Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (2024)

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posted by Jessica Hylton on Mar 1, 2021 79 comments »

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5 (from 77 ratings)

This Marinated Tofu recipe will make you fall in LOVE with tofu with LOTS of great tips! It’s great for baking, pan-frying, grilling, in the air fryer and so much more! Perfect for a multi-purpose simple marinade and makes your tofu so flavourful.

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (1)

A common question I hear is, “my tofu is so bland by itself – how do I get it to taste tasty?”. I love hearing this because it means there are SO many possibilities and that I get the opportunity to blow someone’s mind with how good tofu can taste!

Just like you would pretty much ANY protein source, you HAVE to season tofu if you want it to have flavour. As I said in my Tofu 101 blog post (a must read), it’s not tofu’s job to taste good. It’s a complete source of protein, and a beautiful blank slate to season with whatever your heart desires. Season it well (in fact – season all your veggies) and your tastebuds will thank you. It’s that simple. This is the general tofu marinade recipe that I use for many of my tofu recipes at home. When we just want some tasty tofu, we make this!


Notes on the Ingredients

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (2)

block of tofu – always ensure it’s not silken (just regular firm or extra firm) and pressed for at least 30 minutes!

soy sauce– I always use light soy sauce, you can also use liquid aminos or coconut aminos or tamari. Don’t skip this – this helps to really penetrate the tofu for that inside out flavour.

rice wine vinegar– I love the flavour, feel free to experiment with regular vinegar or apple cider vinegar too although it won’t taste the same.

sesame oil– you could also use your favourite flavoured oil here.

agave– you can also use maple syrup! Helps to balance out the other flavours, doesn’t make it sweet.

garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika (preferably smoked)– my preferred seasonings for this marinade!

cornstarch – this helps to thicken up the rest of the marinade to make the marinated tofu a bit saucy too after cooking! You could also use regular flour if you can’t use cornstarch, but it might not be the exact same texture.

How to Make Marinated Tofu (Step by Step Instructions)

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (3)

In a medium-size bowl place the pressed and cubed tofu. Add the soy sauce and toss to coat. Add in all of the other marinade ingredients and toss to thoroughly combine. Ensure all the pieces are coated and let the tofu sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 days.

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (4)

In a pan over medium high heat, add the oil. Once hot, scoop your tofu out of the leftover marinade (do not toss your marinade) and add into the pan. Crisp up your tofu on each side for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until all sides are crisped up and browned.

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (5)

While your tofu is cooking, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to the marinade and whisk vigorously to combine.

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (6)

Once tofu is finished cooking. Turn off the heat. Immediately add in your marinade and stir to combine. The residual heat will heat through the sauce and cook off the cornstarch. Stir to combine and let it all sit together for at least 2 minutes.

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (7)

Remove from the stove, serve and enjoy!

Expert Tips & FAQ

  • Allowing the marinade to sit on the tofu for at least 30 minutes really makes a massive difference to penetrating the tofu and giving it a deep flavour. Marinated tofu really is the best!
  • Make sure you’re not buying silken tofu! That will yield the wrong texture and will break apart if you try and press it. Check out myTofu 101post for more, or watch mytofu 101 IG series.
  • If you want to bake the tofu instead, I recommend following my Baked Tofu post instructions – 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping in between. I would still recommend doing the marinade with cornstarch step afterwards (just heat up the pan a bit and add the tofu right after it comes out of the oven).
  • How to press tofu:I cover this in detail in myHow to Cook Tofu 101 post! The prep time includes the time to press the tofu
  • Often times tofu sticks in your pan if you’re trying to flip it too early, the heat is too low, or your non-stick coating is gone. If your tofu is sticking, consider one of these and adjust accordingly – it’s usually that you’re trying to flip it too quickly!
Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (8)
  • Sweet and Sour Tofu
  • Easy Baked Tofu
  • How to Make Crispy Tofu

Enjoy friends! If you make thisMarinated Tofu Recipe, please snap a photo and tag#jessicainthekitchenonInstagram! We’d also love if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (9)

Marinated Tofu Recipe

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

This Marinated Tofu recipe will make you fall in LOVE with tofu with LOTS of great tips! It's great for baking, pan-frying, grilling, in the air fryer and so much more! Perfect for a multi-purpose simple marinade and makes your tofu so flavourful.

5 (from 77 ratings)

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb block of tofu, pressed for at least 30 minutes and cut into 1-inch pieces

Marinade Recipe

  • 1/4 cup light soy sauce, don't use regular soy sauce (you can always used liquid aminos, tamari or coconut aminos
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 4 teaspoons agave
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika, (preferably smoked)
  • 2 tablespoons water

Rest of Recipe

  • 2 teaspoons oil, (any oil)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • In a medium-size bowl place the pressed and cubed tofu. Add the soy sauce and toss to coat. Add in all of the other marinade ingredients (rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, agave, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika and water) and toss to thoroughly combine. Ensure all the pieces are coated and let the tofu sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 days.

Rest of the Recipe

  • In a pan over medium high heat, add the oil. Once hot, scoop your tofu out of the leftover marinade (do not toss your marinade) and add into the pan. Crisp up your tofu on each side for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until all sides are crisped up and browned.

  • While your tofu is cooking, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to the marinade and whisk vigorously to combine.

  • Once tofu is finished cooking. Turn off the heat. Immediately add in your marinade and stir to combine. The residual heat will heat through the sauce and cook off the cornstarch. Stir to combine and let it all sit together for at least 2 minutes. Remove from the stove, serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Allowing the marinade to sit on the tofu for at least 30 minutes really makes a massive difference to penetrating the tofu and giving it a deep flavour. Marinated tofu really is the best!
  • Make sure you’re not buying silken tofu! That will yield the wrong texture and will break apart if you try and press it. Check out myTofu 101post for more, or watch mytofu 101 IG series.
  • If you want to bake the tofu instead, I recommend following my Baked Tofu post instructions – 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping in between. I would still recommend doing the marinade with cornstarch step afterwards (just heat up the pan a bit and add the tofu right after it comes out of the oven).
  • How to press tofu:I cover this in detail in myHow to Cook Tofu 101 post! The prep time includes the time to press the tofu
  • Often times tofu sticks in your pan if you’re trying to flip it too early, the heat is too low, or your non-stick coating is gone. If your tofu is sticking, consider one of these and adjust accordingly – it’s usually that you’re trying to flip it too quickly!

Calories: 179kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 816mg, Potassium: 50mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 62IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 149mg, Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American, Asian, Universal

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Author: Jessica Hylton

Recipes

published on Mar 1, 2021

79 comments Leave a comment »

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79 comments on “Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!)”

  1. Leah Reply

    Yum!
    I threw a few tablespoons pf PB2 into the mix after tossing the tofu in the marinade ’cause PB makes everything better 🙂

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Love this idea soo much!! Thanks for sharing!!

  2. kp Reply

    Sounds great, would it work in an air fryer?

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Hi kp,

      I haven’t tried it and it wouldn’t work as great since you do make the sauce in the pan. If you just want to air fry it without that sauce, then yes – you can bake it at 400 for 10-15 minutes!

  3. Barbara Reply

    This is a fantastic recipe! I made it and used the cook tofu in the center of salad rolls. People were raving how good it was! Thanks so much for sharing!

  4. Dana Reply

    Absolutely delicious recipe! We’re now hooked on tofu! 🙂 Thank you, Jessica!!!

  5. Anna Reply

    This turned out really good. After marinating the tofu I cooked it in my air fryer (broil) until browned on two sides, then poured the glaze over it. This will be a favorite.

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Thanks for sharing Anna!!

  6. Suze Reply

    This is my Go To now!
    Excellent recipe! Thank you!

  7. Birit Trematore Reply

    I made this tonight and it’s delicious!! Thanks very much. I know I’ll be making it again. Very easy and delicious. : )

  8. CMB Reply

    This was absolutely the best tofu recipe I’ve tried. I must admit the cooked pieces never made it into the sauce. I tasted a piece and kept eating. I still have pieces marinating so I’ll cook those according to your full instructions. Thanks for sharing!

Leave a comment »
Marinated Tofu Recipe (for the BEST Tofu Flavour!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you get the best flavor in tofu? ›

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Tofu
  1. Press tofu to help it absorb flavor. Nungning20/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Coat tofu in starch before cooking. ...
  3. Season tofu more than you think. ...
  4. Use a marinade. ...
  5. Toss it in a sauce. ...
  6. Find inspiration from other foods. ...
  7. Roast tofu for tasty caramelization. ...
  8. Try deep frying your tofu.
Jan 7, 2024

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it. Not only does it create a super crispy result, but the seasoning further brings out the flavor of the tofu.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

Marinade Ingredients: For this recipe, we use a classic and simple marinade of soy sauce, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Cornflour: To make the tofu really delicious and crispy, we coat the marinated tofu in cornflour before cooking with it. This is the secret to super crispy tofu!

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.

How long should I marinate tofu? ›

In a sealed container, add your tofu and cover in the marinade. You should aim to marinate tofu for at least 2 hours in the fridge. To infuse more flavour, you can leave it to marinade for up to 2 days before cooking up. Top tip: Don't ditch the leftover marinade when you come to cook your tofu.

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.

Do you drain tofu before marinating? ›

Drain the firm or extra tofu from its package and pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Tip: We don't find it necessary to press tofu, but if you like, you can do so. Break the tofu apart with your hands into bite-size pieces and add it to the bowl with the marinade.

Why is tofu not absorbing marinade? ›

Cold, raw tofu rejects marinades because of its high water content and low porosity. It will eventually suck up a marinade, but mostly on the surface, and only after a long, long time (think a couple of days). Par-cooking it speeds up the process by driving out some of that water, leaving more room for seasonings.

Do you cut tofu before marinating? ›

Instructions
  1. Quick press the tofu: Cut the tofu into cubes. ...
  2. Make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
  3. Marinate the tofu: Place the pressed tofu pieces in a shallow dish.
Jan 6, 2019

What should tofu be seasoned with? ›

Spices. To make pan-fried tofu that goes well with most dishes, use garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and black pepper.

What is stinky tofu marinated in? ›

The traditional method of producing stinky tofu is to prepare a brine made from fermented milk, vegetables, and meat; the brine can also include dried shrimp, amaranth greens, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, and Chinese herbs.

Is tofu worth marinating? ›

Considering that we often cut tofu into bite-size pieces with greater surface area (thus creating more points of entry for marinade), marinating can have a profound impact, seasoning the tofu not only at the surface but also deep inside.

Why can't you eat a lot of tofu? ›

Potential Risks of Tofu

Some people believe that eating too much soy can increase the risk of breast cancer, disrupt thyroid function, or "feminize" men (who naturally have lower estrogen levels than women) due to the estrogen-like isoflavones. However, the research is "mixed and inconclusive," according to Iu.

Why can't you eat spinach with tofu? ›

- It is said that tofu cannot be eaten together with spinach at the same time. As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

Is tofu an inflammatory food? ›

Tofu and tempeh.

Studies suggest people who eat soy-based foods have lower odds of inflammation-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Nuts and legumes, Tree nuts like almonds and walnuts, along with peanuts, are rich in unsaturated fats, along with anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

First, drain and press the tofu.

For the best texture, press the tofu using a tofu press or cast-iron skillet for 20 to 30 minutes. If you're short on time, just drain the tofu and gently press it in a kitchen towel or paper towels over the sink. The tofu won't be as firm this way, but it will still be delicious!

Can you make tofu taste like meat? ›

A: Marinating tofu in a rich umami marinade and then searing on high heat will make it taste like meat. The longer you can marinate it for, the more meaty it will taste.

Why won t my tofu get crispy? ›

The key to crispy tofu is to heat the oil in your pan before adding tofu cubes. Coating the pan-fried tofu in corn flour helps create a crispy coating as the cubed tofu cooks in the oil. Another key to getting uber-crispy tofu is removing excess liquid/moisture from it before you cook tofu.

Does boiling tofu make it taste better? ›

Heat, however, helps the flavours to permeate. Boiling tofu to obtain a more reliably solid texture and to impart flavour is not a new method, but it's not commonly used in Western styles of cooking. This method of seasoning tofu is suitable for varying levels of firmness, but not for silken or soft tofu.

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