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Square photo of a dish with tofu steak, French fries and fresh thyme.
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4.73 from 11 votes

Tofu Steak

Transform tofu from bland to flavorful with this tofu steak recipe. Made with firm tofu marinated in a smoky sauce and grilled until crispy.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinating time15 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan
Servings: 4 steaks
Calories: 238kcal
Author: Iosune

Ingredients

For the tofu steaks:

  • 24 ounces firm tofu
  • 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil for grilling

For the marinade:

  • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke optional
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Press the tofu (just wrap the tofu in a clean towel and apply a steady weight to squeeze out the moisture). This step is optional, but your tofu will be tastier if you do.
  • Slice the tofu in half horizontally into 2 steaks roughly the same thickness. I used 2 12-ounce blocks, so I got 4 tofu steaks.
  • Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
  • Brush all sides of the tofu steaks with the marinade sauce and let the tofu marinate for at least 15 minutes.
  • Heat a grill pan over high heat. Then brush it with the extra virgin oil. If you don't have a grill pan just use a regular skillet.
  • Add 2 tofu steaks to the hot grill pan and cook for about 3 minutes. Don’t worry if they stick to the pan at the beginning. After 3 minutes they should release easily from the pan. Flip them over and cook for 3 more minutes on the other side. They should have grill lines on them.
  • Once they’re cooked, use the leftover marinade sauce to brush the steaks on both sides and then remove them from the pan.
  • Repeat with the 2 remaining tofu steaks.
  • Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes, like vegan mashed potatoes, vegan scalloped potatoes, or French fries.
  • Store leftovers in and airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

  • Firm and extra firm tofu work best for this recipe. Soft and silken tofu will fall apart easily.
  • Feel free to use any other syrup instead like agave, coconut, or rice syrup. And also any type of oil. Sesame oil works really well too.
  • Use tamari for a gluten-free version of this recipe. You could also use coconut aminos if you want.
  • Liquid smoke is optional, but it will give your tofu steak a delicious smoky flavor. You can also use smoke powder or even smoked paprika. However, liquid smoke is the best choice.
  • Marinate the tofu for at least 15 minutes. You can let it marinate overnight for the best results.
  • The grill pan has to be hot, as high temperatures are needed to get a truly caramelized, deep-brown sear on the surface of the tofu. Add the oil and set the pan over high heat. When the oil starts to shimmer and smoke just slightly, you’re ready to add the steaks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1steak | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.2g | Protein: 14.8g | Fat: 16.6g | Saturated Fat: 2.8g | Sodium: 546mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 8.2g