Never eat bland or boring tofu again! This Marinated Tofu recipe easily transforms a regular brick of tofu into the most delicious protein with amazing flavors. Perfect for frying, baking, or air frying!
Are you skeptical of tofu? The secret to delicious tofu is how you prepare it! You’ll love my Perfect Fried Tofu, Crispy Baked Tofu and Air Fryer Tofu recipes as well.
And here are a few of my all-time-favorite tofu based dinners:
- Orange Tofu (tastes just like the popular take-out!)
- Sesame Tofu
- Peanut Tofu with Coconut Rice
If you think tofu is bland, boring, or difficult to make, think again! This Marinated Tofu recipe teaches you how to easily make the best tofu ever. All it takes is a really simple marinade!
Here’s what one reader had to say:
“Holy smokes. You nailed it. I haven’t been this excited about food for a long while! I couldn’t stop eating it out of the marinating dish lol. Thank you! So appreciate you sharing this with us.”
Jolene
Why I love this recipe
- The tofu marinade is super flavorful and simple to make with pantry staples.
- The tofu soaks up the marinade like a sponge, taking it from a bland soy blob to an incredibly flavorful protein source or snack.
- Marinated tofu is extremely versatile. Add it to a stir fry, salad, noodle bowl, sandwiches and so much more!
How to marinate tofu
Cut the tofu into cubes and place them in a single layer on a flat surface, like a cutting board lined with paper towels. Add a layer of paper towels on top, followed by a baking sheet. Weigh it down with something heavy, like cookbooks or a cast iron skillet to drain the water.
You can also choose to press the whole block of tofu instead of cutting it first. Slicing it first simply cuts down on time.
Meanwhile, make the tofu marinade by whisking the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger together.
Transfer the pressed tofu cubes to a shallow dish or a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the marinade over top.
Cover with a layer of plastic, then place the dish in the fridge. Let the tofu marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight for more flavorful results.
How to cook marinated tofu
There are 3 ways I love to cook marinated tofu: pan frying, baking, and air frying.
Pan fried tofu
Warm some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the marinated tofu pieces in the pan, then fry until golden brown on each side.
Pour some of the leftover marinade into the pan and stir to coat. Serve over rice with stir fried vegetables, then enjoy!
Baked tofu
Place the marinated tofu cubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes. Flip, then continue baking for another 20 minutes.
If you want extra flavor, quickly fry the baked tofu in a skillet with the reserved marinade.
Air fryer tofu
Place the tofu pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches so the pieces aren’t crowded). Air fry at 400ºF for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pieces are golden and crispy, shaking the basket after 10 minutes.
Plate the tofu and drizzle the reserved marinade over top. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
A firm variety is best, like medium-firm, firm, or extra-firm tofu. This recipe does not work with soft or silken tofu because they’re too watery and delicate to be pressed.
The longer the tofu sits in the marinade, the better it will taste! That’s why I recommend you marinate it for a minimum of 1 hour or overnight for the best results. Some readers have even let the tofu cubes marinate for 2 days with great results!
You can use tamari instead of soy sauce to make a gluten free tofu marinade.
The best way to prevent your fried tofu from sticking to the bottom of the pan is to preheat the oiled skillet and not move the tofu cubes AT ALL for the first 3 to 4 minutes. This helps the bottom get nice and crispy, making the pieces much easier to flip. Be very gentle when you do eventually move them around in the pan and use a quality spatula or even a fork.
The leftover cooked or uncooked tofu can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Absolutely! Add the tofu cubes and marinade to a large ziplock bag, seal it closed, and freeze for up to 6 months. Before cooking, let the frozen tofu thaw in the fridge.
Serving suggestions
I love serving the cooked tofu stir fry-style. I’ll top the cubes over bowls of rice or noodles with stir fried vegetables, like bok choy, mushrooms, and carrots.
The Asian-inspired flavors in the marinade also help the tofu pair perfectly with Vegan Fried Rice and endless noodle bowls. Toss it into a batch of these Teriyaki Noodles and Easy Drunken Noodles for a nourishing and satisfying meal!
Lastly, you can use the tofu as an easy plant-based protein source on grain bowls, sandwiches and salads. I love to use it in my Vegan Poke Bowls or Buddha Bowls because they make every bite extra filling and satisfying.
Marinated Tofu (The Best Tofu Ever!)
Ingredients
- 14.5 ounce block extra-firm tofu
- 4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger OR 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
- 2-3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado
Instructions
- Quick press the tofu: Cut the tofu into cubes. Place them evenly on a flat surface such as a cutting board lined with paper towels or a clean towel. Cover with a layer of paper towels, set a baking sheet on top and then something heavy, like a large book or cast iron skillet. Press like this for 15 minutes while you make the marinade.
- Make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
- Marinate the tofu: Place the pressed tofu pieces in a shallow dish. (In the photos above I doubled the recipe, so I used a 9 x 13 inch dish, but for one batch you will need a smaller dish, such as an 8 x 8 inch.) Pour the marinade over the tofu. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour, covered, in the refrigerator. If you want to leave it overnight, it will be even more flavorful.
- Cook the tofu: In a large skillet, cast iron preferred, add a few tablespoons of a neutral oil, such as canola oil and heat over medium-high heat. You can omit the oil if needed, but you will need a very good non-stick pan so the tofu pieces don’t stick. Remove the tofu pieces from the marinade and add to the pan. Do not discard the marinade sauce. Fry the tofu until golden brown on each side.
- Once the tofu pieces are browned, pour any leftover marinade sauce into the pan with the tofu, and stir to coat. This makes the tofu even more flavorful! The tofu will quickly absorb the sauce. Remove from heat, and serve with rice and stir fried vegetables such as baby bok choy, mushrooms and carrots.
- Store leftover tofu in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It’s also good cold, as a high protein snack or in sandwiches and salads.
Video
Notes
- For gluten free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You can also bake the tofu if you prefer. Place the tofu pieces on a silicone mat or parchment paper on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Flip the pieces and bake for 20 more minutes. To add more flavor after baking, quickly saute in a pan with the leftover marinade sauce; you won’t need to use any oil.
- Instead of quick pressing, you could also press the whole block of tofu for at least an hour.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or even tripled, and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, if it lasts that long! I always double it as my family gobbles it up fast.
- Nutrition information is for 1/4 of the tofu only, using 2 tablespoons of canola oil for frying.
Nutrition
Adapted from Genius Kitchen.
This recipe tastes really nice (I eyeballed the measurements, so I was surprised by that! But I guess that just further verifies the recipe). The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was there was some canola oil in the frypan still the end of frying. When I added the leftover marinate, it thickened nicely but stayed separate to the oil so there was an oily film on top of the sauce. So I had to decant that out but otherwise great recipe good flavour and nice tips.
Great recipe! I had to substitute regular white vinegar for the rice vinegar and canola oil for the sesame oil, and it still turned out amazing!
I’m so glad, thank you!
We liked your recipe. I will admit that I’ll probably reduce the vinegar to 2T b/c I found it a little sour. I just made up another sauce to dilute that, otherwise very tasty and I love the crispness. Thank you!
Recipe says sesame oil. So I do not use roasted sesame oil but plain flavorless sesame oil? I just wanted to be sure I understood.
I use toasted sesame oil that does have flavor. Hope that helps!
ahhh i made this for lunch just now and literally ate the whole package of tofu because i couldn’t stop!! (*crying emoji*)
i actually threw the marinade together last night… i didn’t measure anything, just dumped a little of each ingredient into a container with the tofu. hehe. and it came out amazingly. the flavors work so well together! so next time (…tonight) i’ll actually use the right proportions.
i had also frozen my tofu… i read somewhere that if you press, freeze, thaw, and then re-press tofu, it changes the texture to make it more “meaty.” i think that tip was in the context of chicken nugget replacements. anyway it worked and the whole thing was just unbelievable.
thank you nora!!!
You’re welcome!
Wanted to send a quick “thank you” for sharing this recipe! After making it for the first time in late January, it’s become a weekly staple – both the way you’ve shown here over rice, as well as in wraps and salads. Amazing job and thanks again!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad it’s so consistently good for you!
Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe!
You’re welcome!
Can you make this ahead and serve it cold? I’m making a charcuterie board and want options for vegan and vegetarian friends.
Absolutely, I love eating it cold! Sounds fun.
This was very good and will be my go to tofu marinade…thank you! I cooked mine in the air fryer.
You’re welcome. I’m glad it was good!
What is a low carb sweet alternative to maple syrup?
I don’t know of one, but you can leave it out for this recipe.
Lankato makes a monkfruit “maple” syrup.
oh awesome thank you amy!!
I am amazed at how good these came out! I made an Asian Slaw and added these crispy squares of tasty tofu on top…very satisfying! I used a cast iron skillet, btw, and it only took a few minutes each side to get a nice crisp to the tofu. Surprisingly easy, really happy with this! Thank you!
You’re welcome! What a great idea adding the tofu to an Asian slaw!
The best marinade! I used in in veggie stir fry and with veggie and noodles.
Great idea!
Fantastic! It was a little timely to prepare, but gosh, it was totally worth it!
Thank you Carly!
I’ve been cooking tofu (unsuccessfully) for years! This recipe is so easy and delicious, and it’s the first time ever I haven’t been disappointed by my at-home attempt to cook tofu. Thank you!!
My husband, who “hates” tofu LOVES this (and I do, too!)
Seriously, it is the best tofu “meat” I have ever made.
I love the Bye and Bye’s tofu! However, I would rather cook at home. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Used this marinade recipe and then grilled the tofu–I’ll be using this recipe again and again! Thank you!
I made this in the air fryer ?. Delicious ?
Just did it. Thanks for sharing in such a great way. “The Lord loves a cheerful giver”!
You make the world a better place by doing this kind of thing. Brilliant!
I made this for myself, planning to bring leftovers to work. After I let the kids try it, though, they wanted it for dinner. My ultra-picky boys (one with sensory issues and the other with a super powerful gag reflex) pretty much licked their plates clean. My husband liked it too. So now I don’t have any leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
They also asked me to make it “again and again.” Thanks for this recipe!
Well that is a wonderful review! It always makes me so happy when I hear of picky kids enjoying my recipes. 🙂 Thank you Kelly!
This is the BEST marinated tofu I’ve ever had! I’ve disgraced myself by making it five times in as many days. I used Wildwood super firm tofu (I hate pressing tofu, so I always buy the pre-pressed Wildwood kind), and I used 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder instead of the fresh minced garlic. Good lord, this stuff is like ambrosia.
So yummy!
Best tofu ever is right!!! delicious!
This recipe might be the reason I start eating more tofu haha thank you!
That’s great, Bryan! Oh my goodness, they are so flavorful and delicious!
I just started eating tofu and I’m obsessed.
Yay! It can be SO delicious! Welcome to the world of tofu. 🙂
OMG!!! This recipe is exactly what I’ve been waiting for! I’ve struggled and struggled with making tofu and you have helped me solve it! Your tips are so helpful, and, as always, your recipe yields a DELICIOUS finished product. Thank you so much! This will be a regular staple in our house, and I won’t have to cry many culinary tears over batches of ruined tofu. 🙂