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    Home » Mains

    Marinated Tofu

    Updated: May 10, 2022 by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

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    marinated tofu pieces in a white bowl
    cubes of marinated tofu frying in a pan

    Want to make tofu taste irresistible? Try this Marinated Tofu recipe! The easy balsamic marinade is easy to put together and soaks into the tofu within 30 minutes.

    marinated tofu cubes frying in a pan

    Whether you’re new to cooking tofu or a seasoned pro, this Marinated Tofu recipe is a must-have in your repertoire. Not only does it produce the most flavorful tofu ever, but it’s a quick and easy staple that every vegan needs in their back pocket. All it takes is simple ingredients and a brick of tofu!

    Why marinate tofu? For extra flavor, of course! Tofu is known for having a mild, somewhat bland flavor on its own, but acts like a sponge when it’s dipped into specialty marinades and sauces. It’ll soak up anything you throw at it, from simple marinades like this recipe to vegan bacon seasoning, stir fry sauce, and more.

    The balsamic marinated tofu is pan-fried to develop a crispy crust and seal in that flavor. If pan-frying isn’t your thing, toss the tofu in the oven or air fryer instead! I always choose the fastest cooking method because it lets me enjoy the flavored tofu on salads, grain bowls, or wraps that much quicker.

    Jump to:
    • Tofu marinade ingredients
    • How to make marinated tofu
    • Tips for success
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Looking for more tofu recipes?
    • Marinated Tofu

    Tofu marinade ingredients

    • Tofu - Firm or extra firm tofu is always best because it contains less moisture. The less moisture and water in your tofu, the better it will be at absorbing the marinade.
    • Balsamic vinegar - This is a balsamic tofu marinade, so balsamic vinegar is a must. 
    • Maple syrup - For a touch of natural sweetness and balance.
    • Liquid aminos - Or use soy sauce, coconut aminos, or tamari.
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves will give the tofu marinade the most addictive flavor. Feel free to use garlic powder instead.
    cubes of tofu marinating in ziplock bag with balsamic marinade ingredients

    How to make marinated tofu

    Always press the tofu before doing anything else. You can do this with a tofu press or by wrapping the brick in a paper towel and placing something heavy on top. When it’s done draining after 15 minutes, you’re ready to begin:

    1. Make the marinade: Whisk the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, Italian seasonings, and liquid aminos together in a small bowl.
    2. Cube the tofu: Slice the brick of tofu into cubes.
    3. Marinate the tofu: Combine the tofu cubes and marinade in a freezer bag. Seal and shake to combine. Place it in the fridge and let the tofu marinate until it’s time to cook.
    4. Pan-fry the marinated tofu: Heat some oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the marinated tofu cubes and fry until a crust forms on all sides. Take the pan off the heat, pour in the reserved marinade, and stir until it evaporates. Season the fried tofu with salt and pepper, then enjoy!
    step by step photos how to marinate tofu
    cubes of marinated tofu tossed in a green salad

    Tips for success

    • You can reserve the leftover marinade, store it in the fridge, and reuse it another time.
    • Don’t flip the tofu in the skillet too early or else it won’t crisp.
    • Experiment with more tofu marinades! Swap the balsamic marinade for peanut sauce, teriyaki sauce, barbecue sauce, or this spicy Vietnamese dipping sauce.

    Serving suggestions

    The balsamic flavors in the marinade make this tofu recipe especially delicious on top of green salads, in veggie wraps or vegan gyros, and on buddha bowls with tahini dressing. It can also be layered into simple sandwiches with tomato, lettuce, and vegan mayo, mixed into a stir fry, or enjoyed as a snack on its own with ranch dressing.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you bake the marinated tofu instead?

    To bake the marinated tofu, lay the cubes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet with the marinade and bake at 350ºF for about 40 minutes (flipping halfway) or until the cubes are firm and slightly crisp. The baking method is oil free but it won’t crisp the outside of the tofu as much as frying.

    Can you air fry it?

    Yes! Marinate the tofu as normal and use the instructions in my air fryer tofu recipe to air fry the marinated tofu.

    How long can you marinate tofu?

    Tofu can be left to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes or overnight.

    Does the tofu actually soak up the flavors?

    Yes! Tofu is like a sponge and absorbs the flavors from the marinade like a pro. It’s especially easy to flavor when it’s cut into small cubes.

    Can you cook it ahead of time?

    The fried marinated tofu cubes can be cooked ahead of time and stored for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. It’s a great last-minute salad topping to always have on hand!

    Looking for more tofu recipes?

    • General Tso’s Tofu
    • Easy Tofu Scramble
    • Vegan Tofu Nuggets
    • Tofu Tikka Masala

    Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

    Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based  & Vegan Recipes❤️

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    marinated tofu cubes frying in a pan

    Marinated Tofu


    ★★★★★

    5 from 7 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Want to make tofu taste irresistible? Try this Marinated Tofu recipe! The easy balsamic marinade is easy to put together and soaks into the tofu within 30 minutes.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon Braggs liquid aminos, can sub Tamari or soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
    • 4-5 cloves garlic, chopped small ( approximately 3 tablespoons)
    • 1 block extra firm tofu
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil (for frying tofu)
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    First press the tofu: Wrap tofu in a couple layers of paper towel and then place something heavy on top. I usually use my cast iron frying pan with a couple cans of food on top. Press for 15 to 30 minutes.

    1. Make marinade: While the tofu is pressing in a small bowl whisk together the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, Italian spice and Braggs and set aside. (you can also do this right in the ziplock bag😊)
    2. Cube and marinate Tofu: Slice the tofu into approximately 1 inch cubes. Add the tofu to a large freezer bag with the marinade, making sure it is all coated. Squeeze the excess air out, seal and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight (longer is better but 30 minutes works great). After 30 minutes strain the tofu and reserve the marinade.
    3. Cook: Heat up a large non stick skillet on medium high heat with the oil. Once hot add the tofu and distribute evenly in the pan. Let cook for 3-5 minutes without touching so a crust forms. Flip and cook an additional 3 minutes or so, careful not to burn the garlic. If you find the pan to hot turn it down to medium heat.
    4. Enjoy: Remove from heat and add the reserved marinade, stirring until evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste (brings out all the flavour) Serve hot or cold and enjoy! For step by step photos, tips, suggestions and more cooking methods (oil free) see above post.

    Notes

    • Store: tofu will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for 3-5 days

    Post was originally published March 2019 and has been updated. Recipe itself is unchanged.

    • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Mains, Snacks & sides, Gluten free,
    • Method: stovetop
    • Cuisine: American, Canadian

    Keywords: marinated tofu, balsamic marinated tofu, tofu marinade

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    3376 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rita

      May 22, 2022 at 7:00 am

      The best ever tofu !

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 22, 2022 at 7:59 am

        thank you so much! I appreciate your review!

        Reply
    2. Margo

      May 12, 2022 at 9:54 am

      Our favorite tofu recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 12, 2022 at 9:54 am

        So nice to hear, thank you!

        Reply
    3. Gemma

      October 13, 2021 at 4:10 am

      Hi Verna, Thanks for the lovely recipes I am trying out the balsamic marinated tofu for my family to try but im unsure what to serve it with. I myself has rice and fresh seasonal vegetables but what would you suggest.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 13, 2021 at 5:02 am

        It's tasty with grilled or roasted veggies, peppers, cauliflower, mushrooms, etc,... in a wrap or sandwich with tomato, lettuce, vegan mayo,... add to salads. Hope this helps and you all enjoy the recipe!!

        Reply
    4. Steve Bahe

      August 22, 2021 at 10:47 am

      "Remove from heat and add the reserved marinade, stirring until evaporat ed" I'm not sure what this means? Stir until evaporated? . . . Does this just mean, give it another coating of marinade post-frying? Thanks

      Reply
      • Verna

        August 22, 2021 at 2:30 pm

        yes basically- The sauce will thicken and dissipate from residule heat. Just makes sure it all gets coated in marinade. Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Piper

      June 07, 2021 at 7:33 am

      Simple tofu recipes are right up my alley so thank you for this it was delicious ! The best I’ve tried really!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        June 07, 2021 at 11:37 am

        Oh thank you so much!

        Reply
    6. Vivien Counsell Mitchell

      April 19, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      I love this type of food - it meets all my requirements: nutritious, tasty, easy to make and delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        April 20, 2021 at 9:28 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    7. Abby

      December 02, 2019 at 4:30 pm

      Looks so good! I don't have maple syrup, and I am on a budget, so do you think I could use regular pancake syrup?

      Reply
      • Verna

        December 02, 2019 at 5:01 pm

        Hi Abby! I'm sure that would work just fine. Enjoy! let me know how it turns out😊

        Reply
    8. Janet

      October 30, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      Hi, I live in Australia, love the sound of this recipe but I have no idea what Braggs is, help!

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 30, 2019 at 6:52 pm

        Hi Janet! Braggs Liquid aminos is a seasoning sauce made from soy beans and purified water. So it is similar to soy sauce but not nearly as salty and it is gluten free, with no preservatives or artificial colouring. There is a link you can push on in the recipe card. Lite Tamari would work.? Have a great day!

        Reply
    9. Susanne Martin

      October 30, 2019 at 6:10 pm

      I'd like to try this recipe but what is, Braggs?

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 30, 2019 at 6:54 pm

        Hi Susanne! Braggs Liquid aminos is a seasoning sauce made from soy beans and purified water. So it is similar to soy sauce but not nearly as salty and it is gluten free, with no preservatives or artificial colouring. There is a link you can push on in the recipe card. Lite Tamari would work.? Have a great day!

        Reply
    10. Midge

      August 28, 2019 at 5:20 pm

      We cannot get enough of this recipe;so versatile

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        August 28, 2019 at 5:50 pm

        Thank you Midge! so happy you're enjoying the recipe. It is definitely tasty!

        Reply
    11. Charlotte

      May 29, 2019 at 6:47 pm

      This is one of my favorite tofu recipes. I have made it quite a few times and I am looking forward to more tofu recipes!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 30, 2019 at 1:45 am

        Oh thats so nice to hear, glad you are enjoying the recipe Charlotte. Thanks so much for your comment! yes there will certainly be more tofu recipes coming in the future!

        Reply

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