Easy Tofu Marinades (for the BEST tofu flavor!)

Name: Best Tofu Marinades
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons dijon mustard; 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 clove garlic; 2-3 teaspoons sriracha; black pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce; 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup; 1 1/2 tablespoons mirin; 1 tablespoons maple syrup / brown sugar; 1 tablespoon sambal oelek; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons ginger, grated/minced; 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons hot sauce (eg. Valentina, sriracha); 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste); 1 tablespoon maple syrup or vegan honey; 1 teaspoon smoky paprika; 2-3 tablespoons pickle juice (or vinegar); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon butter (optional - see recipe note); 1/3 cup bbq sauce, bold smoky; 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce; 1 teaspoon lime juice (more to taste); 1 teaspoon maple (if needed); 3 - 4 tablespoons white (or red) wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons dijon mustard; 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika powder

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If you've ever wondered how to make tofu taste delicious, try marinating it! These scrumptious tofu marinades wake up bland tofu infusing it with tons of flavor! They're a yummy combination of savory, sweet, salty, hot, smoky, and spicy - next level tofu at its best!

Best of all, these tofu marinade recipes are made with pantry friendly ingredients like Dijon mustard, soy sauce, wine vinegar, maple syrup, hot sauce, herbs and spices so they are fuss free and ready in minutes. Plus tofu is super healthy, packed with protein, naturally gluten free, oil-free, and vegan!

Tofu cubes sitting in marinade on baking sheet.

I'll confess, I was slow to the tofu game (I didn't know what I was missing). It was an Instagram contest that inspired me to give tofu a try. My tofu won a prize (satay tofu) and our family gained a super delicious, versatile, protein rich, low fat, healthy food to eat! Tofu is an easy and inexpensive protein source for vegetarian, vegan, meatless main dishes.

Don't like tofu? Keep reading, I'll teach you the secret for how to make the best, most flavorful tofu!

Perfect for meal prep, marinated tofu is super easy to prepare, incredibly versatile, and abundantly available at the supermarket. I make a batch or two at the beginning of the week for our family to enjoy with sandwiches, stir fries, Buddha bowls, salads or just for snacking - it's a staple in our kitchen!

How to Marinate Tofu

Marinating adds TONS of FLAVOR and couldn't be EASIER or quicker to prepare.

Select firm or extra firm tofu, press excess water from it, pour the marinade over the tofu and let it soak in for around 30 minutes or overnight.

The marinades take only a few minutes to whip up - each marinade recipe will have some leftover sauce for stir frying, basting or drizzling over the tofu doubling the flavor! (details below)

Bowls of tofu marinade and tofu cubes on a baking sheet.

Method:

if your tofu block is really thick, slice it in half through the middle. Wrap the two pieces in a few paper towels or a kitchen towel to absorb the liquid. Stack some heavy cookbooks or pans on top and let it press while you make the marinade (or use a tofu press!). After 15 - 30 minutes, cut tofu into desired shape and size.
transfer tofu to baking dish, bowl or bag then pour marinade over top. Gently toss and stir to coat tofu with marinade. Let it sit for around 30 minutes or more so the flavors can infuse into each piece of tofu.
drain, but don't throw out excess marinade.
cook tofu as desired.

How to Cook Tofu

If you want to learn how to get the most flavor out of tofu, check out my post, How to Cook Tofu that Tastes Good, for a complete guide on selecting, pressing, and cooking tofu.

Marinated tofu is quick and easy to cook in a variety of ways from pan frying, baking, grilling, and air frying. The cooking time will depend on how thick your tofu cubes, slices or slabs are, the type of pan you choose, and how high you turn the heat.

Pan Frying / Grilling Method

Oil-free Method: Fry the marinated tofu on a non-stick pan or stove top griddle over medium-high heat (no oil, single layer, don't crowd the skillet). Place tofu pieces in a hot pan, don't move or flip them until they naturally release (about 3 minutes), flip and cook the other side.
Crispy Fried Method: Warm a splash of oil in a non-stick skillet or cast iron pan and fry the marinated tofu over medium-high heat until golden brown and crispy.

THE SECRET to preventing tofu from sticking when pan frying (with or without oil): place tofu pieces in the hot pan and don't move or flip them until a crust forms and they naturally release. Flip and repeat on other sides (a few minutes on each side).

Oven Baked Method

Preheat oven to 400º F.
Place tofu in a single layer, evenly spaced, on a prepared baking sheet (parchment paper or silicone mat),
Flip tofu after 12-15 minutes.
Cook another 5-10 minutes until the tofu is firm but still tender.
Brush tops with extra marinade once flipped (if desired).

This is my go-to method for cooking tofu - it's tender and creamy on the inside with a lightly crisp crust on the outside (around 20 minutes total in my oven).

Bowl of rice with fried tofu piled on top.

Air Fryer Method

Spray the basket surface with cooking spray.
Place the marinated tofu pieces* in a single layer with space around each piece (*shake off excess marinate before cooking).
Cook at 400º F for 7-12 minutes (shaking the basket halfway through).
It may take longer or shorter depending on the size of your tofu pieces and how crispy you like it. Mine was perfect at 8 minutes.
I have a small air fryer so cooked in two batches.

Common Questions

Do I need to press tofu before marinating?

Yes, pressing excess water from tofu makes room for the marinade to seep in as well it compresses the tofu which improves the texture.

Should you marinate tofu before cooking?

Yes, marinades add a lot of flavor to tofu! Tofu will have a nice flavor after ~30 minutes, but can be marinated for up to 2 days in the fridge for more intense flavor.

How do you know when tofu is cooked?

First timers and tofu hesitant might enjoy the tofu cut into slightly smaller pieces and also cooked for a couple minutes longer. Perfectly cooked tofu is crisp on the outside but creamy-tender on the inside. Test as you go to determine the perfect level of soft and crispy for your preference.

Can I freeze the tofu?

Freezing tofu is definitely popular. Keep in mind that freezing tofu changes the texture of it. To freeze tofu: toss a package in the freezer, then let it thaw (still in the package). Once thawed, remove it from the package and press it for a couple hours. Proceed with marinating the tofu to see if you enjoy the texture. Marinated tofu is definitely delicious and flavorful either way.

Easy Savory 5 Minute Marinades

These are some of our favorite marinades for tofu, tempeh, and seitan; but you can use your favorite chicken or beef marinade on tofu too. It's almost certainly vegan! Pretty much all flavors go well with tofu because of its neutral, mild taste - let me know your favorite in the comments below.

Double the marinade for basting and drizzling:

Mustard Maple Tofu Marinade - drizzle extra marinade over a rice bowl or salad.
BBQ Tofu Marinade - brush marinade over the tofu slabs/slices while grilling.
Vietnamese Lemongrass Tofu Marinade - drizzle over veggie noodle bowl.
Greek Tofu Marinade - drizzle over rice bowl or gyro sandwich.
Nashville Hot Tofu Marinade - stir in 1-2 tablespoons of mayo to use as a drizzle in a Nashville Hot 'Chicken style' sandwich or taco.
Asian Tofu Marinade - add to a quick veggie tofu stir-fry right before serving.

More Tofu Recipes

If you're a new vegan, new to tofu or tofu curious, try this tofu recipe first:

Spicy Peanut Tofu Noodle Bowl - THE best tofu recipe ever! It's easy to make and the tofu is finger licking good (we call it the tofu whisperer - because after the first bite, everyone is hooked). Cooking Tip: This tofu recipe uses both baked and pan fried methods.
Delicious Tofu Tacos - quick, go-to weeknight meal made with spicy tofu taco meat.
Easy Tofu Taco Bowl - so healthy and delicious - includes recipe for crunchy, edible bowl!

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Best Tofu Marinades

Marinating tofu is a quick and easy way to infuse flavor into a its neutral profile. Tofu is a healthy, gluten-free, oil-free friendly, protein rich, meaty, vegan and vegetarian meat replacement. It's so versatile - serve it in sandwiches, bowls, and salads; make it spicy, sweet, salty or smoky; bake it, fry it, grill it or stir fry it - anything goes.

Author : Tracy Halasz

Servings: servings

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Prep Time 5 mins

INGREDIENTS

Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu Marinade (the best!)

3 tablespoons dijon mustard
3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 clove garlic
2-3 teaspoons sriracha
black pepper to taste

Asian Tofu Marinade

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 ½ tablespoons ketchup
1 ½ tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoons maple syrup / brown sugar
1 tablespoon sambal oelek
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, grated/minced
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Nashville Hot Tofu Marinade

2 tablespoons hot sauce (eg. Valentina, sriracha)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon maple syrup or vegan honey
1 teaspoon smoky paprika
2-3 tablespoons pickle juice (or vinegar)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon butter (optional - see recipe note)

Smoky BBQ Tofu Marinade

⅓ cup bbq sauce, bold smoky
1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
1 teaspoon lime juice (more to taste)
1 teaspoon maple (if needed)

Greek Tofu Marinade

3 - 4 tablespoons white (or red) wine vinegar
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon sweet paprika powder
1 tablespoon oregano, dry (or fresh to taste)
1 tablespoon shallot, chopped
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper (to taste)
2 teaspoons maple syrup (more to taste)
red pepper flakes

Vietnamese Lemongrass Tofu Marinade

2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons shallot, chopped
1 stem lemongrass (white part only), minced
2 tablespoons orange/tangerine juice (freshly squeezed)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 teaspoons soy sauce
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon black pepper, coarsely ground

INSTRUCTIONS

Easy Tofu Marinade General Instructions

Prep the Tofu: Press the tofu, cut into cubes, slabs or slices.
Make the Marinade: For the marinade of choice, whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Add to Tofu: Place tofu pieces into a ziplock bag or onto a baking dish. Pour marinade over tofu pieces and mix to incorporate. Cover and let marinate from 30 minutes to overnight.
Cooking the Tofu: Remove the tofu pieces from the marinade (save the marinade) shaking off excess marinade before cooking. Cook as desired.

NOTES

Pressing Tofu - in my complete guide to tofu, you'll find detailed instructions for selecting, pressing, and cooking tofu that tastes good. However, the basic steps are to wrap the tofu in something absorbent like paper towels and then place something heavy on top to extract excess water (or use a tofu press) for 15 minutes or more. Choose firm or extra firm, organic, tofu if available.

Tofu Marinades - the marinades are all simple to make, oil-free, gluten-free friendly, and super flavorful. Some use fresh garlic and herbs while others use dry spices; however, feel free to use whichever you have in the pantry and fridge. Sub in your favorite hot sauce or vegan sweetener as desired.

Nashville Hot Marinade - don't add the butter to the marinade sauce. Once the tofu is baking, add 1 tablespoon of melted butter to the remaining marinade and use it to baste the tofu or drizzle it over the tofu before serving. A traditional Nashville hot style sauce is MUCH hotter than this recipe - add cayenne pepper to your taste!!!

Tip so tofu doesn't stick - place tofu pieces into a hot frying pan and then don't touch until the water has cooked off and the tofu has formed a light crust. Then flip it and repeat on the other side. This takes only a few minutes per side. If you start moving it around too early, the tofu will stick - give it time to naturally release.

How to cook the crispiest tofu - if you are going for super crispy marinated tofu, add a splash of oil to the pan when pan frying (oil heats to a very high temperature which in turn forms a crispier crust on the tofu than its oil-free counterpart).

Storing Marinating Tofu - once the tofu is in the marinade, it can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or bag for several days. The tofu will become more flavorful.

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