Tofu Marinade

Marinated Tofu over brown rice sprinkled with chopped green onions in a white plate on a marble countertop

You think tofu is boring and has a plain taste? Then try this tofu marinade! It's super easy to make and it's packed with flavor. I love serving my marinated tofu over brown rice and don't forget to top it off with some green onions and a bit of sriracha.

Course Entrée

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 166kcal

Author Sina

Ingredients

14 oz firm or extra-firm tofu

For the tofu marinade:

2 tablespoons sesame oil
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves of garlic
1 inch piece ginger
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon onion powder
red pepper flakes

Instructions

Start by pressing your tofu. Remove the tofu from the packaging.Then wrap it with a clean dishtowel. Alternatively, you could also use paper towels.
Cover with a baking sheet and then place something heavy on top. I usually use a stack of cookbooks. But you could also use cans of beans, a cast iron skillet, or smaller weights you use for weight lifting exercises.
Let it press for about 10-15 minutes.
In the meantime, make the tofu marinade.
Cut the garlic and the ginger into thin slices. In an airtight container or a bowl, combine all of the ingredients and whisk well.
After the tofu has been pressed for about 10-15 minutes, cut it into cubes. Then add it to the tofu marinade and carefully stir with a spoon until all of the tofu cubes are covered.
Cover the container and store it in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours. If you have enough time, I recommend letting the tofu marinate overnight. This way it will be even more flavorful.
To pan-fry the marinated tofu:
Heat some oil in a frying pan or in a cast iron skillet.Add the marinated tofu, but leave the rest of the tofu marinade behind (you can use it later if you want). Fry the tofu until golden brown.
How to bake the marinated tofu:
Preheat your oven to 350 °F. After the tofu has been marinated for at least 1-2 hours, place it in a bowl leaving the remaining tofu marinade behind.
Add two tablespoons of corn starch (for 14 ounces of tofu). Make sure all cubes are covered in corn starch. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the tofu cubes on top.
Bake for 25 minutes, tossing halfway.
Serve over brown rice and sprinkle with chopped green onions. I also like to add a bit of sriracha on top.

Notes

If you have enough time, I definitely recommend letting the tofu marinate overnight. This way it will be even more flavorful.
Do you want to make the tofu marinade gluten-free? Then just replace the soy sauce with tamari.
As the tofu needs some time to marinade, it's best to plan ahead. Apart from the waiting time, the recipe couldn't be much easier!
If you want your tofu marinade to be a bit spicier, you can also add a bit of sriracha to the marinade.

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