Marinade for tofu: best 5 marinades for tofu (or tempeh, veggies & more)
Transform your tofu with these five fantastic marinades! Each recipe infuses the tofu with unique flavors, perfect for any dish. Simply marinate your tofu, then follow the easy cooking instructions to achieve crispy, flavorful results. Whether you’re craving Chinese, Korean BBQ, a zesty orange kick, classic teriyaki, or a curry twist, you’ll find a marinade to suit your taste.Choose one of the 5 marinades and start marinating everything from tofu to tempeh or even veggies.
Ingredients
For the tofu ingredients:
- 1 14 ounce (400g) block extra firm tofu , pressed
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon low sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons (29g) cornstarch
Marinade for Tofu Chinese recipe
- 4 tablespoons (60ml) low sodium soy sauce - or tamari for gluten-free option
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) lime juice or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) toasted sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced (about 9 grams)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) fresh grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) dried ginger
- 2-3 tablespoons (30-45ml) neutral oil , such as sunflower oil, canola, or avocado
Korean bbq marinade recipe
- 1 cup (240ml) syrup or honey
- 1 cup (240ml) soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free option
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 1 teaspoon (3g) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (2g) ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
- 4 teaspoons (20g) hot chili paste , or 1-2 teaspoons dried chili flakes
Low sodium tofu marinade: orange tofu recipe
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- ½ -inch knob of ginger - peeled and grated
- 3 cloves garlic - finely minced or grated
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes - optional
- 1 cup (236ml) freshly squeezed orange juice - strained to remove seeds (or use organic orange juice)
- 1/3 cup (55g) loosely packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) reduced-sodium tamari
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest - about 1 small orange
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
Tofu Teriyaki marinade
- 1/4 cup (60ml) low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed brown sugar or maple syrup - alternatively you can also use agave
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons (10g) grated fresh ginger
- 3 cloves garlic - minced (about 9 grams) or 3 teaspoons (9 grams) garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons (8g) sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons (5g) cornstarch, mixed with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) water
Tofu marinade curry recipe
- 2 tablespoons (30g) Thai Red Curry paste or Gochujang paste
- 1 ½ tablespoons (30g) maple syrup or agave - to taste
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) tamari or soy sauce (preferably low sodium)
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 3 large cloves garlic - minced (about 9 grams)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) minced or grated ginger
- ¼ cup (60ml) unsweetened nondairy milk or coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons (45g) tamarind paste
- 2-4 tablespoons water - if needed to make the sauce less thick
Instructions
How to quick press tofu
- First, cut the tofu into cubes. Lay them out on a flat surface, like a cutting board covered with paper towels or a clean towel. Place another layer of paper towels on top of the tofu. Then, put a baking sheet over it and add something heavy, like a large book or a cast iron skillet. Let it press for 15 minutes while you prepare the marinade.
How to make Marinade for tofu
- Prepare the marinade: I prefer to mix my marinade right in the dish where I’ll marinate the tofu. Alternatively, you can use a plastic bag, a stasher bag, or any shallow, resealable container. Add all the marinade ingredients (except the tofu) and whisk until they’re well blended.
How to marinate tofu
- Marinate the tofu: Put the pressed tofu pieces into a dish (an 8 x 8-inch dish works well for one batch). Pour the marinade over the tofu, making sure it's fully coated. Cover the dish and let the tofu marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. For even more flavor, you can leave it to marinate overnight.
How to cook marinated tofu
Pan fried tofu:
- Cook the tofu: Heat a few tablespoons of neutral oil, like canola oil, in a large skillet—cast iron is ideal—over medium-high heat. If you prefer to skip the oil, make sure to use a high-quality non-stick pan to prevent sticking. Take the tofu pieces out of the marinade (but don’t throw the marinade away) and place them in the hot pan. Cook the tofu until each side is golden brown.
- After the tofu is nicely browned, pour the remaining marinade into the pan. Stir the tofu to ensure it's fully coated—this will boost the flavor! The tofu will quickly soak up the sauce. Once that happens, remove the pan from the heat. Serve the tofu with rice and stir-fried vegetables like baby bok choy, mushrooms, and carrots for a delicious meal.
How to make Baked tofu
- Arrange the marinated tofu cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes, then flip the cubes and bake for an additional 20 minutes. For added flavor, you can quickly sauté the baked tofu in a skillet with the reserved marinade.
Air fryer tofu instructions
- Arrange the marinated tofu pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Air fry at 400ºF for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the tofu is golden and crispy, shaking the basket halfway through. Serve the tofu on a plate and drizzle with the reserved marinade. Enjoy!