5 Easy and Tasty Tofu Marinades

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5 from 4 votes

5 Easy and Tasty Tofu Marinades

Tired of bland tofu? Revolutionize your cooking game with these 5 Easy and Tasty Tofu Marinades! They are made in a few quick and simple steps, infusing tofu with incredible flavor, perfect for adding nutrition and plant-based protein to all your meals.

Prep Time10

Marinating Time2

Total Time2 10

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Author: Jenné Claiborne

Ingredients

Garlic Gochujang Tofu Marinade

¼ cup gochujang paste Korean red chili paste
¼ cup soy sauce
4 tsp toasted sesame oil
4 tsp agave
4 tsp sesame seeds
4 tsp fresh lime juice
3 cloves garlic minced or grated
1 14 oz block extra firm tofu pressed and sliced or cubed

Cumin Lime Tofu Marinade

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup or agave
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp cumin powder or cumin seeds
½ tsp salt
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
1 14 oz block extra firm tofu pressed and sliced or cubed

Blackened Jerk Tofu Marinade (make in blender)

¼ yellow onion chopped
2 green onions separated chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
1 small habanero chili 1/2 if you like it less spicy, or 1/2 Thai chili
1 tsp ginger minced
½ tbsp lime juice
½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp maple syrup or agave
½ tsp ground allspice
pinch of nutmeg
½ tbsp fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
½ tbsp black pepper
1 tsp Better Than Bouillon vegetable bouillon paste
1/2 cups water or vegetable broth (use broth if you don't have bouillon paste)
1 14 oz block extra firm tofu pressed and sliced or cubed

Maple Mustard Tofu

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp stone ground mustard or Dijon mustard
1 tsp fresh black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp sea salt
1 14 oz block extra firm tofu pressed and sliced or cubed

Lemon Caper Tofu

1 shallot minced
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp capers
1 tbsp caper juice (from jar)
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp sea salt plus more to taste
½ tsp black pepper plus more to taste
½ tsp dried thyme
⅛ tsp turmeric powder

Instructions

Choose your selected marinade and gather the listed ingredients.
Add the marinade ingredients to a mixing bowl or jar with a lid. Whisk or screw on the lid and shake until well blended.
JERK MARINADE: For the jerk marinade, add the marinade ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
Place the pressed tofu in a mixing bowl, storage container or zip-top bag and pour the marinade over it. Gently turn ot toss the tofu until fully covered. Cover the bowl or container or seal the the bag of tofu.
Marinate the tofu in the refrigerator overnight or for as little as 2 hours if you are tight on time.
Sauté, bake, grill, or air fry the tofu as directed in the blog post and enjoy with all your favorite meals.
If you enjoyed these tofu marinade recipes, please leave a rating and review!

Video

Notes

Storage Directions

Refrigerating: Leftover cooked tofu keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Once cooled to room temperature, cooked marinated tofu can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost the tofu in the refrigerator overnight or reheat from frozen in the air fryer or oven. The texture of tofu may change slightly upon defrosting, but it will still be delicious.
Reheating: Warm the tofu in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 5-10 minutes or until heated through and crispy. You can also heat it in the microwave on gentle, but the tofu won't be as crispy.

How to Press Tofu

Place the tofu on a paper towel-lined dinner plate or cutting board. Layer on more paper towels before topping the tofu with another dinner plate, cutting board, or heavy skillet. Press for 15-30 minutes or longer or until firm.

How to Cook Tofu

Baking (Oven): Add the tofu with all or part of the marinade to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the tofu in a 375°F oven. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until crispy, adding additional time if needed for tofu slices or steaks.
Sautéing (Stovetop): Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu slices or cubes and the marinade to the skillet and cook for 8-12 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Sauté with vegetables if you'd like.
Air Frying: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 2-3 minutes. Drain the marinade from the tofu and place the tofu in an air fryer basket. Air fry the tofu for 13-15 minutes, stirring or shaking the tofu halfway through. Add additional cooking time if needed for tofu slices or steaks.
Grilling: Oil the grill grates and preheat the grill to medium heat. Add thick tofu slices or tofu steaks and grill for 4-6 minutes per side until golden.
SPECIAL NOTE: Lemon Caper Tofu can be prepared by baking, sautéing, air frying or grilling. Alternatively, you can turn it into a Tofu Piccata, which has a silky roux-based sauce. To do so, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon of all-purpose flour, and toast for 30 seconds, until the flour is golden. Add 1 cup of white wine, and 1/2 cup of vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and stir to create a creamy sauce, about 3 minutes. Add the marinated Lemon Caper Tofu, and continue to cook for 10 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and the tofu is browning on the bottom. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with the sauce.

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