Learn how to make roast tofu that tastes great and has the crisp exterior and tender interior you’re looking for in this healthy plant-based protein source.
How do you roast tofu the right way? The key is to properly season the tofu with a coating of olive oil and soy sauce and roast it in the oven at 400°F until the outside is golden and crisp and the center is perfectly chewy.
Once you try this best way of cooking tofu, you’ll never have to avoid the bland and boring cubes of soybean again. Instead, this healthy protein option may just become a new staple in your diet. And you’ll never have to go back to plain tofu again.
What is Tofu?
Simply put, tofu is soybean curd. It’s made by processing soybeans into a liquid and curdling them. In fact, the process is quite similar to how cheese is made from milk. Frist, fresh soybeans are ground up with water into a milky liquid. Then this liquid is heated and minerals are added to help it coagulate into curds. The curds are then strained out, and you have tofu!
Selecting The Right Tofu
If you go to the supermarket and search for tofu, you’ll find multiple brands to choose from. Not only that, but there are also different types of tofu. Should you pick whatever is closest to you? Not at all. There’s a certain type of tofu for every occasion!
Silken Tofu
Silken tofu has a higher water content than firm tofu. This is because it is processed a little differently. Instead of straining out the liquid for a firm curd, silken tofu has a soft, almost jelly-like texture. It generally requires more careful handling since it is more likely to crumble or fall apart than firm tofu.
Silken tofu is better for blending or adding into a soup.
Regular or Firm Tofu
Regular tofu, also labeled firm, is better as a standalone option or as a side dish since the lower water content makes it better at staying in one piece. In addition to firm tofu, you will find extra-firm varieties. Which, as the name suggests, are more firm and solid. They also have a higher protein content. Due to the lower liquid content, extra-firm tofu is better at crisping up in the oven.
So for this recipe for roasted tofu, it’s best to choose extra-firm, regular tofu!
How to Roast Tofu
After you have brought home your block of extra-firm tofu, you’re ready to start prepping and roasting!
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make simple roast tofu:
- Extra-firm tofu (1 block)
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
Prepping The Tofu
Pull out your tofu, and let’s get started!
Step 1: Drain the tofu
First, you need to drain the tofu before you start cooking. It’s simple and doesn’t require tools.
All you have to do is open the package, pour out the liquid inside and place the tofu on a plate. Wrap the tofu in a clean, absorbent dish towel and gently press on it using your palms. This will remove the excess water from the tofu. If you’re using firm tofu, you can place a heavy object on top and let the tofu press for 30 minutes to firm it up even more.
Step 2: Cut your block into cubes
Next, you want to chop your tofu. Try to make it nice and even so that each piece takes the same amount of time to roast. Grab your knife and cut the block into 4 columns. After that, cut across the 4 columns, creating 5 rows. As a result, you’ll have 20 cubes of tofu.
If you think the block is way too big, cut it into more pieces but always do it evenly!
Step 3: Drain the tofu again
Yes, that much excess water is a thing with tofu. This issue is easy to solve – all you have to do is apply pressure again. Place the cubed tofu on a paper towel and then either fold the paper towel over the top of the tofu or place another paper towel on top. If you want to avoid making a mess, use an extra layer or two of paper towels.
Once everything is neatly packed, put weight on top of it. It doesn’t have to be much, a cutting board with a can of food will do. Wait for 10 minutes. If you want to be extra sure, you can wait 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 4: Add flavor
After draining the tofu a second time, it’s time to season your tofu. Remove the paper towels and place your tofu in a bowl. Pour in the olive oil and the soy sauce. You don’t need much, 1 tablespoon per 13- to 14-ounce block of tofu will do. Toss the tofu around the bowl to mix things up.
Roasting The Tofu
For this recipe, you’ll roast your tofu in the oven for the perfect crisp texture and golden brown color.
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C ). While things heat up, line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Then place your tofu on a baking sheet. Pour any excess soy sauce from the bowl over the tofu on the baking sheet. Finally, spread the tofu into a single layer with as much space between pieces as possible.
Step 2: Bake the tofu
When the oven is preheated, place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir the tofu halfway through cooking, after about 10 minutes.
When the tofu has a golden color and crisp exterior, it’s done!
Can You Eat Raw Tofu?
It’s impossible to eat raw tofu–tofu is already cooked food! The right question would be “Can you eat tofu straight out of the package?” Yes, you can, but, should you do it?
For food safety reasons, it’s best to cook your tofu before eating it. Plus, cooking it on the stove or by roasting it in the oven improves the flavor and texture of the protein.
What to serve with Roasted Tofu
You can serve this simple roast tofu with any of your favorite vegetables, grains, or starches. You can toss it on a green salad for a healthy vegan lunch or dinner. Or you can add it to cooked pasta for some extra protein without much work.
Extra Seasonings Ideas for Roast Tofu
The recipe above only lightly seasons the tofu, which might be exactly what you are looking for. However, if you want to add more variety, try adding these ingredients to this recipe for more flavorful tofu.
- Salt and Pepper
- Tumeric
- Paprika
- Cinnamon
- Dill
- Curry Powder
- Garlic Powder
Roast Tofu
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Large bowl
- Spatula
Ingredients
- Extra-firm tofu 1 block
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
Instructions
- Drain the tofu and place on a plate. Wrap the tofu in a clean, absorbent dish towel and gently press on it using your palms. This will remove the excess water from the tofu. If you’re using firm tofu, you can place a heavy object on top and let the tofu press for 30 minutes to firm it up even more.
- Cut the block into 4 columns. After that, cut across the 4 columns, creating 5 rows. As a result, you’ll have 20 cubes of tofu.
- Place the cubed tofu on a paper towel and then either fold the paper towel over the top of the tofu or place another paper towel on top. If you want to avoid making a mess, use an extra layer or two of paper towels. Once everything is neatly packed, put weight on top of it. It doesn’t have to be much, a cutting board with a can of food will do. Wait for 10 minutes. If you want to be extra sure, you can wait 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the paper towels and place your tofu in a bowl. Pour in the olive oil and the soy sauce. You don’t need much, 1 tablespoon per 13- to 14-ounce block of tofu will do. Toss the tofu around the bowl to mix things up.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C ). Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place your tofu on a baking sheet. Pour any excess soy sauce from the bowl over the tofu on the baking sheet. Finally, spread the tofu into a single layer with as much space between pieces as possible.
- Roast the tofu for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. The tofu is done when it is golden brown and crisp on the outside and tender in the center.
