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    Home » All Recipes

    Published: Jan 25, 2022 · Modified: Nov 2, 2022 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 2 Comments

    Vegan Tofu Recipes

    Today we are saying goodbye to tasteless tofu, because whatever recipe you're looking for, this list of vegan tofu recipes is jam-packed with flavourful and creative ideas to get you cooking tofu like a true pro!

    Vegan Tofu Recipes

    Tofu is one of my favourite ingredients because it's so versatile. You can incorporate it into so many dishes, both sweet and savoury.

    Enjoy it cubed and crispy, blend it into a creamy sauce, make vegan cheese, or use it as an egg replacer in dishes like French toast and quiche. It can be transformed in so many unexpected and super tasty ways!

    If you've ever thought of tofu as boring or bland, this collection of my best vegan tofu recipes where tofu is the star of the show, will definitely change your mind!


    Use this menu to jump to the section you are interested in

    • Brunch
    • Cheese
    • Dips
    • Main Dishes
    • Sauces
    • Tofu Tips
    • Tofu FAQs

    Brunch

    Tofu makes a great egg substitute for brunch. From tofu scramble doing it's best scrambled egg impression thanks to a combination of extra firm tofu and silken tofu, and incredible vegan French toast that uses extra firm tofu blended up in it's delicious custard, you're going to love these new and exciting ways to enjoy it!

    Vegan French Toast

    a stack of vegan french toast
    Your brunch dreams are about to come true with THE best Vegan French Toast ever. It's soft, sweet, vanilla-scented, golden perfection and it has a texture just like French Toast made with eggs! Made quickly and easily in under 15 minutes!
    make this recipe

    Vegan Scrambled Eggs

    This easy foolproof recipe will get you perfect Vegan Scrambled Eggs every time!. We’re talking soft, rich, buttery, on the verge of custardy and just perfect for piling on thick, hot, buttered toast. And as an added bonus, it packs a massive protein punch! 
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    Vegan Shakshuka

    vegan shakshuka in a pan
    Vegan Shakshuka (or Tofu in Purgatory as I like to call it) is a 30-minute, 1-pot meal consisting of silky, soft, "eggy" tofu rounds cooked gently in a chunky, spicy, garlicky tomato sauce. It makes the perfect brunch or light dinner!
    make this recipe

    Vegan Quiche

    a sliced vegan quiche
    This is the perfect base recipe for an incredible vegan quiche baked up in a flaky and delicious vegan pie crust. The filling is super creamy, rich and cheesy and you can customize it with all of your favourite quiche add-ins!
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    Vegan French Toast Casserole

    vegan French toast casserole in a grey dish
    Vegan French Toast Casserole! Crunchy, toasty top, buttery, rich, custardy and creamy insides, drizzles of icing and sprinkles of chopped nuts. Brunch goals met!
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    Cheese

    These dairy-free cheese recipes use tofu as a base and they are so delicious and easy to make!

    Vegan Feta Cheese

    Vegan Feta Cheese cubes
    Vegan Feta Cheese that actually tastes like feta cheese and crumbles like real feta cheese and is cheap and easy to make! 
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    Vegan Cream Cheese

    vegan cream cheese on a platter of crackers, bagels, veggies
    Super quick & easy to make Vegan Cream Cheese. It's creamy, rich, tangy and delicious. Just perfect for spreading, snacking and dipping!  
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    Dips

    Silken tofu makes a deliciously creamy base for vegan dips. Perfect for when you have a party coming up or get the munchies!

    Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

    a skillet of vegan spinach artichoke dip
    Warm, rich, melty, creamy, and cheesy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip. Packed full of spinach and briny, zesty artichokes, it's a real crowd-pleaser, and just perfect for serving at parties!
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    Creamy Onion Garlic Dip

    a bowl of onion garlic dip with tortilla chips
    Deliciously cool and creamy Vegan Onion Garlic Dip. It's full of sweet roasted garlic & caramelized onion flavour & perfect for your next party!
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    Main dishes

    Make your tofu the star of the show in these delicious and interesting tofu-based vegan and vegetarian main dishes that use tofu as a main ingredient.

    From delicious stir fry recipes to full of flavour tofu bowls smothered in peanut sauce and crispy cornmeal coated tofu cubes, we've got it all going on here!

    Tofu Bowls

    tofu bowl with peanut sauce
    Tofu bowls full of fluffy coconut lime rice, triangles of sticky, caramelized baked tofu and toasty around the edges roasted broccoli all brought together with a hefty drizzle of peanut sauce!
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    Five Spice Tofu

    Five Spice Tofu with crispy seasoned tofu tossed in a sticky sauce is an explosion of flavours. It's the perfect combination of sweet, savoury, spicy and tangy and it's really quick and easy to make.
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    Tofu Quinoa Stir Fry

    a large pan of tofu quinoa stir fry
    Tofu Quinoa Stir Fry is a quick and healthy meal that's ready in under 30 minutes. With crispy marinated tofu, quinoa, mixed vegetables and a simple tasty sauce to bring it all together, this is a protein-packed vegan dinner the whole family will love.
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    Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    a bowl of nutritional yeast tofu garnished with parsley
    The most delicious, crispy and golden Nutritional Yeast Tofu. Super quick and easy to make in an oven or air fryer, this crunchy, golden, seasoned tofu is ready to grace a multitude of dishes, or be enjoyed as a tasty snack!
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    Vegan Asparagus Pasta

    a bowl of vegan asparagus pasta
    Quick, tasty, protein-rich and super fresh Vegan Asparagus Pasta. Simple to prepare, ready in under 20 minutes and great served either hot or cold.
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    Baked Tofu

    a baking tray with triangles of baked tofu and a couple of pretty chive flours
    Easy Baked Tofu that really delivers on flavour! This is how I satisfy my sticky, delicious tofu cravings when I don't have time to press it or let it marinade for hours.
    make this recipe

    BBQ Tofu

    a blue plate with rice, broccoli and BBQ tofu
    Sticky BBQ Tofu made using a quick homemade BBQ sauce that is off the charts delicious! It's easy to make with no tofu pressing required and barely any hands-on time. Once baked (or grilled) this tofu is tangy, spicy, sweet and savoury. And don't worry there's plenty of sauce so you can use it for serving too!
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    Sweet and Sour Tofu

    hands holding a plate of sweet and sour tofu
    Healthier Sweet and Sour Tofu with crispy, crunchy, chewy baked tofu, sweet, savory, fruity, tangy sauce and chunks of bell pepper and pineapple. Just perfect served over fluffy rice!
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    Vegan Spanakopita

    a slice of vegan spanakopita
    Vegan Spanakopita. My take on the great Greek spinach and feta pie! Featuring shatteringly crisp phyllo pastry, and a soft, salty, feta-cheesy, spinachy filling, all baked up to golden perfection. Comfort food at it's finest.
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    Vegan Ham

    a sliced vegan ham surrounded by orange wedges and herbs
    Amazing Vegan ham complete with maple brown sugar glaze! This seitan ham is sticky, tender, juicy, smoky sweet, perfectly meaty, and absolutely delicious! Perfect for the holidays, slicing as deli meat, or for use in recipes that call for cooked ham or bacon. No steaming involved!
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    Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta

    Picture this. 
    This Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta recipe is quick and easy to make, loaded up with sautéed mushrooms and spinach, and tossed in a heavenly, but low fat, creamy sauce. It can be ready in a little over the time it takes the pasta to boil!
    make this recipe

    Gluten-Free Seitan Roast

    a gluten-free and vegan roast dinner
    Now you can make seitan without the gluten! This Gluten-Free Seitan Roast has a deep meaty flavour, a soft, meaty, slightly chewy texture and is just perfect for slicing and serving for holiday dinners or Sunday roasts.
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    Crispy Tofu

    a brown bowl full of crispy tofu pieces
    Crispy Tofu with a perfectly seasoned crunchy cornmeal coating. It's oven baked and made with no oil!
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    Sauces

    As well as blending up well to make dips, silken tofu blends up into a fantastic creamy sauce perfect for tossing through noodles.

    Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce (no nuts!)

    easy vegan cheese sauce
    A silky smooth, lusciously creamy, Vegan Cheese Sauce that is nut-free, gluten-free, low in fat, high in protein and can be whipped up in your blender in minutes! It's one of my favourite super quick dinners. Toss it through freshly cooked pasta and serve alongside some veggies or a salad. Dinner done fast!
    make this recipe

    This one's the wild card as it's a marinade/sauce that isn't made from tofu, but it's made for tofu which is why I've included it. Use it for marinating, as a sauce in tofu stir fry or for dipping baked or pan-fried tofu an vegetables.

    Tofu Marinade

    tofu triangles in marinade
    If you’ve wondered what the secret is to making tofu taste good, this is it! My Tofu Marinade is perfect for grilling, baking, and stir-fries. This easy recipe will add a punch of flavour to all of your favourite meals!
    make this recipe

    Tofu Tips

    When making vegan tofu recipes, keep these tips in mind for the best results:

    • It is really important that you buy the right tofu for the vegan tofu recipe you are making. Always check the type of tofu that is specified in your recipe before you get going. It comes in many different varieties. These include, soft, firm, extra-firm and super-firm, as well as soft silken, firm silken and extra-firm silken. What works for one recipe wont work for another, which is why it's so important to start off with the correct tofu type for the job in hand.
    • Most tofu (except soft and silken) benefits from being pressed. You can buy a Tofu Press to do this, or you can wrap the tofu in a clean absorbent cloth or some paper towels and pile some heavy things on the top of it. Cookbooks work well! Leave it for about 30 minutes or longer if you can. Not only does pressing improve the texture, it also helps with the flavour. If you don't press out the water that's already in it, then the flavours you are using when cooking won't get in. Of course this is recipe specific. For example with my baked tofu recipe I recommend not pressing it so it doesn't become too dry.
    • Once the tofu has been pressed fill it with flavor by marinating it or seasoning it really well. People don't eat meat just as it is. They season it up with herbs and spices. You need to do the same with tofu.  
    • To give extra firm tofu an almost "meaty" texture, put whole unopened packages of tofu in the freezer as soon as you buy it. Defrost overnight, then press it well once it has defrosted. You'll notice a huge difference if you try it!
    • Coat tofu in seasoned cornstarch (cornflour in the UK) then pan fry or air fry to make it super-duper crispy. Cornstarch works way better than regular flour for this.

    Tofu FAQs

    What is tofu?

    Tofu is made from soybean milk. Soy bean milk is made from mature white soybeans, which is then boiled, curdled, and pressed, in a very similar way to how cheese is made. To make the milk, the soybeans are first soaked, then ground up and warmed with water. They are then strained and become soy milk. That milk is then combined with a coagulant and simmered until the curds and whey separate, then the curds are placed into molds and pressed until the whey drains out and a block of tofu is left. The firmness of the tofu depends on how long it is pressed. If it is pressed longer, more whey is removed, creating firmer tofu. 

    What does tofu taste like?

    Tofu has a very neutral, mild flavour and straight out of the package, it's pretty plain and boring. Much like unseasoned, plain chicken would be. The great thing about it though, is that it takes on the flavour of whatever you cook it with. 


    Tofu sometimes gets a bad rap, but when it's prepared correctly it is so delicious and can absolutely stand up to any other protein at the dinner table. I hope these vegan tofu recipes and tips help you see, and cook with it, in a new light!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sabina says

      March 03, 2019 at 11:19 am

      Wonderful recipe choices for tofu, one of my favourite food items for the past 25 years! Thank you for the lovely, but straightforward rant about the tofu police, couldn't agree more with you!
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • A Virtual Vegan says

        March 03, 2019 at 4:06 pm

        I'm glad you like it Sabina...Thank you!

        Reply

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