What to use instead of cornstarch for tofu? ›

Rice flour—not to be confused with rice starch—is another cornstarch alternative. It's made from finely milled rice and is naturally gluten-free. “I do like rice flour for certain crispy moments, like in fried chicken batter or to coat tofu cubes,” Kendra says.

Why does my tofu have no flavor? ›

Plain tofu has no specific flavor and is honestly, quite bland. This might be why people tend to hate it but the fact that it's bland is exactly why we should LOVE it. The texture of tofu is more important than the taste- all the different types of tofu have different textures.

How do you get the most flavor out of tofu? ›

Freezing is a popular method before marinating tofu because the tofu texture becomes more porous as it freezes and thaws which allows the tofu to soak up more flavor. Some cooks swear by double freezing and thawing before making crispy vegan fried chicken.

What should I season tofu with? ›

Most seafood seasonings include celery seed, paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper. Add lime juice to the tofu marinade to bring forward more of that classic seafood flavor. 5. Soy sauce: Marinating tofu in soy sauce helps the tofu absorb flavor quickly.

How long does tofu last in the fridge? ›

If it darkens in color, begins to smell, or feels slimy, it should be thrown away. Bottom line: Open packages of tofu are good in the fridge for up to five days, provided you change the water daily.

What are the pros and cons of tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

Do I need to 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 does soaking tofu in salt water do? ›

This salt water soak may seem counterintuitive but it actually helps draw the moisture out of the tofu.

How do you keep tofu from getting soggy? ›

Place on folded paper towels and cover with more paper towels. This step will wick away a lot of the moisture. If you like, you might even apply some weight like a plate. Taking away some moisture will give it a chewier texture and eliminate splatter when you fry them.

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