Welcome to a celebration of the versatility of tofu with our 30 best tofu recipes.
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a protein–packed, plant–based ingredient that has been a staple in various cuisines for centuries.
Its neutral taste and sponge–like texture make it a perfect canvas for various flavors and cooking styles. In this collection, we invite you to explore the endless possibilities of this humble yet extraordinary ingredient.
Whether you’re a tofu enthusiast or looking for plant–based protein ideas, these recipes are designed to cater to all levels of expertise.
From quick lunch ideas to vegetarian dinners, each dish showcases the remarkable adaptability of tofu, proving that it can be the star of your plate in countless ways.
We hope you’ll get as excited about tofu as we are – and get inspired to cook tofu in new ways.
Table of Contents
- Tofu recipes video
- Basic tofu recipes
- Easy tofu recipes in 30 minutes
- Tofu recipes in 45 minutes
- Do I need to press tofu?
- What to serve with tofu
- 30 easy tofu recipes Recipe
Tofu recipes video
Basic tofu recipes
1. Easy air fryer tofu
We start this tofu list with one of the easiest ways to make tofu tasty and perfectly chewy: air frying.
Try this 15-minute air fryer recipe with tips and ideas to serve it as a dinner.
2. Quick and fried tofu
Pan-fried tofu isdelicious, flavorful, and perfect as a salad topping and protein addition to your meal.
Here’s asimple cooking methodthat makes fried tofu taste great and feel as good in your mouth. This recipe is ready in 15 minutes.
3. Baked tofu
Our baked tofu recipehelps you transform a block of firm tofu into mouthwateringhigh-protein tofu chunks.
You’ll love howeasy, tasty, and versatilebaked tofu is. Add it tosalads,curries,stir-fries,burritos,wraps, andsandwiches, or dip it in yourfavorite sauce.
4. Marinated tofu
You can use our marinated tofu insalads, wraps, stir-fries, and other recipes, and it is excellent forlast-minute dinners and meal prep.
Thanks to its neutral flavor,tofu takes on wellthe carefully craftedflavor of the marinade, which we make with yogurt, dried herbs, and spices tocoat the tofu with plenty of taste.
5. Grilled tofu
d tofuis a quick and easyprotein-packed recipeyou can make in10 minuteson a grill pan or grill and season with yourfavorite sauces and condiments.
With itssmokey and slightly charred exteriorand tender interior, grilled tofu is a versatile, healthy, andnutritious alternativeto traditional grilled meats.
6. BBQ tofu
You’ll love this recipe becausethe tofu gets chewy,meaty, andflavorful.
Try putting it in atoasted buttered bunwith somevegan mayoandcreamy coleslaw salad; the bold flavors’ll blow you away.
Easy tofu recipes in 30 minutes
6. No-egg tofu salad
Try this vegan egg salad for agreat, quick, fulfillingvegan lunch or snack idea.
The texture of tofumimics that of boiled eggsperfectly. We’ll show you how to cut and crumble it to make it look and taste like a boiled egg.
It’s great on a sandwich and made with tofu, vegan mayo, and herbs.
7. Tofu salad
Tofu’s remarkable ability to getflavorful and crunchymakes it the ideal protein choice for this salad with fresh veggies and tahini sauce.
Thistofu salad recipeis perfect forlunch or dinner, and you can make itall year roundwith seasonal greens and veggies.
8. Lemon Tofu
Pan-fried tofu with lemon sauceis aneasy, weeknight–friendly recipe prepared injust 15 mins.
Fry the tofu in a pan with olive oil and coat it in a quicklemonsauce.
9. Tofu Cream Cheese
This tofu creamcheese is made withfive simple ingredients,and it’s smooth, velvety, and perfect as astarter,dip, orspreadin a sandwich.
Eat it as is, or blend it with roasted eggplant or caramelized onions for a creamy and delicious sauce or spread.
10. Tofu soup
Tofu soup is a comforting and wholesome dish that effortlessly combines the delicate silkiness of tofu with an aromatic broth, creating a soothing culinary experience.
It’s an easy and satisfying soup recipe for chilly evenings and those seeking a revitalizing, plant–based meal.
11. Tofu in marinara Sauce
Tofu with tomato sauceis a simple yet delicious pan-fried recipe ready in 20 minutes.
Fry tofu slices in a pan, add tomato sauce and fresh herbs, and serve with sautèed greens and toasted bread.
12. Tofu scramble with veggies
You’ll love tofu scramble because it’s aneasy,nutritious, andversatile recipe.
While we often make this recipe areplacement for scrambled eggs, its use goes way beyond that.
For example, you can serve it ontoastwithavocadospread or top a microwaved sweet potato to add protein to your meal.
13. Orange tofu
You’ll love our orange tofu recipe (vegan orange chicken) because it’seasy to put together, withsimple ingredients, in less than30 minutes.
Thanks to thesticky,zestyorangeglazethat perfectly coats the crispy tofu, every bite packs a ton of flavor.
14. Tofu curry
You can combine this tofu meal in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients and a creamy result.
Thistofu curry recipeis avegan currywhere we usetofu cubes instead of meat, and the South Asian Cuisines of India and Nepal inspire it.
We use spices such ascurry powder, turmeric, and black pepperto recreate those warm Indian flavors that make curries irresistible.
15. Fried Tofu with mushrooms
Pan-fried tofu with mushrooms is aquickanddelicious recipefor weeknights andlast-minute dinners.
We usesimple pantry ingredientsto recreate a beloved, classic Italian dish with slices of tofu and sautèed mushrooms for a quick and delicious dinner.
16. Easy Tofu pasta (bolognese-style)
Tofu pastais a delicious vegan recipe with tasty crumbled tofu and a rich tomato sauce.
Serve your tofu bolognesewith spaghetti for an Italian-inspired vegan dinner idea.
17. Vegan breakfast burrito
Thisvegan breakfast burritorecipe combines our easy and tasty tofu scramble with delicious Mexican ingredients.
For toppings, you can addchopped tomatoes,fresh lime,jalapeños,cilantro,hot sauce,vegan sour cream,guacamole,avocado spread, orsliced avocado.
Tofu recipes in 45 minutes
16. Tofu tikka masala
Tofu works beautifully in Indian recipes, and while it’snot widely used in Indian cooking, its color, texture, and flavor remind us of paneer,a fresh Indian cheesewith a mild flavor.
It’s similar tochana masala, although creamier, andvegan butter chicken, but with abolder, redder, more tomatoey sauce, less cream, and no butter.
17. Kung pao tofu
Ourkung pao tofuis astir-fried recipewith a piquant, sweet, savory flavor blend and a sticky and chewy texture.
Get plenty of plant-based protein and crispy veggies with this quick weeknight meal.
18. Tofu meatballs
You can make these vegan meatballs withpantry staples in 3 easy stepsin a food processor andbake them in 20 minutes.
Have tofu meatballs withspaghetti or in a subwith your favoritemarinara or arrabbiata sauce.
19. Navratan korma
Elevate your dinner with this easy Navratan Korma, offering a delightful twist on this classic Indian dish.
The velvety korma sauce with coconut milk creates a rich and satisfying texture that complements the medley of colorful vegetables, tofu cubes, and cashew nuts.
20. Thai Red Curry
Creamy, slightly spicy, and aromatic, here is an Asian-inspired dinner idea with tofu.
Mix the curry paste withcreamy coconut milkand addtofu,peas, andbellpepperfor a tasty, veggie-packed meal.
21. Sesame noodles
Grilled tofu makes a perfect protein addition to these creamy sesame noodles.
Paired with fresh mango, cucumber, and a peanut butter tahini sauce, you will be satiated and content for hours after eating it.
22. Tofu Cacciatore
This tofucacciatoreis based on Italy’s original chicken (hunter-style) chicken.
It’s baked tofu with olives, fresh herbs, and a richtomato sauce, best served with focaccia bread, pasta, crostini, and sauteed spinach.
23. Baked tofu “fish.”
You can make this simple meal in30 minutesin the oven with slices of tofu, nori sheets, lemon, capers, and olives.
Serve this Italian-inspired recipe as afish replacement, and try a new and flavor-packed way of eating tofu.
24. Spinach tofu cutlets
These spinach cutlets with tofu are juicy, tender, and made with simple ingredients.
Mix all ingredients in a food processor, shape them into cutlets, and bake them for about 20 minutes. They are delicious on a bed of salad and with a drizzle of ranch dressing or chipotle sauce.
25. Stir fry tofu
Better than Asian takeaway, this tofu stir fry with noodles or rice is easy, pan-fried, and will please everyone around your table.
It’s ready in about 40 minutes, and you can serve it with sesame seeds, chili oil, or a side of miso soup.
26. Braised tofu
Similar to stir fry, this braised tofu is tangy, slightly sweet, and has jerky–like tofu slices.
For a balanced, Asian-inspired dinner, serve with sauteed leafy greens, rice, or noodles.
27. Vegan carbonara with tofu
Make this carbonara sauce with carrot, chickpea flour, and cubes of tofu or tempeh bacon.
It’s a great alternative to the traditional carbonara, but without eggs and bacon, and it delivers a salty and creamy flavor.
28. Buddha bowl
Grilled tofu sizzles with a smoky aroma, adding plant–based protein to this wholesome Buddha bowl.
Serve the tofu in this colorful bowl with crisp veggies, peanut sauce, quick pickled onions, and brown rice; it’s a beautiful and nourishing meal.
29. Tofu butter chicken
Hand-torn pieces of tofu in arichIndian–spicedyogurt marinade, this vegan butter chicken is a delightful meal.
This is a satiating and family-friendly tofu dinner paired with rice, naan bread, or flatbread.
30. Vegan curry
This vegan curry recipe uses roasted cauliflower, bell pepper, and crispy baked tofu, alongwith afragrant and creamy sauce.
We recommend usingfirm tofu for the “meat”to create a tasty and extra-chewy protein source.
Do I need to press tofu?
Based on our testing, pressing tofu before cookinghas no (or negligible) impacton the final result.
All you need to do is take the tofu out of its package, drain the water, and pat it dry with a towel. Then, cook it according to the recipe instructions.
However, you canpress tofu if you want to change its texture. If you like a firmer, tougher, drier tofu, feel free to push it. You can freeze, thaw, and press it to make it even chewier.
What to serve with tofu
These easy tofu meals go well with white rice, toasted bread, or noodles. Make it a complete meal by adding extra vegetables to your meal with a side dish or green salad:
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- 45 easy salad recipes (pasta salads, fresh salads, roasted vegetable salads, etc.)
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30 easy tofu recipes
By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 9 votes
These 30 tofu recipes include baked and fried tofu, salads, best sauces to serve with tofu, soup, curry, and more.
This tofu scramble is easy to make with a few ingredients, and you can serve it with avocado on a slice of toasted bread for breakfast, lunch or a quick dinner.
Prep Time: 1 minute min
Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 6 minutes mins
Servings: 2 to 3 people
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Main Course
Cuisine: International
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Ingredients
- 9 ounces firm tofu (a tofu block around that size, not a problem if it's a little more or less)
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk soy, oats, cashew
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 2 twists black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black salt optional for an eggy flavor. Add more for more eggy taste.
Serving suggestions (totally optional)
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 thick slices bread toasted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil optional to drizzle on top
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chives, or green onions finely chopped
Instructions
Crumble the tofu with your hands and put it in a non-stick pan on medium-high heat.
Add the unsweetened plant milk.
The milk will make the scrambled tofu softer and moist, similar to scrambled eggs
Add the turmeric powder to give the scrambled tofu a yellow color.
Season with salt, black pepper, and optionally with black salt or Kala namak, a rock salt that tastes like egg.
Cook on medium-high heat until the pan is dry. It should take about 5 minutes.
Serving suggestion
We like to serve scrambled tofu on toasted bread. Add some avocado slices on the bread, scrambled tofu on top, some freshly chopped parsley, chives, or green onions.
Then you can add some roasted tomatoes and roasted portobello mushrooms on the side, and a drizzle of olive oil to make it a complete and fulfilling breakfast.
Video
Easy Tofu Scramble in 5 minutes
Notes
Nutritional information is for the scrambled tofu only, without the serving suggestion.
See variations chapter for more ideas.
Nutrition
Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Potassium: 104mg, Dietary Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 241IU, Vitamin B6: 1mg, Vitamin C: 4mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 2µg, Calcium: 246mg, Folate: 19µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 2mg, Zinc: 1mg
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Categorized as:
30-Min Meals, Collections, Recipes, Tofu
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.
Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.
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