Wish to know the key to really DELICIOUS Tofu? It’s all about having a great marinade! I’ve obtained 6 totally different straightforward tofu marinades which can be nice for baked tofu, air fried tofu or actually ANY manner that you just’d like to arrange it!
Hopefully it goes with out saying that I’m a HUGE tofu fan. HUGE!
Ever since I began consuming a extra vegetarian weight-reduction plan about 6 years in the past, it has grow to be a beloved staple in my home. It took me a few years to determine get tofu to actually style scrumptious and I’m hoping to save lots of you that hassle 🙂
I’ve SIX totally different marinades so that you can check out in the present day! I needed to cowl a spread of various flavors so that you’re ready to prepare dinner and serve tofu with any sort of dish that you just want. If there are extra taste profiles that you just need to see, let me know and I’ll work on including to this listing.
Listed here are the 6 Straightforward Tofu Recipes:
- Cilantro Lime
- BBQ
- Teriyaki
- Balsamic
- Fajita
- Peanut Sauce
Earlier than we dive into the marinades, I need to go over a couple of necessary issues first:
Why marinate tofu?
I went years with out marinating my tofu and I’ve since discovered what a HUGE distinction it makes. Tofu itself has a really delicate style which makes it very versatile and nice for absorbing the flavors you add to it. When you don’t assume that you just like tofu, it’s most likely as a result of it wasn’t ready very effectively 🙂
What sort of tofu to make use of:
This completely is determined by the kind of recipe that you just’re making. Normally once I’m making a curry, stir fry, grilling the tofu or something like that, I virtually all the time need agency or extra-firm tofu.
When unsure, I counsel getting extra-firm tofu to make use of when marinating and cooking to be served with a dish.
Do I must press the tofu?
Normally, YES! Urgent your tofu earlier than cooking with it makes an enormous distinction. Particularly if you happen to’re making an attempt to get crispy tofu!
I’ve a WHOLE information on press tofu, with and with no tofu press, that you may take a look at HERE. Normally, I counsel urgent the tofu for about quarter-hour earlier than including it to the marinade.
What about freezing the tofu?
I speak quite a bit about freezing tofu in THIS which I extremely advocate testing. Freezing tofu (when you will have the time) is a GREAT manner so as to add a pleasant little bit of texture to your dish.
Tofu naturally has a number of moisture in it and while you freeze it, that moisture crystalizes and creates these little pockets all through the tofu. As soon as the tofu is thawed and and liquid is gone, the pockets are left within the tofu which ends up in a meatier texture that I actually love. The pockets additionally works effectively to take in taste!
Can I freeze marinated tofu? Why YES you may! Comply with the recipe as written and as soon as all the pieces is combined collectively and the bag is sealed, place it within the freezer. It’ll hold for about 6 months within the freezer and is GREAT for lazy dinners. Take the bag out the morning that you just need to get pleasure from it for dinner and let it thaw within the fridge all through the day. As soon as thawed, prepare dinner as normal. SO GOOD!
How lengthy to marinate tofu?
In a perfect world, your tofu will marinate for a couple of hours and even in a single day. Nevertheless, I’ve discovered that even simply half-hour of marinating your tofu will make an enormous distinction and end in a way more flavorful tofu dish.
How do I prepare dinner marinated tofu?
You should use these marinades in virtually any recipe. However if you happen to’re searching for numerous other ways to prepare dinner your tofu, listed below are a few of my favorites:
Easy methods to marinate tofu:
Marinating tofu is VERY easy particularly for HOW MUCH taste it provides to the meals. Merely choose your taste from beneath and add the entire components to a plastic bag, stasher bag, or resealable container or selection.
Prep the tofu by first urgent it after which chopping it into your required form. I’ve a information on other ways that you may lower tofu inside THIS POST. When you’re going to be marinating the tofu for 12+ hours or freezing it, you may truly throw the complete pressed block into the marinade earlier than chopping it.
Let sit for half-hour and even in a single day after which prepare dinner as desired. One among my favourite issues to do with the leftover marinade is so as to add it right into a saucepan with a cornstarch slurry (2 tablespoons of water + 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch) and prepare dinner till thickened. It makes for an ideal sauce to placed on prime of the tofu!
Cilantro Lime Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of lime juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
- ½ cup of cilantro chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
BBQ Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder
- ½ teaspoon of paprika
- ¼ teaspoon pf salt
- Sprint of liquid smoke (elective)
Teriyaki Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
Balsamic Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Fajita Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¼ cup of lime juice
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 teaspoon of maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon floor cumin
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pf chili powder
- Elective: sprint of liquid smoke
Thai Peanut Tofu Marinade
What you want:
- ¼ cup of peanut butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons of lime juice
- 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
Description
See how straightforward it’s to make TRULY scrumptious tofu by marinating it utilizing one in every of my 6 scrumptious tofu marinades!
Cilantro Lime marinade:
BBQ marinade:
Teriyaki marinade:
Balsamic marinade:
Fajita marinade:
Thia Peanut marinade:
- Prep your tofu: Comply with my directions HERE for urgent tofu and lower it into your required shapes. I wish to dice mine into chunk sized items however actually something works! Set facet.
- Make the marinade: I wish to whisk collectively my marinade straight within the dish/ bag that I plan to marinate the tofu in. A plastic baggie, stasher bag, or actually any sort of shallow resealable container works effectively. Add the entire components (minus the tofu) and whisk till absolutely mixed.
- Add the tofu: add in your tofu items and let marinate for half-hour and even in a single day. See notes above for freezing. Ideally this may marinate for a great few hours however even simply half-hour makes an enormous distinction.
- Cook dinner as desired and ENJOY! As desired, you need to use the leftover marinade to make a sauce to your tofu (this works with the entire marinades EXCEPT the peanut marinade). Add it right into a saucepan with a cornstarch slurry (2 tablespoons of water + 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch) and prepare dinner over medium warmth till thickened (about 3-5 minutes). It makes for an ideal sauce to placed on prime of the tofu!
- Prep Time: quarter-hour
- Cook dinner Time: half-hour
- Class: Tofu
- Methodology: Marinade
- Delicacies: American
Key phrases: tofu marinade, marinade tofu, flavorful tofu
