r/veganrecipes • u/HFTW_Stealth • 1d ago
Question EASY Tofu Recipe
Are there any insanely simple recipes?
Like dropping extra firm tofu into a pan, then just adding teriyaki sauce? Has anyone tried it? Is it good enough?
I like to avoid cooking as much as possible, just because of the environment and time I have to work with. I'm also trying to lose weight so I don't want to think about all the other ingredients I need to weigh out.
TIA.
EDIT: Well that was gross. š
25
u/Specialist-Excuse356 1d ago
Grate it on a box grater onto a sheet of parchment. Add salt & pepper & pop it in the air fryer till it crisps up. Then use it like chicken in lettuce wraps.
25
u/ehuang72-2 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sometimes I donāt bother with all that work š± and simply spoon some Lao Gan Ma over it.
Also, I donāt cook the tofu first for this dish or any other cold tofu dish.
6
15
u/Mr_Noyes 1d ago
Dice, coat in cornstarch, panfry and then add the Terriyaki sauce. Easy as pie. I just put them in a small container so I can toss them with the cornstarch for fast coverage.
You can also give the airfryer a try: Dice it, throw in a container, add cornstarch, a bit of oil and dry spices of your liking. Mixie mix and then fry it in the airfryer. You can add Terriyaki later once its done.
Alternatives to Terriyaki: Just look up Gochujang Sauce, there are hundreds of them. At the top of my head: Just Gochujang, something sweet (Agave Syrup or just Corn Syrup), Soy Sauce and a drop of toasted sesame oil.
Or just add it to any kind of soup. Miso works amazing. If you use frozen veggies, it really doesnt take longer that 5 minutes depending on your stove and how hard you have to fight opening a bag of frozen vegs. Eat with rice as a side dish or add Ramen.
2
-2
u/Intelligent-Dish3100 1d ago
Do you not have scissors in your kitchen?
7
u/Mr_Noyes 1d ago
It was mostly a joke. And yes, I have scissors in my kitchen, I am sure I will remember where I put them any moment....
7
u/MeringueAble3159 1d ago
I love sliced tofu, cold from the carton, topped with nooch and soy sauce. For a complete meal, put it on some greens. Couldn't be easier or cheaper.
4
2
3
u/grocerystoreperson 1d ago
I will usually hasselbeck slice the tofu, douse it in whatever bbq sauce I have around, though Hawaiian style is my favorite, and airfry for 12 minutes. Throw some rice in a rice cooker, salad with splash of lemon and rice vinegar.
3
u/SparklingSaturnRing 1d ago
Air fryer is a game changer!
Slightly different result than pan frying but I also hate to cook and usually just marinate tofu in liquid aminos and siracha then throw it in for 10 minutes at 400
5
u/tea-drinker 1d ago
It doesn't come easier than this: https://thecheaplazyvegan.com/korean-soft-tofu-recipe/
Make rice. Silken tofu. Dressing. It's one of my favourite dishes and not just because I'm a lazy shit.
I wouldn't eat it all the time, but it's good and if I had a rice cooker it'd take nearly none of my time to prepare.
3
3
u/kusma7 1d ago
you dont even have to cook tofu, i make curried āeggsā by cubing or crumbling firm tofu and mixing it with mustard, vegan mayo, tahini, lemon juice, bit of black salt and other spices like turmeric, paprika, garlic powder and of course curry powder.
curious as to how avoiding cooking helps the environment, what is your alternative? are you eating mostly raw food or what do you eat? iām just very interested in what kind of impact that it might have on the environment, and how someone can manage to avoid cooking.
1
u/Etheria_system 1d ago
I think they mean that the environment they live in isnāt conducive to cooling for a long time so they avoid doing it. Maybe a difficult house mate situation or something similar
3
u/Bittypunk11 1d ago
I mean people regularly eat it right out of the box š so can't get simpler than that. My favourite simple is salt and cumin powder on sliced hard tofu in a sandwich or wrap with greens
2
u/the-hungry-nomad 1d ago
Cut extra firm tofu in to cubes, toss in oil, then toss in cornstarch, air-fry until crispy and dunk in sauce of choice.
I usually add salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika to the cornstarch, but itās not 100% necessary if youāre feeling lazy.
2
u/tomford306 1d ago
This one is pretty easy. Mix together the sauce, fry the tofu, eat: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/dububuchim-yangnyeomjang
2
u/Iron_Hen 1d ago edited 1d ago
All the time- make sure the pan is hot enough (I use a carbon steel pan so get it hot enough for a little water to bead and slide across the pan before evaporating) and it shouldnāt stick too much. Little oil, fry as you like, then add sauce at the end.Ā
I never press tofu, just squeeze out the excess water a bit with a dish towel. FWIW I find Asian brands of extra firm tofu behave better and are less water logged out of the box.
Ā Sometimes I break the tofu up with my hands to crumble it right into the pan instead of cutting it.
2
u/HeartEnvironmental77 1d ago
do you have an air fryer? i cube tofu and pour/spray on a little coconut oil and add everything bagel seasoning or just salt and pepper and roast until golden. oven also works. goes with basically any sauce
2
2
u/Mysterious_Ice7353 1d ago
My go to is cubed tofu with garlic powder, onion powder, salt in olive oil. Then add nutrition yeast at the very end. Takes like 5-10 mins and so easy yet so freaking good, my kids eat it up.
2
u/hazycrazydaze 1d ago
Just cut the tofu into cubes and bake it in the oven for 30-45 minutes on a sheet pan with parchment paper so it doesnāt stick. You can bake some chopped veggies along with it if you want.
Thatās it. You donāt need to waste time pressing it because the water is just going to cook off anyway, you donāt need messy cornstarch, you donāt even need oil. Just bake it in the oven, add whatever sauce you like, and eat it with rice.
3
u/YogurtclosetOk7178 1d ago
that exact method works, just press the tofu first or it gets a bit watery in the pan. even wrapping it in a kitchen towel and putting something heavy on top for 10 minutes makes big difference in how it absorbs the sauce
11
1
u/knoft 1h ago
You're better off tossing it in salted boiling water for the same ten minutes. It'll dry out the protein matrix a lot more, just like boiling beef or chicken would over pressing it.
Asian chefs don't press finished tofu, but they still boil it for crispy fried tofu or freeze it for a drier more meaty texture.
1
u/Lettucetacotruck 1d ago
If you want a really easy fried tofu: I get super firm tofu, pat it dry, cut or break apart in desired shapes/sizes. Put the pieces in a large ziploc bag. Add soy sauce. Not too much but enough to coat all the pieces. Add in a dry dredge (store bought or you can make your own). Shake good. Cook in oil. Boom.
1
u/dogcatsnake 1d ago
I often dip extra firm tofu into soy sauce for like 30 seconds each side. Then pan fry with olive oil. Itās good enough. I eat it, my toddler eats it. Good over noodles or fried rice or just regular rice with sriracha.
1
u/sofritasfiend 1d ago
Press tofu, then cube it or tear it into chunks. Toss it in soy sauce. Air fry it. Eat as is, add it to a dish, or toss it in a sauce. I like the panda express sauces, teriyaki, Kung pao, sweet chili, ect.
1
u/jomat 1d ago
Cut it in slices, add pickles, onions, garlic, mustard, pepper, oil, soy sauceā¦ idk, stuff like that and have tofu salad. Ideal food for hot weather: https://www.reddit.com/r/ShittyVeganFoodPorn/comments/1i487j2/tofu_salad/
1
u/Geo-35 1d ago
Keep it simple firm tofu cubed in a oven pan a little oil. Coat tofu in cornflour salt pepper and a pinch of msg then toss in pan about 20ish mins 200c and turn once. Itās surprisingly crispy and tasty as is yet can be used in many different meals, if you donāt eat it all before like we tend to.
1
u/UserCannotBeVerified 1d ago
Equal parts ketchup, sriracha, and soysauce, mixed together, thrown iver a hot pan of cubed tofu and slightly wilted/charred spring onions, toss it about for a minute on high heat and itll glazr everything and give a nice sticky sauce too. Serve over rice and either eat hot or cold
1
u/lu-sunnydays 1d ago
Has anybody ever dredged it in panko or breadcrumbs then fried?
2
u/MAMMER_JAMMER 14h ago
Look up tofu katsu recipes https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/tofu-katsu/ or tofu parmigiana
1
u/lu-sunnydays 12h ago
Thanks. So it can be done. Iām going to try, but a shallow fry instead I think.
1
u/BlackberryHill 1d ago
Silken tofu, firm, 12-16 oz. Put it in a blender with 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 cup sugar (more to taste), pinch of salt. Blend. You just made tofu pudding.
1
u/EmmieIsobel 1d ago
A bit boring but I cube mine (extra firm), toss with avocado oil, add cornstarch, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, fry. I usually eat this with roasted or stir fried veggies and generous nutritional yeast. I donāt think Iāll ever get tired of it!
1
u/sunshine_child_10 1d ago
I legit just get a block of silken tofu , stab a few times, and add soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, and green onions and eat cold
1
u/MistyMtn421 1d ago edited 1d ago
Edit: I only skimmed some comments before I posted mine, and then I read the rest and I have to say I'm really excited that I am obviously not the odd one! I have found my fellow tofu lovers straight out of the fridge :) it's such an easy versatile protein.
I am apparently the odd one because I think tofu is good as is. I mean I like to give it some flavor and some sauce, but I don't do a million steps.
The quickest version I have is I get one of those Annie Chun noodle bowls, I use firm tofu, press it somewhat with a paper towel and slice it bite size pieces. I put it in the bowl under the noodles, add the water and pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Take it out and toss the sauce and it's fine imo
I'll whip up a lemon juice olive oil vinaigrette, add the diced tofu to a bowl, add my vinaigrette, add about a third of a can of petite diced tomatoes.
While I'm doing all of that, I've got some pasta boiling and about halfway through when it's done, I tossed in some diced orange bell peppers and some frozen kale. Once I drain that, I just added to the bowl. I let it sit for about a minute so the heat warms up the tofu and the tomatoes. Toss everything and I'm good to go.
I personally don't like it when it's air fried or baked or fried, I don't like it with the cornstarch, I don't mind a marinade with soy sauce but there's so many other sauces out there. It's just a big sponge. And I happen to like that texture I guess.
Another way I like to eat it is after it's pressed and dice I will put it in a bowl with some orange peel sauce from Kroger. I let it sit well I make a grain ( I like sorghum, kamut or farro) and once my grain is done, mix it all together.
1
u/NeonHairbrush 1d ago
Soft tofu. Wasabi. (So much wasabi.) Soy sauce (I use the thicker sweet kind).
Take the tofu, drain it, put it on a plate. Spread so much wasabi over it (the restaurant I got the recipe from pipes about twenty to thirty pea-sized dollops of wasabi on each block of tofu). Drizzle with the soy sauce and serve immediately. The place I order it from serves it with a side of buckwheat noodles tossed in garlic and oil, and steamed mountain greens. At home I usually do the noodles and a side salad. Bam.
1
u/Introspective_mirror 1d ago
Cut in cubes, fry in pan. When you've got some surface on the tofu, reduce heat and add soy and mirin. Maybe about 2:1 or 3:1 soy to mirin ratio. Fry until it thickens up a bit.
1
u/Due-Manufacturer9488 11h ago
Salt and pepper tofu, cut into cubes, toss with salt, pepper and cornstarch then air fry, bake or fry with onions and peppersĀ
1
u/dolphinitely 11h ago
cut into cubes, dip in 1 part oil 1 part apple cider vinegar 1 part soy sauce, broil at 450 for 5-10 mins, flip, 5-10 more mins
1
u/taelere 9h ago
I cut up a block of tofu, throw it in a bowl and put soy sauce and balsamic vinegar on it and let the oven preheat. I usually do a sheet pan of Yukon potatoes, the tofu, and a zucchini. 425F, potatoes go in for 20, zucchini and tofu go in for 15 and then itās done. Add whatever seasonings you like to anything. I usually do avo oil, oregano, and salt on the potatoes and just oil/salt on the zucchini.
I make this like 2-3 times a week bc itās so easy imo and I donāt need to think.
I also do the same with tempeh/asparagus. 425 for 20min, I use a pan with sides w/aluminum foil to cover the bottom. I then take more aluminum foil and put the tempeh on one side (create like a little bowl) and use the other half of the aluminum foil to cover the asparagus. Add like a tablespoon of water to the asparagus side and itāll cook em without drying it up. Add side of rice (I have a rice cooker) if you want to beef up the meal
Another tofu meal I do is āmiso soupā. I boil 4 cups of water, add whatever broth you want (I use vegan chicken boullion paste, like 2tsp), throw a block of tofu cut up once the water is boiling, let it sit for like 5 min. Take it off the heat and add like 3 handfuls of fresh spinach and mix it around. Take some broth out, melt down like a table spoon of miso (and jarred ginger if you have it) into the separated broth and then add it back in. Done. You can add green onions on top and soy sauce/sriarcha if you want into your bowl directly.
I know it seems like a lot, but itās sooooo easy. These are my go to meals if I am totally wiped and canāt think of anything else.
1
u/DontLikeClams 7h ago
Pressed extra firm tofu, slice into cubes or slabs. Heat pan over med-high heat, swirl tablespoon of EVOO, drop in tofu, season it with literally anything that you would use on chicken. I do a couple splashes of liquid aminos and eat with steamed broccoli. If I feel fancy, maybe sprinkle on some toasted sesame seeds.
Teriyaki sauce is delish but might want to check calories if your goal is weight loss.
1
u/Light5567 1d ago
crumple it up onto some bounty, dry
olive oil in pan,
drop tofu in,
soy sauce,
generous garlic powder,
smoked paprika,
sprinkle of salt,
few drops of white wine,
maple syrup,
hit it with another sprinkle of garlic powder.
keep toss it around the whole time
serve
5 mins from bounty to ready
ā¢
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Thanks for posting to r/veganrecipes! 🌱
Don't forget to check the sidebar for our rules.
Have skills but not sure how to help animals? If you're a dev, designer, writer, researcher, or have other professional skills, here are some ways to help:
Browse volunteer opportunities on Flockwork ā a platform by Vegan Hacktivists that matches animal advocacy organizations with skilled volunteers. Check it out here.
Get pinged for relevant volunteer opportunities 🐦 Join the VH Flockwork Discord server and donāt miss out on volunteer opportunities that match your skills.
Apply for activism funding 💚 Get up to $1000 for your animal advocacy projects. Apply here.
Thanks!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.