Marinated tofu, an easy recipe that makes tofu taste amazing. It's low in fat, high in protein, and requires 8 ingredients and 20 minutes.
This marinated tofu is so easy to make! It is a super simple recipe perfect to enjoy for lunch or dinner. And it only requires 8 simple ingredients and just 30 minutes of your time!
I absolutely love to have it at least once a week, as it is delicious, flavorful, high in protein, satiating, and low in fat. Besides, you can customize it with the spices and herbs you prefer and serve it with your favorite ingredients.
Marinated tofu recipe - Short video
How to make marinated tofu - Step by step
- Mix all the tofu marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl until well combined (photo 1). Add the tofu cubes and let them marinate (photo 2), covered in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
- Drain the tofu but don’t discard the liquid (photo 3). Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a skillet (photo 4), and sautée the tofu over medium-high heat until golden brown (photo 5).
- Add the marinade liquid to a bowl along with the cornstarch (photo 6) and mix until well combined (photo 7). Pour the sauce into the frying pan and cook until it thickens (photo 8).
- Serve your marinated tofu immediately.
Ingredients and tips
- Firm tofu: firm or extra firm tofu work best for this marinated tofu recipe. Soft or silken tofu are not good choices as they will fall apart easily.
- Water: you could also use vegetable stock instead.
- Soy sauce or tamari: I use soy sauce, but tamari is a good gluten-free alternative. If you can’t eat soy, coconut aminos is a great substitute. You could also add the same amount of water or vegetable stock and add more salt.
- Apple cider vinegar: you could also use white vinegar or lemon juice instead.
- Maple syrup: feel free to use any other type of sweetener. Agave syrup is the best alternative, though.
- Garlic powder: you could also use fresh garlic and sautée it with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. However, I find garlic powder to be more convenient. Onion powder would also be a good choice.
- Cayenne powder: omit this ingredient if you’re not into spicy food and feel free to add more or less of it depending on how spicy you want your tofu marinade to be. You could also use cayenne pepper, chili powder, or any other type of spicy sauce. Keep in mind that you may need to add more or less of it if you’re using cayenne powder.
- Cornstarch: feel free to use any other type of starch instead. You could also omit it, but your sauce won’t have the same texture and it will be more watery.
- Extra virgin olive oil: I’m Spanish, so I use extra virgin olive oil to cook most of my dishes and I always use extra virgin oils when possible because they're healthier. However, using any other type of oil is also okay. If you don’t consume oil, just use some vegetable stock or water instead.
- Feel free to serve it along with some delicious salads to easily incorporate more protein!
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Marinated Tofu
Marinated tofu, an easy recipe that makes tofu taste amazing. It's low in fat, high in protein, and requires 8 ingredients and 20 minutes.
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Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 12 oz firm tofu, cubed
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Mix all the tofu marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl (water, soy sauce, vinegar, syrup, garlic powder, and cayenne powder) until well combined. Add the tofu cubes and let them marinate covered in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. If you let them marinate for a longer period of time, they will have a more intense flavor.
- Drain the tofu but don’t discard the liquid. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a skillet and sautée the tofu over medium-high heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add the marinade liquid to a bowl with the cornstarch and mix until well combined. Pour the sauce into the skillet and cook until it thickens.
- Serve immediately (I added some chopped chives on top, but this is completely optional).
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.
Notes
- The original recipe was made with 10 oz or 275 g or firm tofu.
- Feel free to use any type of vinegar, sweetener, or starch.
- Add or omit any spices you want.
- Water can be replaced with vegetable stock.
- If you’re not into spicy food, omit the cayenne powder or add less of it. You can also use chili powder.
- Prep time and cook time don’t include marinating time.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.4g | Protein: 13.4g | Fat: 5.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Sodium: 1024mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 7.5g
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2018, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in February of 2022.
anonymous says
Does the tofu in this recipe need to be pressed first? We are just learning how to prepare tofu. Perhaps tofu always gets pressed before using it in recipes? Please clarify. Thank you.
Iosune says
Hi! I never press my tofu to make this recipe and it works great, but it's up to you 🙂
Kayla X Cupcakes says
My mummy made this for me and I sprinkled some chives xx on at the end for some sweetness as the flavours are strong, but probably because I added a little bit too much spice for me with the lemon juice and onion powder. It was a little overpowering at first but when I got used to it and added chives too. 😋 It tastes Georgous x although we did not sauté or skillet, as we do not have a skillet and there was x no time. The food itself was delicous and extremely scrumptious especially with chopsticks. 🥢 x it was better than already bought tofu products x 🌷🌸🪷💐☺️🤗😊💖💗💓💕💞😀😃😄
Iosune says
Hi kayla! So glad you liked it 🙂
andrea says
Easy and SO good! Delicious to keep on hand and toss into a salad for added plant protein! WINNER!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Andrea! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
Lori Sweeney says
This looks amazing and I am going to try it! (just bought some medium firm tofu today!) plus going to add grated ginger as well! My question is, can you freeze it after it has been cooked?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Lori! Feel free to freeze it 🙂 Hope you like it!
Wanda Jones says
Yes,... It came together so, quick and easy. I love it!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Thank you so much for your kind comment 🙂
Sally says
When do you add in the tofu liquid?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sally! We don't add the tofu liquid 🙂
Shari R. says
Great flavor and super simple This is now my favorite marinade for tofu. Instead of frying I used an air fryer - yummy!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Shari! Sounds so good 🙂
Cheryl Blanchette says
It was good. My husband did not complain that makes it a 5 star recipe!
Iosune Robles says
Hi! That's amazing 🙂
Paulette says
I can't wait to try this recipe.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Paulette! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
sally says
yummy but I must love fresh grated ginger which I added for an added dimension of flavour!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sally! Sounds so good 🙂
S says
I’ll definitely be trying this! What is the best way to follow you guys?
Iosune Robles says
Enjoy it 🙂 The best way to follow us is through the blog or IG!
Dani says
Just made this today! It is a very nice base marinade. I made half of the tofu after about 15 minutes and am letting rest steep for awhile in the fridge for later. Thanks so much for sharing!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Dani! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂
Jaimie-lyn says
This was very tasty. My husband hates ACV and was put off when I mentioned I had some in the recipe.
He had some anyways and said it was great tasting and he didn't really notice the ACV. Which makes this an awesome recipe.
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 I'm so glad you both liked it!