Baked Tofu (with 3 Marinades)

 How to make Baked Tofu with 3 bold and flavorful marinades! Never have bland tofu again, with these three variations – Sesame Ginger Miso, Spicy Mexican Tofu, and BBQ Tofu. Simple, vegan and easy recipes- great for meal prep. Video!

Looking for more? Check out our 50+ Amazing Tofu Recipes!

Many of you have been messaging and emailing me, asking me how to add more flavor to your tofu.

 If you rather cook tofu on the stovetop, make sure to look at this Crispy Tofu Recipe .

Baked Tofu – 3 ways! | Video

Tofu can be cut into various sized pieces- cubes, strips or “filets” depending on how you plan to use them.

How to Bake Tofu:

1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. Blot a block of tofu with paper towels and press the tofu lightly, releasing the water.
3. Cut tofu into pieces – strips, cubes, or “filets” and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Coat all sides liberally with your favorite marinade!
5. Pour any leftover marinade over the top, or over veggies, to bake alongside.
6. Place the tofu in the 400F oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
7. For extra crispy baked tofu, continue baking an additional 5-10 minutes!

Tofu Faqs

What is tofu made of?

Tofu is made from soybeans, a versatile, healthy meat substitute that is high in protein, gluten-free, vegan, and low in fat and calories.

What does tofu taste like?

Tofu on its own is like a blank slate, having very little flavor. The advantage of this being it can take on any flavor or seasonings you give it!

What is the healthiest way to cook tofu?

Baking tofu (verses frying) using a minimal amount of oil provides the highest amount of protein with very little added fat.

How do you add flavor to tofu?

One of the easiest ways to add flavor to tofu is to bake tofu in a flavorful marinade. Much like a sponge, tofu will soak up the flavors that surround it- so baking tofu right in the marinade encourages this process while concentrating the flavors, and drying it out a bit, giving the tofu a pleasant texture. Baked tofu is really as easy as it gets.

Even the pickiest of eaters seem to enjoy these! Truly! And these three flavorful tofu marinades are simple enough to incorporate into your weekly meals. Pick one, then prep a batch on Sunday adding it to meals you are already making – Buddha Bowls, tacos, stir-fries, Asian noodles or simply serve with a hearty side of veggies.

Do you press Tofu before or after marinating?

Think of Tofu like a sponge. You want to press some of the water out of the tofu before you marinate it. This will allow the tofu to soak up some marinade, drawing it in. The best way to do this is to take 2 paper towels and lightly blot and press each side of a whole block. Don’t try to press out too hard or all of the water, some moisture is good here. Then cut.

What happens if you don’t press tofu?

If you don’t press the tofu before baking, the marinade may not soak into the tofu (because it is filled with water), resulting in tofu that is less flavorful, and less crispy.

Can you marinate Tofu too long?

The saltier the marinade the shorter the marinading time. Remember, tofu is like a sponge. Because you are baking the tofu in the marinade, you can bake tofu right after coating it in the marinade, or no longer than 24 hours of marinating time.

 Flavorful Tofu marinades:

1.  Baked Sesame Ginger Tofu – especially good with Asian style dishes like the Thai Noodle Salad from last week -also really tasty in spring rolls,  or Asian style buddha bowls or serve as a simple vegan main with a side of seasonal veggies.
2.  Baked Spicy BBQ Tofu–  a mix of your favorite barbecue sauce w/ a little sriracha sauce ( or chili flakes)  spooned over salted tofu before baking. Great alongside summer BBQ style meals with grilled corn, avocado and slaw, or in vegan sliders or sandwiches or over a bowlful of grilled summer veggies.
3. Smoky Spicy Mexican Style Baked Tofu – seasoned with cumin, chili powder, chipotle, this flavorful tofu is perfect in tacos, burrito bowls or in taco salads.
4. And if you like Peanut TOFU- Go Here!
5. Or Tofu Shawarma, Go Here!

 

What I like about these baked tofu recipes is that you can prep and bake a batch of this ahead on Sunday, then use the baked tofu for various mid-week meals when time is short.

The tofu marinade takes about 5 minutes of hands-on time,  before going into the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes.

What type of tofu to buy?

When purchasing tofu for baking in a marinade, always opt for organic, non-GMO, firm or extra firm tofu. Organic sprouted tofu is another great option. These are always found in the refrigerated section.

Silken tofu, the kind in vacuum-sealed cardboard boxes will be too soft in this application.

Above, the smoky spicy Mexican Baked Tofu is perfect for midweek tacos.

Below, the Sesame Ginger Baked Tofu is delicious over Thai peanut noodles.

How to cut tofu:

Cut the tofu in different shapes and sizes depending on what you are making with it. For example:

• Cut tofu into long narrow strips for spring rolls and tacos.
• Cut into big “filets” to use as a “main”.
• Cut tofu into cubes  for Buddha Bowls or tossed in salads.
• When baking tofu, a general rule of thumb is to cut it to ¾ of an inch thick.

Blend or stir the marinade ingredients together and simply pour over or brush on.

Bake at 400 F for 25-35 minutes. And that is it!

The baked tofu comes out crispy and full of flavor.

Baked tofu will keep up to 4-5 days in the fridge. It’s actually quite good cold.

Here is the sesame ginger baked tofu, with my favorite salad…..Thai Noodle Salad!

Tofu recipes need not ever be boring or bland again! Try one of these Baked Tofu recipes this week!

More Tofu Recipes you may enjoy!

• Crispy Tofu!
• 50+ Amazing Tofu Recipes!
• Crispy BBQ Tofu Sandwich with Slaw
• Bali Bowls with Peanut Tofu
• Black Pepper Tofu with Bok Choy
• Thai Chicken Satay (Vegan-adaptable- with TOFU!)

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