You might find tofu can be tricky to cook well the first time you make it. But once you’re a PRO it’ll become staple in your weekly shop. This blog post includes 12 meal ideas and 6 TOP TIPS for cooking tofu!
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12 Meal Ideas with tofu:
- Ramen (Recipe Here)
- Stir fry (Sauce Recipe Here)
- Tofu ‘fish’ n’ Chips (Recipe Here)
- Banh Mi (Recipe Here)
- Satay Tofu (Recipe Here)
- Pad Thai (Recipe Here)
- Fajitas (Recipe Here or use this kit from Sainsbury’s)
- Tofu Coconut Curry (Recipe Here)
- Spring roll or gyoza filling (Recipe Here)
- Tofu scramble (Recipe Here)
- BBQ Tofu burger (Recipe Here)
- Vegan French toast (Recipe Here)
Read till the end to see my meal inspiration photos!
Most common Tofu you’ll find:
These are all well-known brands sold in UK supermarkets.
1. Firm tofu
The most common form of tofu you can pick up in most supermarkets. Easy to cut then fry or bake. Perfect for almost any recipe from tofu ‘fish’ to ramen to sandwich fillings.
Cauldron Foods
- Original Tofu Block (Find this on thevegankindsupermarket online and in all major UK supermarkets)
- Marinated Tofu Pieces (Find this on thevegankindsupermarket online and in all major UK supermarkets)
- Smoked Tofu Pieces (Morrisons)
- TERIYAKI TOFU PIECES (Sainsbury’s and Waitrose)
The Tofoo Co
- Tofu block in Naked (i.e. plain) or Smoked variety. (Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s Ocado and Co-Op)
- Crispy Southern Fried Bites (Tesco, Sainsbury’s Ocado and Co-Op), Organic Sweet Chilli Bites (Tesco, Sainsbury’s), and Crispy Wholemeal Chunkies (Tesco).
2. Silken
Silken tofu is soft, and silky, as the name would suggest! Due to it’s softer consistency (vs regular tofu) it will fall apart if not handled carefully.
However, because of this texture, it can be excellent for using in recipes such as vegan french toast!
Common silken tofu brands you might find:
- Clearspring Organic Silken Tofu (Find this on thevegankindsupermarket online and Waitrose, Ocado)
- Yutaka Silken Tofu (Tesco, Morrisons)
- Mori-Nu Silken Tofu (Sainsbury’s, Asda)
3. Breakfast Scramble
You can use the above tofu to make a breakfast scramble or go the lazy route and get ready to go breakfast scramble! This Bonsan scramble contains four portions, and you can see it as part of a VEGAN FULL ENGLISH in my post ‘THE PERFECT VEGAN BRUNCH’ here!
- Bonsan (available on thevegankindsupermarket)cx
My 6 TOP TIPS for cooking tofu like a BOSS:
1. Prep, prep, prep
Ideally use a tofu press to prep your tofu, to eliminate as much water as possible to allow for easy frying.
If you don’t own a tofu press you can pat dry the tofu with a clean tea towel or a few sheets of kitchen paper towel to help it cook faster and get crispier. Press out the water.
- Here is a great guide to prepping your tofu!
2. Get the size right
If you are frying our tofu, I recommend you cut the tofu chunks no thicker than 2cm so it’s able to crispy up nicely. (It can be wider but not too thick otherwise it won’t cook inside before it burns on the outside).
3. Use enough oil
Don’t be afraid of oil!
I feel like oil gets a bad rep in the vegan community from the days with that banana girl… but seriously don’t be afraid to use a decent amount of oil and add more when you flip the tofu to ensure all sides get nice and crispy!
4. Sauce and marinate
Add a sticky sauce (my favourites are teriyaki and hoisin but you could also try sticky plum or sweet chilli). I add my sauce when the tofu is almost done so it doesn’t burn with the high sugar content.
Or try marinating the tofu for at least an hour (you can leave it several hours if you have time) before cooking.
For a classic Asian inspired marinade, use a mix of soy sauce, garlic, chilli and sesame oil or add some liquid smoke (I get mine from thevegankindsupermarket online) and agave nectar for a sweet and smokey twist!
5. Try a new variety
Experiment with different types of tofu!
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, tofu comes in all sorts of varieties of different textures and densities. So you may find that one type of tofu isn’t for you but don’t let this put you off as there are tonnes of brands and types of tofu on the market nowadays.
My favourite tofu for an all-rounder is the extra firm smoky tofu from @tofooco or a variety of puff tofu which you can usually find in Asian supermarkets.
6. Last resort…
…and if all else fails after you have tried all the different varieties and followed the tips in this post then treat yourself to a Wagamama and let them do the cooking for you!
AND don’t forget to DOUBLE UP on your tofu with extra tofu with you Wagamama order for only 75p! Find out more of my Wagamama hacks for maximising your experience eating out in the restaurant HERE!
My Fav Cooking Method:
- Optional: Start with marinating your tofu. I often do this if I have time, but I if I am making my tofu for lunch or a super speedy meal, I will just add soy sauce or a sticky sauce near the end for flavour instead.
- Use the tips on how to prep and chop your tofu and do this while you heat 1-2 tbsp oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.
- Add your tofu to the pan and cook till all sides are brown and crisp. You will have to turn your tofu carefully, approximately every 1 minute to get all the sides evenly cooked.
- Optional: Add sticky sauce 1-2 minutes before you serve.
Still not a fan?
Try a similar alternative to tofu such as tempeh or seitan!
Meal Inspiration Photos:
Ramen:
Sushi:
Southern Fried Bites n’ Chips:
Stir Fry with Hoisin Sauce:
Rice and Teriyaki Tempeh:
Tofu Scramble Brunch:
Grilled Satay Tofu:
I think tofu so tasty when done correctly but it’s not the easier thing to get right when you first try. So don’t give up and use all the tips in this blog post to learn how to cook tofu like a PRO, and check out the recipes linked in this post for more help on how to serve your tofu!