27 Tofu Recipes That Will Change The Way You Think About Vegan Food (2024)

FAQs

What are the different ways to cook tofu? ›

Its texture is firm enough to be cooked over high heat, such as pan-frying, air frying, baking, braising, and grilling. The outside becomes golden and crispy while the inside remains soft and tender. Grilled tofu is a delicious way to add plant-based protein to your summer meals.

Use a steak marinade, grill with onions and barbecue sauce, and serve on a toasted bun at your next BBQ. Cube it, coat with cornstarch, pan fry, and serve with honey mustard and sweet potato fries for super-easy "chicken" nuggets.

Basic tofu is a completely vegan product.

It is made from soybeans (i.e. plants) and set using non-animal coagulants such as calcium sulphate or magnesium chloride. With a firm texture and a capacity to take on other flavours, it is a popular ingredient in vegan and vegetarian cooking around the globe.

For Baking

Tofu is simply curdled soy milk, so heating and adding liquid result in a similar consistency that's also creamy, moist and rich. In baking, four tablespoons or 1/4 cup of silken tofu can substitute a single egg.

Tofu is categorized as silken, regular, firm, extra-firm and super-firm. Silken, the softest type of tofu, can be compared to a young white cheese. Firm tofu, the most common, has the same consistency as feta, while the texture of super-firm can be compared to that of meat.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Tofu is low in calories but high in protein and fat. It also contains many important vitamins and minerals, including calcium and manganese.

Tofu also contains all the essential amino acids your body needs and is rich in minerals and vitamins, including calcium, manganese, iron and vitamin A. Tofu and other soy foods also are primary source of isoflavones. Those are flavonoids – plant-created chemicals that are associated with a variety of health benefits.

In the strictest definition of the word, honey is not vegan. As the product of a living being –honeybees, though there are other some 20,000 bee species to be found around the world – honey falls into the same category of non-vegan food products as milk and eggs.

Why do vegans love tofu? ›

Since tofu is made from soybeans, it is extremely rich in protein and iron. In addition to these benefits, tofu contains no cholesterol and very little saturated fat. Tofus can be used as a meat substitute or added into a variety of dishes, such as soups, salads, and even desserts.

For instance, cheese cravings are often viewed as the body's way to compensate for an insufficient calcium intake. However, craving foods like tofu would be more likely to correct a calcium deficiency, since it offers up to twice as much calcium per 1-ounce (28-gram) portion (21).

Tofu is great for egg substitutions in recipes that call for a lot of eggs, such as quiches or custards. To replace one egg in a recipe, purée 1/4 cup of soft tofu. It's important to keep in mind that although tofu doesn't fluff up like eggs, it does create a texture that's perfect for “eggy” dishes.

Head to head, tofu scramble and scrambled eggs are nutritionally comparable and both healthy choices. They are complete sources of protein, providing all essential amino acids; are low in calories; and relatively low in saturated fat.

Mashed Tofu.

Using tofu to replace half the butter reduces calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium by about half.

All our go-to ways to prepare tofu: baked, crispy, sautéed, fried, and scrambled. Perfect for a variety of meals. YUM!

Baked, Not Fried.

My method for baking tofu produces tofu that's chewy, but it's cooked in the oven, making it much healthier.

While tofu is delicious pan-fried or deep-fried, it's even more delicious made in an air fryer. Besides the fact that the tofu comes out super crispy, it's super easy to make and has minimal cleanup.

Toss the cubed tofu with the olive oil, tamari, and sriracha. For extra crispy tofu, sprinkle with the cornstarch and gently toss to coat. Spread the tofu evenly onto the baking sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until browned around the edges.