I remember the first time I tried tofu. It was raw in a whole grain wrap along with some mustard and veggies and I honestly couldn’t finish it. And when it comes to food I’m a trooper. I’ll finish just about anything as I hate wasting food. But, tofu did not strike my fancy from the start and it’s never really been my favorite, even in my hardcore vegetarian days.
But, that all changed recently during a trip to San Antonio when I ate the best tofu of my life. It was in a veggie stir-fry over coconut brown rice at a restaurant called Green Vegetarian Cuisine. If you’re ever in the area you must stop by and try this dish. Your view of tofu will be forever changed – promise.
Two bites in and I was in heaven. I had to flag the waitress down and ask her how in the world they made the tofu taste so good! I thought it was fried, but it wasn’t. Haaaa-llelujah.
The best part? It wasn’t wet or soft or soggy or lacking in flavor at all like all of the tofu I’d tried prior. She rattled off a few instructions and I made a mental note. That same week I hopped in the kitchen and gave it a go myself.
It really worked you guys! I love tofu now. It might not be as delicious as Green Vegetarian Cuisine’s version, but it’s very close. And the more I practice the better I’ll get. I have a very good feeling about this.
The basic trick is first drying the tofu, then baking it at a high temperature to brown it and create a tougher texture, and then letting it set out to dry even more. This gives it a “meat-like” texture, if you will, that makes it much more porous to soak up delicious sauces and far more appetizing in the texture department. With this tofu I can’t help but finish it all – it’s too delicious not to!
For this recipe I made a quick and simple stir-fry* but once you have the basics down this tofu could be used in just about any recipe you already love. It works extremely well in stir fries because they tend to be very saucy, but I also imagine it would be delicious over salad, in faux-egg salads and even with BBQ sauce.
I hope to incorporate it into more of the meals we regularly prepare to see just how versatile it is. But from what I’ve tasted so far, I have very high hopes.
*Note: learn more about stir fry and its origin here.
Because it was diced, baked, left out to dry and then stir-fried in the sauce, the tofu soaked up so much flavor, rendering it absolutely irresistible. Try this tofu and let me know what you think! I think even your tofu-hating friends will approve.
More Tofu Stir Fry Recipes
- 20-Minute Tofu Stir-Fry
- Almond Butter Tofu Stir-Fry
- General Tso’s Tofu Stir-Fry
- Crispy Peanut Tofu & Cauliflower Rice Stir-Fry
Tofu That Tastes Good: Stir-Fry
Ingredients
STIR FRY
- 1 14-ounce package firm or extra-firm tofu
- 2 cups roughly chopped green beans
- 1 cup diced carrots or red pepper
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil for sautéing (or sub peanut or coconut)
SAUCE
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (ensure gluten-free for GF eaters)
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 2 Tbsp organic brown sugar (reduce slightly for less sweet sauce)
- 1 Tbsp agave or maple syrup (or honey if not vegan // reduce slightly for less sweet sauce)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
FOR SERVING optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and begin drying your tofu. Drain, remove it from the package and place between two thick towels folded into the shape of the tofu. Then place a plate or bowl on top and top it with something heavy like a book or skillet. Alternatively, use a tofu press.
- Let it dry for about 15 minutes, changing your towels if they get too wet. Once dry, unwrap, chop tofu into roughly 1-inch cubes or rectangles (see photo).
- Arrange tofu on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking and bake for a total of 25-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through to ensure even cooking. This will dry out the tofu and help give it a more meat-like texture. If you want a tougher texture, cook it for 30-35. For a slightly more tender texture, pull it out at 20-25 minutes to check.
- Once it’s golden brown and a bit tough and firm, remove from the oven set it out to dry a bit more while you prep your vegetables. Ideally, it would set out another 45 minutes or even longer. I haven’t tried letting it set out for much longer, but I don’t think it would hurt either way.
- If serving over rice, start the rice at this point.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all of the sauce ingredients – set aside.
- To a large skillet over medium-high heat, add sesame oil and swirl to coat. Then add veggies and toss to coat. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often. When the vegetables have some color and have softened a bit, add the sauce and stir. It should bubble and thicken. Then add the tofu and stir to coat.
- Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring often. When veggies are cooked to your preferred doneness, remove from heat. Serve as is or over rice for a more filling meal. Best when eaten fresh, though will keep in the refrigerator for a couple days.
Jessie says
Hi! Wondering if you’ve ever tried freezing your tofu–>thawing–>marinating–> baking. Ok now that I write it out, it’s a lot of steps. BUT I have heard good things about freezing vs. pressing so I’m trying it tonight. Wish me luck!
Ashley says
Simply delicious! Excellent dinner thanks to you :)
Alicia says
How long did u dry the tofu in the oven
Ashley says
To be honest, I dry the tofu a different way. I put the tofu in a kitchen towel and put a heavy skillet on top to dry it out. Usually for about 20 minutes or so before I need it. Works like a charm. The sauce is what makes this dish though, and I follow that recipe EXACTLY. I usually double it because it’s that good :)
Good luck!
Ashley says
I just realized I didn’t answer your oven question. I prefer my tofu cooked on the stove in oil vs the oven. Probably not as healthy but it’s how I’ve always done it
Rachel says
hello I’m wondering if you mean in a skillet overheat or just in a skillet to dry out the tofu? thx!
Jocelyn says
Hi Dana,
I (and others it seems) am still trying to figure out what that side dish of sauce is in your picture. It looks delicious! It looks like a lighter (in color) version of the one in the recipe. Can you please illuminate? Thanks!
By the way.. I make this almost every week and take for lunches at work. Delicious. Thank you for the recipe!!
Hi Jocelyn, it’s peanut sauce! Here’s the recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/5-ingredient-peanut-sauce/
Nikki says
Hi,
I usally pat dry my tofu for a few hours but never thought about baking it to dry it..what a great idea!!
With the marinade, I don’t want to use many sugary items (sryup and sugar) can I use one thing apposed to the other or is there a subsiture you would suggest?
Can’t wait to try this :-)
Erin says
The gem for me was this sauce recipe!! It seems like all the store-bought stir fry sauces tend to have an unpleasant twang to them. This one is awesome. Added just a dash of red pepper flakes for extra heat. Made the stir fry was nice noodles and ended up needing to double the sauce recipe, which was okay with me! Maybe next time I’ll triple it (yes – the sauce was THAT good).
Jaclyn says
I went in search of good tofu stir fry recipes on Pinterest and was so happy to come across this one–thank you so much! The difficulty for me in becoming vegetarian (vegan pretty much) lies not in craving meat, but in knowing HOW to prepare tofu and other proteins so that they actually taste good. My attempts have always failed, but this turned out perfectly, and it didn’t even take long to dry out the tofu and bake it (several hours not even necessary). Thanks again!!!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!!
Daniel says
This recipe sounded promising, but I should have read the comments; net result of following the minimum baking/drying time was a bland, tough, eraser-texture tofu. Doesn’t come close to the original recipe I followed, which involves marinating the tofu triangles in a few tbsp soy sauce, chopped garlic and ginger, a dash of rice vinegar, 1/4tsp ea powdered sage and thyme (for the meat flavour) and turning regularly in the fridge- for at LEAST 5 days. The tofu can then be lightly fried before the main stir fry, sealing in the flavour and preserving a tender but “believable” texture. I normally add a few pepper flakes to the marinade on the last day to add a dash of heat.
Hi Daniel! I’ve tried marinating tofu as well, and while it does impart more flavor, it makes it virtually impossible to get it dry/crispy when stir frying. But thanks for sharing your experience!
Posey says
Made this last night with tons of veggies and your sauce from the tofu and cauliflower rice stir fry recipe. OH MY WAS THIS EVER FANTASTIC THIS WAS THE BEST THING I’VE EVER EATEN. I can’t praise you enough. THANK YOU.
5 stars all the way!
haha! Yay! Thanks for sharing Posey! Beautiful name, by the way.
Allison says
I really loved this recipe. I’m interested in sharing it on my blog but I’d like to see how you’d feel and like me to cite it. Please get back to me!
Sure! See our sharing policy on our about page.
Kate says
This was lovely. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to follow the recipe perfectly but I drained for 10 minutes and cooked for 20 and it was still pretty tasty! Made the marinade and tossed it over some veggies, tofu and some noodles. Great 30 minute dinner :-)
Taylor Patterson says
This recipe was delicious. I didnt have all of the ingredients listed but it still tasted amazing, I even added a lot more vegetables and baking the tofu was such a great idea. Thanks!
Sara says
This was a great way to cook tofu. I have been trying to cook it for years and got tired of frying it. I will be doing this from now on! Thank you.
Kathy Cornish says
Dana you are a household name here in Coal Valley, IL! Love everything you do! If you were a superhero I would name you Supreme Culinaria. A cute an awesome name just like you. You are always wonderful to answer my questions. Here is my latest after reading the latest technique of yours with the tofu. Do you have any thought or experience after drying, baking and letting it sit out with freezing it for later use?
Thanks in advance and making the whole food plant based world of eating more tasty!
Kath
You are too kind!! I’ve never frozen tofu after baking it, but it’s worth a shot! The longer you let it rest after baking the drier it gets. However, I also find that it makes a firmer crust that makes sauces harder to penetrate. Best of luck to you, Kathy! Hope that helps.
Aaron says
Oops! Just read through the comments and realized that this is a frequently asked question. Sounds like I cut the pieces too small and cooked it for too long. I do like it chewy, but this was a chew too far…
Aaron says
So… I followed the basic recipe but it did not turn out well. Not terrible, but not great.
I pressed the tofu and dried it out. Next, I cut it into small squares and baked it in the oven for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Let the tofu cool, and then tossed it with a bit of corn starch and sauteed it for a few minutes in sesame oil. Then, I marinated it for approximately 35 minutes in the sauce described above.
I stir fried broccoli and a bit of garlic in the wok for six or seven minutes until the broccoli was softened. Afterward, I added the tofu and stir fried for a couple of minutes to make sure the sauce and the fingers were mingled.
The taste is great, but the texture is not. The tofu definitely doesn’t have the weird gooey texture of my previous experiments, but it has headed too far in the opposite direction. Do you have any ideas about what I might have done wrong? Did I just bake it for too long?
If I were smart, I would have separated out a few pieces of tofu at each stage of the process in order to figure out where things went wrong.
Thanks for any tips or suggestions!
Richard says
My goodness – this was an awesome recipe! I’ve recently turned to vegan food (I was vegetarian way back) and this was just superb. The sauce for the stir-fry reminded me very much of some old noodles I used to buy.
I’ll be keeping this as a go-to tofu recipe. I’ll have to get my dad to try this! (He’s vegetarian himself)
Stef says
Planning to try this recipe later this week. What is the delicious looking orange sauce in the picture with the meal? Do you have a recipe for that?
Peanut sauce! https://minimalistbaker.com/5-ingredient-peanut-sauce/
Yoko says
OMG!!! I am not kidding. This was THE BEST MEAL I EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Tofu to begin with, but the combination of Tofu, Green beans, carrots with the sauce was just amazing. I could not stop eating! My daughter (9 years old) absolutely love that too and she requested to save some so she can take them for lunch :) I can’t wait to make them again, thank you so much!!!
Yay!!!!
Nichole says
Can this be made ahead of time and stored? Perhaps not even cooked, but pressed and then stored (fridge/freezer) for use later on? Since I’m cooking for one, I’d like to prepare the entire brick ahead of time, and then use through my weekly meals. Any suggestions would be helpful :)
BTW, loved this!
Sarah says
This is an amazing recipe. Thank you for sharing. I’ve tried to make tofu tasty before and it’s never worked out. Finally, a recipe that works.
Thanks again.
Corina says
I *love* tofu, and usually buy it a couple /few times a month. I usually stir-fry it, but stick to ready-made sauces and marinades, and vary it up a bit as my taste buds crave. It’s usually “ok,” but I can’t say I’ve ever made anything worthy of serving to anyone else. (I’ll eat it pretty much any way it turns out, or even raw, I love it that much… but none others in my household like tofu, so it would have to be spectactular for them to even try it.)
I just finished eating yet another attempt, which was extra-firm tofu chunks sautéed in extra virgin olive oil (sesame would have been better) till golden-crisp, then I added some sesame seeds, ginger purée, Thai soy sauce, then tossed in some noodles & stir-fried together. Well, yet again it was “ok”, but there certainly was no wow factor.
Soo, since I have been just “winging it” for so long (years), I decided to search up some ideas for a basic recipe that I could use as-is, or switch up as I like to do. This was EXACTLY what I was looking for! The soaking /pressing I have never done – that will be really helpful. But specifically, the baking tip was a “Eureka!!” moment – I have never even heard of it, and that one step alone may just be the missing link I have been looking for!
I’ve also read through every comment, and have found some great ideas based on others’ experiences. My faves:
– pressing with a little weight on top for a while
– baking on parchment… or tossing in oil first to prevent sticking, also to crisp it up a little more
– orange juice – would be a wonderful flavor! And since several people have commented that they found it a little sweet, I wonder… a spoonful of OJ concentrate in lieu of agave /honey /maple syrup? Not the same consistency, but less sweet. Just a thought, I may try it!
– rice vinegar in the base… mmm, tang!!
– the comment from one gentleman about bacon, I got thinking that a smokey-flavored sauce would be awesome!
There are just sooo many ways you could vary this up. I wish I had read this BEFORE I made dinner tonight! I will definitely be giving this a try in the next couple of days… as-is first, then depending on how it turns out for me, variances after that!
Thank you, thank you, soo much! :)
PS. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m SO stoked about this, I’m sharing your blog on Facebook! :)
Thanks Corina!!
Kat says
Phew, thanks for the recipe, but I never disliked tofu so much. My husband who is not very picky and who usually eats tofu said “I’m so sorry, I can’t eat this” and picked out the tofu from the rest of the veggies. Sauce & veggies were fine but it also didn’t feel good to cover the healthy veggies with so much sugar and soy sauce. What I learned was that maple sirup is good in stir fries, so thanks for that ;)
A dougl says
This question was asked and I did not see your reply….can one dry and bake the tofu then store it and sauté it the next day successfully……to cut down preptime? Please respond!
That should work!
tomatogirl says
Tried this tonight and it’s very delicious!, i put some olive oil and sprinkle some mineral salt and ground black pepper on the tofu and pop in into the oven. Thanks for this yummy recipe! Happy:).
grace says
oh my…this recipe was AMAZING. I was blown away by how good the tofu tasted and the vegetables were so perfect. Deff going to make this again and the oven cooked tofu part is just perf! thank you so much!
Eline says
Thanks for the simple quick recipe — taste great! but am i the only one who had overly dried out tofu? Sighs.. my tofu didn’t soak up the sauce and the middle was just dry…
LM says
Is there anything I can use in place of soy sauce for the sauce? 1500mg is a LOT for one serving
Agreed, but why does it have to taste so good! haha. I’d say just use low sodium soy sauce and scale back on it. Add other flavors to compensate, such as chili garlic sauce!
Rebeka says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I made a version of this tonight with stir fry rice noodles and eggs. It turned out so well that both of my children cleaned their plates.
Total win! Thanks for sharing, Rebeka!
Kelly says
Made this tonight and it was delish! I added a couple cloves of garlic to the sauce. Even my kids loved the tofu, and usually they pick it out. Yay! Thanks. :)
love it! thanks for sharing, kelly!
Autumn Pearson says
I made this recipe tonight and it is good other than the sauce having way too much ginger added to it.
Thanks for sharing, Autumn. Hold back on the ginger next time for less intensity :D
MK says
This recipe almost worked for me but I will have to try cooking it again because 30 mins at 400 on convection, dried it out. And I definitely agree it needs to be marinated, as mine was bland :( but I will try again.
taylor says
its my first time baking tofu. Lately I am using more vegetarian recipes for improving health and making a healthy lifestyle. I found this by searching for a good tofu recipe. I really enjoyed the taste & your recipe was very easy to follow. New favorite blog! Happy holidays
So great! Thanks for sharing, Taylor!! xoxo
Kat says
This is a great recipe, the tofu was so nice. I halved the brown sugar, agave and ginger though. Everyone really liked it, I doubled it, next time will triple to have leftovers!
April says
made this again… Third or fourth time. Hadn’t made it in months but had an abundance of veggies to use from our CSA Share. Pulled this out and we remembered how much we loved it. It is back in regular rotation :). Thanks again!
Priya says
Wow..Finally I found success making a stir fry. Kids loved it. Thanks from across the globe(India)
Love to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Priya.
Eric says
BAAAAMMM! This was a great tip. I must confess, I am a carnivore. I would starve without meat. Any meal cooked is planned around the meat. My wife is a staunch vegetarian who doesn’t eat nearly enough protein. She has always said she hated tofu so its been a struggle. Well I made this dish for her birthday and we both loved it. I was VERY skeptical but tofu baked is pretty good.
I varied the instructions but didn’t bother to towel dry the tofu before or air dry it after. I just baked it for 35 minutes at 400 degrees on a stone cookie sheet and it turned out great. Oh and I sprinkled the tofu bits with salt just before I baked it – I was in a rush and hoped the salt would draw out some of the moisture in the tofu. Spread the word. Thanks!
Kayti says
I loved this recipe! It was a little stressful for me to cook, but I think that’s because I’ve never made tofu before. That said, it tasted AMAZING. I halved the tofu amount because I forgot to purchase enough for my two recipes, but I felt it was the right ratio for all of the other ingredients I put in. I also didn’t have fresh ginger, so I used ground ginger that I had on hand. All- in- all, I thought this was a success! :) Thanks.
Melissa Sherlock says
Well, I tried making the tofu and it was a total failure, so I’m feeling pretty inadequate since most others here loved it. I didn’t see anywhere in the recipe where it may have said to grease the pan, but I put my rectangular pieces of tofu right on my cookie sheet (thought the tofu had enough fat), and it stuck like crazy; made a mess of the tofu and a mess of my cookie sheet that I will have to soak or scrub. I was really excited about it . . . UGH
Kayti says
I almost had that problem too. Did you pull them out half way through to flip them? When I did that they were a little stuck, but I managed to pull them off and didn’t have a problem when I was ready to mix them in with the rest of the ingredients.
I do hope you weren’t to discouraged to try again, hopefully with better results. <3
LisaB says
Just wanted to let you know that I tried this and we all really liked it! I have had tofu that I loved in restaurants but not much success at home (except tofu scramble for breakfast – yum!). Thanks! FYI, I used coconut oil because I thought my sesame oil might be too old to use, and the flavor didn’t mix with the sauce as nicely as sesame would have. I can’t wait to try your tofu recipe with the peanut sauce! And I see a lot of other recipes to try on your site too. :)
Great! Thanks for sharing, Lisa! xoxo
Rachael says
Thanks for the instructions on drying out the tofu! I love tofu and have finally remembered to get some while at the grocery store. I look forward to trying the recipe very soon!
Mo Turner says
It’s all about the tofu and this recipe nails it! The base sauce is great and easy to tweak to your palate…add red pepper for spice or tone down sweetness with adding less sugar, a little water and rice vinegar. Green beans didn’t look so hot at the market, so I par boiled some broccoli, added celery and snap peas with the carrots. There are no leftovers or complaints from my 15 year old son and husband. This is a true blue winner!! Thank you from someone that is always looking for a vegetarian recipe.
Thanks for sharing! Glad you liked it!
Jean says
Can we use corn flour instead of corn starch? Or just regular flour? Can’t find corn starch anywhere!!!
It won’t work the same, but I would suggest arrowroot starch or just regular flour.
Yiskah says
FYI Corn starch is called “corn flour” outside of the US/Canada
SapientChinaDoll says
Great flavor and so delicious!! I will probably omit the corn starch next time :) great job and thanks!
Charlotte says
Made this tonight and it was lovely! Had it on noodles. I like my green beans quite soft so I was a little bit worried I’d find them too crisp but whilst they were firmer than I’d usually have, they were just perfect with the Asian vibe. The tofu comes up really well like this; I’ll be making it again. Thank you!
Stacey says
I don’t even know the way I finished up here, but I
thought this put up was great. I do not realize who you might be
but certainly you are going to a famous blogger when you aren’t already.
Cheers!
J Willis says
I followed your directions, but the tofu tasted like hard rubber. Wonder what went wrong? I used cubed, extra firm … Could that have been the problem? The cubes were pretty small. Maybe that dried it far too much? Maybe I should not have used extra firm? Please help.
I’ve had a couple people who didn’t like it so tough (which I honestly kind of like). So next time, I’d recommend baking it for just 20-25 minutes then adding it directly to the sauce. That should yield a much more tender result!
chelsea says
Thank you so much!! I was FINALLY able to cook great tofu :-)
Sarah says
I think I did something wrong, because the tofu turned out really gross and rubbery. I pressed it for probably 45 minutes, baked it as described, and then left if out for another 30-40 minutes before adding it to the sauce (it didn’t change much after coming out of the oven, it was already rubbery). It was worse than normal tofu! Any tips?
The sauce, however, was great! I added a little peanut butter and some red pepper flakes for spice. We just ate around the tofu and it was delish.
Sarah, I’ve had a couple people who didn’t like it so tough (which I honestly kind of like). So next time, I’d recommend baking it for just 20-25 minutes then adding it directly to the sauce. That should yield a much more tender result!
Sarah says
Thanks for the tip! Love your website!
FoodGeekGraze says
you + oven + tofu = me, happy dance. thank you thank you thank you! cheers ~
Lacy says
What temperature do you set your oven to when baking the tofu?
400 degrees Fahrenheit
Rebecca says
Thanks a lot for this recipe! I changed the vegetables (used broccoli, carrots, and spinach) but followed everything else precisely, and it turned out delicious! I want to start eating a lot more tofu regularly, so knowing how to stir-fry it successfully helps a ton.
sunny says
Delicious. Thanks for the recipe, never have thought of baking tofu, so good and chewy and the sauce = amazing! ! Thanks heaps :)
Elaine says
Okay so I followed everything to a tee, and used low sodium soy sauce BUT it came out with an overwhelming salty taste and doesn’t look lightly sauced like the pictures portray, but rather drenched. The tofu texture was good and I probably wont not bake tofu again unless I’m in a hurry, but I was very disappointed by the taste, especially because it looked so good :(
Swinno says
I have tried tofu quite a few times before now and have always found it lacking. This recipe is a godsend. The oven dried tofu is delicious on its own even before you add the sauce. I never thought I’d be eating plain tofu as a snack. I hope there is enough left for dinner! Thanks so much. I am thrilled to have a tasty meat alternative (that the kids will eat) to add to stir fries and the like.
Corina says
This was way too funny! I was giggling because as I read through the recipe, the only problem I could see with it is the temptation to pick away at that tray of baked tofu chunks as I prepped the rest, which (I know me) would leave me with no tofu left for the stir-fry, lol.
ashley says
I must have cut my tofu rectangles too thin, because after only 15 minutes in the oven I had something closer to tofu chips!?! They didn’t really reconstitute in the sauce either, so I put a lid on the saute pan to try and steam them back to life. It worked a little bit in that they aren’t hard and crunchy. I also agree that the sauce it a little sweet. I’ll probably add less sugar and some garlic next time, as well as cut thicker tofu chunks. I really appreciate the tip on baking though tofu though, I’m trying to eat less meat but have no experience with substitutes like tofu or tempeh.
rachel says
Was this recipe at Fahrenheit or Celsius?
Peter says
400C is 752F.
Jennifer says
I really enjoyed this recipe-it was simple, nutritious and most of all YUMS. I used a whole bag of Trader Joe’s frozen stir-fry vegetables to make the prep even easier. I loved the salty-sweet teriyaki flavor – it is hard to find Asian recipes which are not too spicy for this Midwesterner ;). This recipe is definitely going on my go-to list. I love your website and your recipes keep up the splendid work.
Alyssa says
So, I haven’t seen anyone make the mistake I made.
This was only my second attempt at making tofu. The first time I never even read a single recipe. I didn’t press it. It was awful. To be clear, I love tofu, I just haven’t successfully made it at home yet.
So I guess I was skeptical at how good it could be, and I know even if its cooked poorly, if its in smaller pieces it won’t taste as bad. So I cut mine into pretty small pieces. Don’t do this. It will overcook them. I haven’t eaten meat in two years, so to me, they taste like bacon. They aren’t bad, and the big pieces are good. Just make sure you don’t make them into tiny pieces.
I made mine with kale, garbonzos, cabbage, and onion. I’ll probably cut back on the sweet stuff next time.
Thank you for a good recipe! I’ll try it again.
Ya! If you cut them in small pieces, reduce the baking time so it doesn’t overdo it. Glad you still enjoyed it, Alyssa!!
Melanie says
Awesome! I will have to try it. I live about 45 minutes and go to San Antonio all the time. Love GREEN! Do you live in Texas?
Marilyn Sandperl says
Finally, finally, finally…someone who explained how to prepare the tofu so that it tastes the way we love it and get it in restaurants! Thank you! While my husband and I are not vegans or vegetarians, we are trying to cut back on meat consumption, and we love stir-fry dishes. He especially loves tofu. I made this dish tonight and we both LOVED it! Many many thanks! Keep up the good work on this great blog!
Oh great! Glad you both enjoyed it, Marilyn. Another tip I recently learned: Bake at 400 on parchment for 20 minutes, then toss in cornstarch and stir fry in sesame oil until golden brown. THEN if you marinate it in the sauce here, or the one found here, and stir fry once more, it’s absolutely AMAZING!
Marilyn Sandperl says
You are an absolute genius…a god…where have you been all my life? Seriously, many thanks as we are trying so hard to eat healthier, but you’re also showing that it can be delicious (and easy). In looking through your blog last night, I actually printed that recipe out! Can’t wait to try it!
Katie says
I love your tofu recipe! For so many years I tolerated the mushy bland tofu consistency, wondering how those fancy restaurant people do it. Now I know how to make it like the fancy restaurant people do. I literally make this once a week with varying veggie combinations. I have it bookmarked. I love it! Thank you!
Shivani says
This tofu is great, but it takes a while.
For quick meals, I HIGHLY recommend Wildwood’s tofu… It tastes good, has the perfect texture, and is already baked. I throw the teriyaki flavoured one in my stirfry and it comes out beautifully.
Never heard of it! Thanks for sharing!
Brooke Buchanan says
I tried this recipe tonight! So fast and easy and delicious! Even my steak eating husband loved it. Thank you so much!
kevin says
Too sweet for my liking. I’d cut down on syrup and sugar and add some vinegar.
Elizabeth says
This recipe is simply WOW! So so easy and equally delicious! I normally don’t cook tofu but I really do agree that drying it and baking it beforehand helps wonders! I only added 1 tbsp of brown sugar and it was still a little sweet for my taste, but this sauce recipe is a great base (I also added chopped garlic)! I couldn’t stop eating this dish! Definitely will be my go-to stirfry recipe! Thank you for sharing this
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth!
Ashley says
Hi there,
This looks delicious but unless I missed it, I don’t see where it indicates oven temperature? I see you should bake for 30-35mins but at what temperature? Probably an important factor.
Thanks!
Ashley
4 hundy!
Andrew Nelson says
One of the pictures on the tofu site shows the stir fry dish along with a bowl of some kind of sauce on the side, and some red peppers? What was/is the sauce, and how do I make it? Finally found a recipe for tofu for my wife, and that I can enjoy too. Thanks much!
Andy
Andrew, the sauce is listed in the recipe.
Jocelyn says
I was wondering the same.. that sauce in the picture has a light, creamy color to it almost like a peanut sauce. It can’t be the same as the soy sauce mixture. ?
Here’s our peanut sauce recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/5-ingredient-peanut-sauce/
Kim says
I just made this today, and the tofu stuck to the baking sheet I put it on. Maybe next time I’ll use a little cooking spray. This recipe for the sauce, IMHO, uses way too much ginger, and was much too sweet. The tofu had good texture, though.
Maya says
I am a college student and never tried cooking tofu on my own before. It turned out super well! I might make the sauce a bit more flavorful next time (I didn’t have some of the ingredients you listed so I substituted plain sugar and sweetened peanut butter for brown sugar and maple syrup). So yeah, next time I would either add more sauce+more vegetables or put more flavory things in the sauce, but the tofu was SO awesome and I’m so excited that I know how to make tofu stir fry now!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Maya! This is my all-time favorite way to eat tofu as well! Glad you enjoyed it, too.
Barbie says
Yea! My vegetarian daughter loved this recipe! She usually doesn’t like the tofu that I serve but she almost ate the whole dish this time. Thank you!!
betty boo says
Sorry, I made this for dinner tonight. Neither my daughter nor I enjoyed it. The “sauce” was too pasty, so I wound up watering it down. Not sure if I am missing something, as Shawn Mills review says they used less ketchup…which I didn’t see in the ingredients.
I really wanted to like this…bummer!
prudence iverson says
I wanted to like it only used the honey thought it would be to sweet added peanut butter to the sauce. Had to add chicken broth to sauce. The sauce was good it is the tofu… was rubbery after I baked it for 30 min? The tofu didn’t absorb any sauce on the inside like they said it would. Was robbery and no flavor. Don’t know if I baked it too long? Won’t give it any stars
I’d say it was baked just a “little” too long. Maybe go for 25 next time? Also TIP: Poke holes in the tofu after you bake it to let more of the sauce seep in. Good luck!
Shawn Mills says
My 15 year daughter eats no animinal products so tofu is a logical dietary choice for her. Well her ol’ dad just could not master tofu. The drought is over! Firstly I learned to dry or reduce the water content of the tofu; success! Then I made the sauce as directed. A total winner! I am again a hero in the kitchen. I have now made this dish several times and reduced the caloric content by eliminating the ketchup and the dish was a bit different but still great. For a weight conscious teen this is healthy dish and loaded with veggies. Well done!
Gillian {Coastal Bride} says
I made this last night and it was delicious! I added broccoli as well for added vegetables. Looking forward to eating the leftovers tonight!
So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Gillian :D
nomivi says
I made this last night and it was delicious! I did find it a tad too sweet – do you think eliminating the agave and just using the brown sugar would help? Or perhaps just subbing the brown sugar with agave? Thanks for sharing this recipe. As far as firming the texture of tofu, freezing works well too ( after draining ).
Feel free to reduce either sweetener, if preferred.
Ashley says
This sounds tasty, however I will probably add some peanut butter to the sauce mix.
Alexis B.C. says
Tried that yesterday.
LOVED IT.
I am going to experiment with this and different veggies / sauces. Thanks for the wonderful recipe! :)
Yay! This makes me happy. So glad you enjoyed it!
Ruthie Blombergö says
Thank you for sharing. Yummy
Michelle says
This is the best tofu I have ever eaten and an awesome recipe overall. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, what a compliment! Thanks, Michelle! So glad you enjoyed it :D
Lisa says
I have been a vegan almost a year now, and I was scared to cook my own tofu because I didn’t like the mushy tofu. I tried drying it out and baking it, like in your recipe, and it was soooo good! My husband liked it as well. I loved it! I used extra firm tofu, which is surprisingly cheap.
For the recipe of the sauce, I didn’t use the brown sugar because I don’t like things too sweet. I added some spicy chili garlic paste, and the whole dish was wonderful and the tofu heated up well. Thank you so much for letting me know the secret to firm tofu!
Yay! So glad you liked this Lisa. Tofu was an iffy food for me before discovering this method! So glad it worked out for you and your hubby!
Erin says
My little brother has been a vegetarian since he’s been at college.He’s always like Asian food( especially tofu).I’m sure he’s going to LOVE this.
Anne says
We had this tonight and it was delicious. The tofu was just the right texture and I loved the simplicity of the whole dish. I used broccoli, carrots, and red bell pepper since that’s what I had on hand. May add a little less sugar next time. Thank you for sharing all of your superb recipes!
Casey says
Thank you! I always liked tofu but this makes it 1000x’s better!
So glad you liked it!
Elizabeth says
Oh my gosh, thank you! I am vegetarian (2 years now) and I’ve tried so hard to like tofu but I think it’s awful! This has given me hope and inspiration! You are awesome!
Kirsten says
Very good recipe. I probably wouldn’t do the technique too often because I don’t plan enough for the extra wait time for the tofu. The marinade I added some rice wine vinegar to balance the sweetness and some red pepper flakes. Probably the closest to a “restaurant” stir fry dish that I’ve made at home.
Will definitely keep this in heavy rotation.
Kelle says
Delish. Eating it now.. I love tofu, in all its forms, even raw… and am a mostly all raw vegan… I used different veggies, and a ton of them, and some GF simple organic rice-like noodles, and tosses it all in teryiaki, instead of any oil….. plus some ssshhh cayeen, cause I like it hot. yum yum city! thanks!!
Chelsea says
Sounds great! Looking forward to trying it.
Kait says
I don’t know what sort of tofu you guys use, but if you have never had it before, you NEED to try Central Soy Tofu & Tempeh. Holy jeez this stuff is good. It’s made in Lawrence, KS. I know they sell it at the food co-op there, The Merc, and it’s also sold at the Co-op that I work at in Manhattan, KS called People’s Grocery. It’s the best tofu I’ve ever had, hands down. It has a great texture straight from the package, which is incredibly rare for tofu. I know people that hate tofu, but love the tofu salad we make at People’s with it. Let’s not even get started on how good the tempeh is. Check it out! It’s amazing stuff! I highly recommend the hot chili and the herbed garlic tofu. (Yes, there are flavors!) I think this recipe will be amazing with the chili!
Elaine says
That looks good! And you’re spot on with tofu not absorbing flavor easily, and also needing to dry it out first. I have a couple recipes on my site that I kind of drew from whatever was in my pantry…surprisingly it turned out awesome!
And then navigate through other blogs for the other recipes, but that one above was a HIT!
meg says
I’ve pressed but never “bake-dried” my tofu – sounds like a great idea! Do you think you could do it the day before? I don’t get home with an hour to spend on dinner.
Thanks!
We think so!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
I recently had some life-altering tofu too! But alas, it was fried. This is such a great technique though, I’m gonna give it a try.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I love tofu, but it’s definitely all in the way you cook it. This stir-fry sounds delicious!
Lisa Still says
Tofu in the oven…genius!! I’ll try it and see if Jamin can swallow it this way!
Yay!!! Let me know how it goes :D
Eileen says
Tofu is just one of those notoriously difficult foods to cook, isn’t it? I agree that drying it out is really key. A simple yet flavorful stir-fry like this sounds like the perfect way to eat it!
Angie says
The tofu looks wonderful – a little crunchy on the outside and tender inside.
Holly says
I didn’t like home prepared tofu for the longest time until I got a tofu xpress. Changed everything! I use it all the time, it gets the moisture out and gives the tofu a fantastic texture.
Liz says
Are you tossing the tofu cubes in any oil before baking? Tofu has always been my cooking nemesis ;)
Nope! Just as is. I believe this method works brilliantly. Hope that helps!
Marygrace says
Yup, baking tofu is key to getting good texture and flavor. SO many mainstream recipes (meaning, not from vegetarian restaurants/recipe developers/cookbooks) just call for sautéing cubes of tofu, but that never works. The crisp exterior ends up tearing off the tofu when you try to flip it, and then you’re just left with soggy, undercooked crumbles and pieces. Tossing the patted-dry tofu in oil and salt, then baking at high heat for a half hour before adding it to whatever you’re making is absolutely key.
Amy says
In Asia everything is stir fried. (: I’m not vegetarian but tofu is one of my favorite foods, though I’ve actually never tried baking it before, but this looks delicious, so I might have to.
janae @ bring joy says
My kids eat tofu raw & love it–weird? I don’t know, they’ve been vegetarian their whole lives so they don’t know any different :)
I’ve never heard of not adding oil to the marinade so the flavors can sink in. Guess it makes sense. Looks delicious!
Alejandra says
I loved the sauce on this recipe soooo delicious. Still experimenting with different ways to prepare the tofu! I enjoyed reading everyone’s input and different ways to make. Thank you!!!!!
You’re blog is perfect!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Call me crazy, but I actually love the taste of tofu!! I can definitely see how baking it would make it awesome though…need to try this!
holly ; the hobbit kitchen says
TOTALLY know what you mean – i ate the best tofu of my life in a restaurant called Nahm Jim in Scotland, and nothing else compares! this looks absolutely gorgeous though, i can’t wait to give it a try.
Hila says
I love making tofu in the oven. I tend to marinade it before popping it in. The trick when marinating tofu is to not use any oils in the marinade, they coat the tofu and no flavours get in.
Thanks for making my mouth water
Tonya says
Thank you for the marination tip. I will try that. I made this recipe and cooked tofu for the first time yesterday. Loved it thanks
Jim says
Interesting, I have a different experience with oil. I pack towel-dried tofu (cut as desired) in a single layer in a small baking dish and cover with a marinade (usually 1/2-water and 1/2-marinade). Add 2T oil. It floats on top while the tofu bakes and soaks up the marinade. When the marinade is gone, the oil lets the tofu come to a lovely brown, and the rest of the marinade flavors become part of a nice crispy flavorful outside on the tofu.
My first tofu was raw in a peanut butter and tofu sandwich on whole grain bread. Gross. When I discovered baking it I was hooked. Up until then, pan frying was a mess – unless you use *no* oil and a well-seasoned cast iron pan (really, it doesn’t stick!) but even then it sometimes tastes like rubber. Tempeh is the same story – bake it in a marinade and it’s delicious and not bitter at all!
Oh – and this dish came out delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Hila says
When I say marinade I don’t mean the sauce you cook it in. I mean the marinade you leave it in before cooking it so it can soak up the flavours
Tawna says
Hila, which marinade do you mean? What do you marinade the tofu in before baking it? I might try making this tonight…. but I’m not sure if who I’m cooking it for will eat it…. so I better make sure it’s good:) Thanks!
Hila says
I like making a mixture of soy, orange juice, water and 7 spice.
Tawna says
Hila, thanks for your response. Not sure my message is responding to yours now, I hope so. So do you marinade the tofu from the very beginning? And for how long? How much of the ingredients do I use? And am I supposed to dry out the tofu before baking if it is soaked in a marinade? Sorry for all the questions, in a newbie at this (working with tofu)….
Linda says
He knows that…the method he mentions IS the marinade
Jeff says
The real secret to making even this recipe really pop and with much less oven time is to press the tofu for about 2-3 hours.
1. similar shaped containers work well. Layer the tofu in one, set the other on top and place a light weight on top (like two cans of corn).
2 after 30 minutes pour off the water
3 set it back up and double the weight
4 repeat these steps until you feel you have gotten enough water out of the tofu. for one package i might go 3 hours if i forget about it.
5 This is the important step, once you have pressed out the water you can either pan fry it to get some texture, bake it if you prefer or, might favorite, mix it with your marinade and let it sit in the fridge for as long as possible.
One could press the tofu for longer periods and increased weights for different textures and longer marinades.
Loralyn Cross says
I do the same with my tofu. I agree and have found the most important step is pressing the tofu /removing the excess moisture. I put towels on top and bottom, and put my cast iron pot over the top and let it sit for 1-4 hours. Then you can pan fry, marinate, bake (I bake mine on a cookie rack at 300 for about 45 min).
Kat says
When pressing the tofu, can you just set it up and leave it in the fridge all day? Or press and prep the night before, refrigerate, and cook the next day? I work and often don’t get home till around 6 so doing the prep is impossible during the week…
Forgive me, I’m new lol
You can set it in the fridge, wrapped in a towel with something heavy on top for up to 24 hours!
emanuel says
I just wonder whether I can broil an entire pkg of tofu and then refrigerate
the question is how long can it stay safely in refrigeration ?
Can the tofu be frozen after broiling so as to be available for future meals
thanks
Juanita says
This is my first time trying this-tofu fresh seems bland to me! This process is easy-and I am making three batches at the same time. Can I freeze the browned tofu?
We haven’t tried freezing it after baking, but it might work. Though it will likely dry out more. Let us know if you try it!
lisofby says
i have baked and stir fried tofu but not together! i will try it. the only three yummy ways i can recommend are;
1. freezing, defrosting and tearing the tofu and cooking it in a sauce (best if it marinates for 24 hrs or more even), such as curry (you can use a prepared sauce for “meat”) or you can put equal parts soy, lemon, and honey with garlic and chill in zip lock bag. 2. cutting into cubes, wiping mayo on it, and covering it with breadcrumbs, or crushed cornflakes and baking for 20 p-40 mins at 180c. 3. cubing, patting dry between two paper towels. sprinkling with cornflour and masses vege stock powder and deep frying. i will try this recipe very soon! thank you.
Tiffany M Leiter says
That’s a good point, oil prevents the flavors from soaking in and instead you just get added fat for nothing. Thx for tip!
jessica m neilson says
I nearly set the house on fire by including 2 dishtowels to press the tofu. Was I supposed to get them wet first? Was I supposed to put the whole thing on a rack? I just followed the instructions and after 14 minutes was able to pull out 2 scorched dishtowels and found out my smoke detector isn’t working, because there was definitely smoke in the air. Had to throw out the dishtowels. Suggestions?
Whoa, sorry for the unclear instructions! You’re supposed to press the tofu with the towels, unwrap, slice, and then bake. We will see if we can add some further clarification.