Easy Baked Tofu is easy, versatile and delicious and a vegan recipe staple. Eat it in sandwiches, in salad or your favorite stew or casserole. No need for meat, this recipe can do it all.
Tofu is great super food and ingredient, but unless you know how to cook it, it can be as tasteless, and unpleasant as many people imagine it to be. It’s not difficult to cook tofu properly, and once you know how, it can be a vegan cook’s most versatile ingredient.
I like to bake my tofu, as I prefer a firmer tofu with a chewier texture. I will sometimes fry it afterward to add flavour and moistness. but baking it first is important to get a firm, meaty texture.
Making Baked Tofu
Baking tofu is a vegan staple. It is versatile and adds protein and meatiness to many recipes. It’s also delicious and can be eaten on its own or in a sandwich. The recipe is also very simple and requires ingredients you probably already have.
Instructions
Step 1: Begin by preheating the oven to 350°Farenheit. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Press a block of firm or extra firm tofu to remove excess water. You can use a tofu press or make one yourself by placing the tofu in a colander in the sink or on a plate. Place an 8×8 baking pan with a heavy object in it on top of the tofu. Let it sit and drain for about 30 minutes. Or you can do what I prefer, which is to just press the tofu firmly between my hands over the sink. I find that is usually enough.
Step 3: While tofu is beging pressed, make a marinade. I use lemon juice, organic vegetable oil and my favorite homemade salt free seasoning blend, or a commercial saltfree blend, but feel free to use your own.
Step 4: Once tofu is pressed, evenly slice it into 1/2 inch slabs. You can make it thinner or thicker, up to 1 inch but this will change the cooking time, so be sure to adjust that as well.
Step 4: Liberally brush one side of the tofu with marinade and place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the other slices until the pan is full. Be sure to leave space between all of them to insure even cooking. After pan is full, brush the tops with marinade, well coating them all.
Step 5: Bake the tofu for 35-50 minutes depending on the type of tofu and thickness of the slices. After 20 minutes, remove tofu and turn the slices over with a spatula. Return to oven and let bake for 15 more minutes. Remove and check for doneness. They are done when they hold together when picked up, are not soggy and have a meaty texture. Return to oven if not done.
I usually find 40 minutes is enough time but like I said, it really depends of the moistness and thickness of the slices. Check regularly after turning to insure the right texture as undercooked tofu is not great.
Step 6: Once cooked remove from oven and serve immediately. Baked tofu tastes great fresh and also refrigerated the next dsy in sandwiches, or diced into salads. It can also be frozen as I often do in containers with vegetables and grains for homemade premade meals to microwave. A great and healthy time saver for busy weekdays!
So Versatile and Yummy
Baked tofu is yummy and very versatile. You can serve it with salad, in a sandwich, or as a meat replacement in stew or casseroles. My favorite is making TLTs (tofu, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches with it. It’s a great vegan staple recipe you really need to try. Enjoy!
More Tofu Recipes
Tofu is so popular because it’s so versatile. It can be eaten on it’s own or used in baked dishes, stews and practically any recipe featuring meat. Here are some delicious recipes to try:
A whole foods vegan diet is healthy, kind to animals, and kind to the planet. It is also delicious and affordable. If you like this recipe, please share! ~Una
Baked Tofu
Ingredients
- 400 g firm tofu
- 1 teaspoon salt free seasoning homemade or commercial
- 2 tablespoon organic avocado or canola oil
- 1 large lemon juiced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
- Press the tofu with a press or homemade press (see notes) or by pressing it between your hands over the sink.
- In a small bowl combine the salt free seasonings, organic oil, and lemon juice. Whisk it until its well mixed. Set aside.
- Slice pressed tofu into 1/3-1/2 inch slices.
- With a pastry brush, liberally brush one side of the tofu slices with the marinade. Place each slice on the baking sheet after marinating, making sure to leave room between each slice for even cooking.
- Once all the sliced tofu is on the sheet, brush the tops with the marinade. Save remaining marinade and set aside.
- Bake in oven for 35-50 minutes, turning after 20 minutes. Brush tops of tofu after turning with the remaining marinade. Return to the oven.
- Bake for another 15- 30 minutes depending on thickness and moistness if the tofu slices. Check after 15 minutes and every 5 miuntes after that to insure the perfect donesness and texture. Tofu is done when firm and does flop or tear when you pick it up, and is slightly springy and chewy in texture.
- Once tofu is done, remove from oven and let cool slightly before using. Refrigerate leftovers for 1-2 days or freeze for later use.
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