As promised, here is one of my favorite tofu recipes. It’s a favorite because it’s:
1) simple to make, no fancy tools needed
2) versatile and snackable
3) absolutely delicious
Have you ever been the victim of flavorless tofu with a weird, mushy texture? Try this, I promise it’s neither flavorless nor mushy. Baking tofu, as done in this recipe, gives it a satisfying “meat-like” texture that people that are new to plant-based eating (and the veteran plant-eaters) really enjoy.
This recipe is as simple as pressing the tofu, slicing or crumbling it up, adding the flavor and letting it all marinate for a short time, and then baking it. And of course, eating it!
These tofu bites have a slightly tangy “cheesy” flavor thanks to the combination of lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and salt. They taste amazing over some baked potato slices and vegan gravy (a vegan poutine of sorts), dipped in some ketchup or tahini sauce with a side of baked potato slices and veggies, over pasta, or in a rice bowl.
Obviously, there is no shame in popping them straight into your mouth from the pan. They make a great protein-rich and mineral rich snack, too.
Savory Tofu Bites
Servings: 4
- 1 block 14 oz block of tofu, pressed of excess water*
- 2 TB nutritional yeast
- 2 TB lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp tahini (optional)
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a baking pan with parchment or a baking mat.
- Slice tofu into bite-size cubes or crumble into chunks.
- Place tofu bits into a container that has a lid (such as a quart-sized mason jar or a food container) or a quart-size plastic zip lock bag. Just be sure to wash and re-use it.
- Sprinkle the nutritional yeast over the tofu then add the lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and tahini, if using.
- Put the lid on the container or zip up the bag and shake shake shake until all the tofu is coated. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to soak in the flavor.
- Place tofu onto the baking sheet, spreading the tofu pieces out so they get evenly baked.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes.
- Flip and bake for another 15 minutes, or until desired texture is reached.
*Here’s a 1-minute video on how to press tofu in case you need some instruction! It’s simple, I promise.
Enjoy!