Marinated Grilled Tofu

Why I Love This Dish

Ingredients

The key to this dish comes from the simple marinade that is soaked up by the tofu giving it a rich umami taste. There are only a few ingredients in this marinade but gives it lots of flavor. This is what you need:

• Extra-Firm Tofu – Organic extra firm is best so that it holds together well. Firm tofu will work but you have to press it longer. Avoid packages marked soft or silken tofu which are too soft to place on your grill.
• Tamari or Soy Sauce – I use gluten free tamari. This is the base of the sauce.
• Ginger and Garlic – This is where the big flavor comes from. They need to be minced.
• Coconut Sugar – balances the flavor and helps the surface caramelize making it a little crispy.
• Avocado oil – to help coat the tofu and improve how it cooks. Any mild flavored oil will work.
• Black Pepper – adds a little zing, red pepper flakes would also be good.
• Scallions – to give the dish a mild-spicy, fresh grassy flavor.

How To Press Tofu

In order for the tofu to soak up the delicious flavors of the marinade you need to press it. If you buy extra firm tofu you only need to press it for 15-30 minutes. Pressing also helps the the tofu to hold it’s shape while grilling.

Pressing tofu is very easy. Some people like using a tofu press but I get good results without it. This is how you do it:

• Slice the block of tofu crosswise into eight equal slices (about ½-inch thick).
• Arrange sliced tofu in a single layer on a one side of a clean kitchen towel.
• Cover the top with the other side of the towel and place a heavy cutting board on top to remove excess water. You can put something heavy on top of the board like a cast iron skillet or canned goods but it’s optional. Let sit for 15-30 minutes.
• If using firm tofu you’ll need to press longer.

How To Grill Tofu

1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. You want the grates to be HOT to get nice grill marks.
2. Make sure the grill grates are clean. I use a grill brush. Oil the grates using tongs to rub them with an oil-coated rag or paper towel. I keep a small oil soaked rag in a container to use for oiling the grill.
3. Place tofu on grill once hot. If your grill is very hot turn it down to medium. Let tofu cook, undisturbed, for 3-5 minutes.
4. Check the tofu after 3 minutes, and if it moves without sticking use a spatula to flip. If it’s sticking, let it cook another minute or two.
5. Grill on the other side for another 3-4 minutes. The tofu is done when the outside has nice crispy grill marks and the center of the tofu feels firm.

Steps to Make Marinated Grilled Tofu

The recipe is simple but you need to plan ahead to marinate your tofu. You can make the recipe on an outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan. These are the steps to make this marinated grilled tofu recipe:

Step 1: Cut the tofu and press for 15-30 minutes (see directions above). Let it sit while you prepare the marinade

Step 2: Prepare the marinade. In a small saute pan, combine oil, garlic and ginger over medium. Saute, stirring frequently, until softened and fragrant, 2 minutes. Add tamari, coconut sugar, pepper and 1/4 cup water, and cook, stirring to dissolve the sugar, about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Marinate the tofu. Arrange tofu in a shallow dish that can hold the tofu in one layer. Pour hot marinade over tofu. Gently turn tofu slices to evenly coat, then cover dish tightly with plastic wrap to seal in heat. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight, flipping tofu slices halfway through.

Step 4: Grill the tofu. Heat grill to medium and grease grates well (or heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium and lightly grease). Grill tofu over direct heat until golden and caramelized, about 3-4 minutes per side.

Step 5: Simmer the marinade. While the tofu is cooking, transfer marinade to a small saute pan, simmer over medium 1 to 2 minutes to thicken slightly. Stir in scallions.

Step 6: Serve topped with sauce. Transfer tofu to a serving plate and spoon over the sauce. Serve warm, at room temperature or cold.

How Long To Marinate Tofu

Ideally let the tofu marinate for six hours or overnight for complex, rich flavored tofu.

If you want your tofu to marinate quickly, pour hot marinade over tofu slices to encourage faster absorption of flavors. This method yields tasty results in three hours.

What To Serve with Grilled Tofu

Grilled tofu can be served like any other grilled protein. Serve it with:

• Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
• High Protein Quinoa Salad
• Tomato Peach Avocado Salad
• French Style Summer Potato Salad
• Cold Cucumber Sesame Noodles
• Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Romaine or any grilled vegetables
• Serve on top of salad

If you like this recipe you may also enjoy these other vegan dishes:

• Grilled Black Bean Burgers
• Easy Pan Fried Balsamic Tofu
• Easy Teriyaki Tofu