Baked Tofu {The best way to Prepare dinner the Greatest Tofu} – WellPlated.com

Tofu doesn’t precisely have the perfect repute, however when you know the way to make Baked Tofu the precise means, this bland, mushy block transforms into chewy, bite-sized nuggets which might be completely packed with taste. Let’s dig in!

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Baked Tofu Recipe

• Baked, Not Fried. A number of restaurant-style tofu is deep-fried, which is the way it will get that irresistibly crispy, chewy texture. This tofu recipe can be chewy, nevertheless it’s baked within the oven, making it a lot more healthy. Rating!
• Infused With Taste. Whereas the feel of the tofu you get from Thai and Chinese language eating places is from frying, the flavour is nearly fully on the surface of the tofu from the sauce it’s tossed in after being fried. Right here, we use a sweet-and-savory Tofu Marinade to taste the tofu from the within out.
• No Freezing Wanted. My Crispy Tofu recipe is a reader favourite, however it’s a must to freeze the tofu prematurely for finest outcomes—and I’ve positively had these 5pm, “Oh shoot, I forgot to freeze the tofu!” moments once I’m about to start out making dinner. This methodology for how you can prepare dinner tofu merely requires a fast 30 minute marinade.
• Wholesome Plant-Based mostly Protein. Whether or not you’re vegan, vegetarian, or an ardent meat-eater, we are able to all use some extra plant-based proteins in our lives. Most types of extra-firm tofu have 9 grams of protein per serving, with round 130 energy, which implies it packs a giant protein punch for a comparatively small variety of energy.
• Add It to Something. The marinade I exploit for this baked tofu pairs with Asian dishes like Zucchini Stir Fry, or you may make it right into a wrap topped with Wholesome Coleslaw and served with a facet of Candy Potato Fries. Identical to my Air Fryer Tofu, this recipe is flexible!

The best way to Prepare dinner Tofu You Truly Wish to Eat

Sizzling take: I feel most tofu haters merely don’t know how you can prepare dinner tofu.

It’s not your fault, although!

Tofu doesn’t precisely make it straightforward.

First, there are such a lot of various kinds of tofu! Refrigerated tofu, shelf-stable silken tofu; agency, comfortable, extra-firm, tremendous agency. Hey, choice fatigue!

Then, there’s the truth that you do what appears logical—minimize it into cubes, add it to your stir fry—and you find yourself with mushy lumps of bland nothingness that doesn’t resemble these chewy little triangles in your takeout Pad Thai in any means, form, or kind.

Womp womp. No surprise so many individuals have sworn off cooking tofu at dwelling.

Like my Tofu Tacos and Tofu Stir Fry recipe, this baked tofu is designed to take the guesswork out of cooking tofu.

When you perceive the strategy behind this recipe, you’ll be able to apply it to different tofu dishes, or give you your individual tofu creations. 

Tofu: it’s not only a punchline for unhealthy jokes about vegetarians anymore.

The best way to Make Baked Tofu

The Elements

For the Tofu and Baking

• Further-Agency Tofu. Purchase the refrigerated form and make sure to purchase extra-firm, because it has the perfect texture for baking.
• Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch. For a crispy exterior whenever you’re cooking tofu.

For the Tofu Marinade

• Low-Sodium Soy Sauce. Brings umami taste with out quite a lot of additional salt.

• Pure Maple Syrup. Some candy to steadiness the savory.
• Rice Vinegar. Rice vinegar works properly with Asian pairings, however apple cider vinegar is ok too.
• Further-Virgin Olive Oil. No want to make use of your finest bottle right here.
• Sesame Oil. Toasted sesame oil provides some depth.
• Garlic Powder. Provides your baked tofu a garlicky taste with out having to crush contemporary garlic cloves.
• Smoked Paprika. Provides some meaty taste to cooked tofu since we affiliate smokiness with meat.

• Floor Ginger. Ginger brings just a little bit of heat.
• Sriracha or Sizzling Sauce of Selection. Be at liberty to make use of kind of.

Non-obligatory, for Serving

The Instructions

1. Press the Tofu. Squeeze the surplus moisture out of the tofu together with your fingers, or press it for quarter-hour.

2. Reduce. Slice the tofu into cubes and place them in a baking dish.

3. Combine. Whisk collectively the marinade substances in a bowl or liquid measuring cup.

4. Marinate. Pour the marinade over the tofu and marinate for a minimum of half-hour at room temperature, or as much as a day within the fridge.
5. Put together. Preheat your oven to 425 levels F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

6. Bake. Switch the tofu to the baking sheet, coat with cornstarch, and unfold the cubes into a good layer. Bake tofu for 20 to half-hour.

7. End. Drizzle the baked tofu with additional marinade, serve, and ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

• Garlicky Lemon Herb Baked Tofu. Use a half-batch of my Rooster Marinade for baked tofu that’s good for including to Inexperienced Goddess Salad or Garlic Pasta.
• Barbecue Baked Tofu. Substitute the tofu marinade for my BBQ Rooster Marinade and brush the completed tofu together with your favourite Barbecue Sauce.
• Teriyaki Baked Tofu. Use your favourite store-bought teriyaki sauce (or make the honey-sweetened teriyaki sauce from my Teriyaki Rooster recipe) as a marinade and glaze for this baked tofu.

Storage Suggestions

• To Retailer. Retailer the baked tofu in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• To Reheat. Heat leftover tofu within the microwave or in a 350 diploma F oven till it’s heated by means of. Tofu will also be loved chilly or at room temperature.
• To Freeze. Place the baked tofu on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze till it’s strong. Switch to a freezer bag or hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating based on the directions above.

What to Serve with Baked Tofu

• Liquid Measuring Cup. I really like utilizing these for whisking sauces and marinades—the excessive sides imply no spillover and the spout makes pouring straightforward.
• Tofu Press. When you’re severe severe about cooking tofu, a tofu press is a worthy funding for squeezing out that extra liquid.
• Measuring Beakers. These little measuring beakers measure tablespoons of liquid, which is useful whenever you’re making a marinade or anything with quite a lot of liquid substances.

Recipe Suggestions and Tips

• Press the Tofu for the Chewiest Texture. In my humble opinion, the perfect tofu is chewy and meaty—and also you solely get this by urgent it. That mentioned! When you favor the tofu to be comfortable, with a melt-in-your-mouth high quality on the within, you will get away with merely giving the tofu an excellent squeeze; it will launch sufficient liquid to permit the marinade to soak in.
• Skip the Silken Tofu. Silken tofu is fabulous in smoothies, soups, and desserts, nevertheless it’s not so fabulous for baking or stir frying. Even the extra-firm silken tofu has a comfortable, velvety texture and it doesn’t take in marinades the identical means refrigerated, water-packed extra-firm tofu does. When you’re undecided which is which, silken tofu is often (however not at all times!) bought in aseptic packing containers on the common grocery retailer cabinets.
• Don’t Skip the Marinade. Bypass the silken tofu, however don’t skip the tofu marinade—whether or not it’s my recipe, one thing from a bottle, or one thing you whip up by yourself. Tofu is a meals that takes on no matter flavors you add to it, and in the event you don’t add any flavors, it’s not going to style like a lot of something.
• Bake It. This recipe was developed particularly for baking within the oven. If you wish to know how you can prepare dinner tofu in an air fryer, see my Air Fryer Tofu; my Extremely Crispy Tofu recipe is for cooking tofu on the stovetop.