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

FAQs

How do you make tofu more flavorful? ›

Marinate it: Tofu can be marinated in a variety of flavorful sauces or spices. You can use soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make a simple marinade. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking or grilling.

In this recipe I introduced a well balanced Asian sauce that is savory, a little spicy, and full of aroma. It takes no time to put together. Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it.

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

Remove the tofu and leave it to drain in a colander. The tofu becomes firm but retains a velvety texture that easily absorbs marinades and sauces.

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.

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.

Cover with plastic wrap or a lid, then refrigerate for 12–48 hours. (The smaller the tofu pieces, the less total time you'll need to marinate.) The top of the tofu might poke out of the marinade, so give it a shake every so often to make sure each piece is thoroughly soaked.

Seal the bag and leave it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Tip: Gently massage the tofu in the bag at least once to ensure each tofu cube is well coated and has a chance to soak up those amazing flavors.

I recommend always pressing tofu before baking it, especially if you're marinating it first — removing excess liquid will make room for all that flavorful marinade.

Prick the tofu with a fork to ensure that the tofu absorbs as much marinade as possible. During marinating, turn the tofu over several times. Natural tofu is low in salt. To add salt, either add salt directly or use a salty sauce like soy sauce, ketjap manis (a thick, sweet Indonesian soy sauce) or fish sauce.

Can you over marinate tofu? ›

The time for marinating tofu will depend on the type of marinade you use, how thick the tofu is, and how much flavor you want. Tofu absorbs flavors very well and can be marinated for as little as 30 minutes or 24 hours.

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.

And if tofu is vacuumed packed or firm already, you definitely don't need to press it. Here's why: moisture in tofu is a good thing. Tofu is over 80% water, and that moisture is what makes it such a succulent, juicy source of protein. Pressing it can make the tofu unnecessarily dry and strip it of its intended texture.

After removing the tofu from its package, rinse it and then remove the water. For soft tofu, just drain it and blot it dry; but for medium, firm and extra-firm tofu, simple draining isn't enough—you need to press the water out. Think of it this way: Tofu is porous, like a sponge.

soy, sesame oil, sambal, fish sauce, teriyaki, lemongrass, Chinese BBQ sauce, XO sauce, etc. Also, I know that the baked tofu, etc. that has targeted vegetarians use marinade flavors that normally would be used for meats... such as bbq flavor, lemon herb, etc.

How long must I marinate my tofu? The larger and thicker the tofu, the more time is needed to absorb the marinade. The minimum time to marinate small cubes, thin slices and grated or 'scrambled' tofu is 15 minutes. For the tastiest results, marinade the tofu overnight.

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.