Welcome to our tofu celebration with 30 recipes that prove this plant-based powerhouse can do it all.
For more plant-based meals, try our lentil recipes, chickpea recipes, and protein dinner ideas.
If you’re new to tofu or unsure where to begin, don’t worry—we’ve been there. And if you’re already a tofu enthusiast, you’re going to love these easy recipes.
Our roundup gathers 30 of our best and most loved tofu recipes, from Italian, American, Greek, Indian, Chinese, and every cuisine in between 🥳.
Over the past five years, Louise and I have cooked our way through more than 40 tofu recipes always exploring how this humble soy block can transform into something crave-worthy.
Tofu has been a reliable protein-companion when we cook vegetarian meals. We have tried (almost) everything; crispy, creamy, grilled, sautéed, baked, and even blended.
Whether you’re looking for light dinners, a high-protein breakfast, or something delicious to meal prep, these recipes adapt to every cooking level and taste.
Our goal is to make tofu approachable, exciting, and delicious. So grab a block, heat up your pan, and let’s get cooking.
Air Fryer Tofu
Air fryer tofu is a tasty and healthy alternative to meat. You’ll love its chewy texture, crispy exterior, and tender and juicy core.
It’s perfect for adding to salads, bowls, stir-fries, stews, and curries, or dip it in your favorite dipping sauce.
BBQ Tofu
This BBQ tofu is the most delicious meat-free alternative. A bold, smokey homemade BBQ sauce hugs crisp and chewy tofu bites perfectly.
The tofu is baked until chewy, meaty, and packed with flavor.
Fried Tofu
I don’t know about you guys, but for Louise and I fried tofu is something we make at the last minute ⏱️ when we want to add more protein to a meal.
These fried tofu bites offer a soft and most core and a crispy, tasty coating. An easy protein solution to weekday meals.
Tofu Curry
We developed this tofu curry recipe to be ready in less than 30 minutes, in one pot, without pressing or cooking the tofu.
But if you like chewier tofu pieces you can pre-cook it before adding it to the curry.
Marinated Tofu
When it comes to vegetarian protein, you can’t beat big chunks of marinated tofu. It’s ready in 30 minutes and you can add it to most meals.
You guys, this recipe is so simple and your tofu has never tasted this good, I promise!
Baked Tofu
Our baked tofu recipe helps you transform a block of firm tofu into mouthwatering high-protein tofu chunks.
While baked tofu is tasty on its own, we recommend serving it with a sauce to drizzle on top or for dipping.
Grilled Tofu
With its smokey and slightly charred exterior and tender interior, grilled tofu is a versatile, and nutritious alternative to traditional grilled meats.
It’s excellent for summer, BBQ, and 4th of July celebrations.
Vegan Egg Salad
Vegan egg salad offers a creamy eggy texture and rich yet fresh flavor.
It’s packed with protein and is excellent for sandwiches, wraps, or as a dip with bread.
Lemon Tofu
Lemon tofu is an easy, everyday recipe you can make in 20 minutes with simple ingredients.
First, we fry the tofu in a pan with olive oil, then coat it in a quick lemon and black pepper sauce.
Tofu Salad
Tofu salad is an excellent plant-based meal for those trying reduce their meat intake.
I add crispy fried tofu to a fresh green salad with a lemon tahini sauce. It’s a 20-minute meal that will make you feel great.
Tofu Cream Cheese
This tofu cream cheese is made with five simple ingredients. It’s smooth and perfect as a starter, dip, or spread in a sandwich.
It’s also an excellent dairy-free cream cheese and it’s ready in five minutes.
Tofu Soup
Tofu soup combines a flavorful broth with crisp vegetables and bite-sized tofu pieces. It’s a wonderful dinner recipe, ready in about 30 minutes
Now, for those of you with a big hunger (like myself 🙋🏻♂️) we recommend adding noodles or a ramen-style soft-boiled egg. SO good!
Tofu Scramble
You’ll love tofu scramble because it’s easy, protein-rich, and versatile.
While we often make this recipe a replacement for scrambled eggs, its use goes way beyond that.
Italian Tofu Pizzaiola
Tofu with Italian pizzaiola sauce is a simple yet delicious pan-fried tofu recipe ready in 20 minutes.
It’s a perfect weeknight dinner. We make it with pantry staples such as tomato puree, and dried oregano; the whole family will love it.
Orange Tofu
You’ll love our orange tofu recipe because it’s easy to put together, with simple ingredients, in less than 30 minutes.
Thanks to the sticky orange glaze that perfectly coats the crispy tofu, every bite packs a ton of flavor.
Mushroom Tofu
Our tofu mushroom recipe is the plant-based version of a famous Italian dish called mushroom scaloppini.
It’s a one-skillet tofu meal ready in 20 minutes.
Tofu Pasta
Our tofu pasta in creamy sun-dried tomato marry me sauce is an easy high-protein recipe bursting with Tuscan flavors and ready in less than 30 minutes.
Tofu Breakfast Burrito
This vegan breakfast burrito recipe combines our tofu scramble with delicious Mexican ingredients.
You can make this recipe in about 15 minutes, and it’s excellent for meal prep as you can keep it in the fridge for days.
Tofu Tikka Masala
Tofu tikka masala is a delicious Indian-inspired dish with tasty tofu bites cooked in a rich, creamy, and aromatic sauce.
The spices we use repeat in other recipes, you can keep them in your pantry for ages.
Kung Pao Tofu
Our kung pao tofu is an easy stir-fry recipe with a sweet and sour flavor and a perfectly chewy texture.
Make this Chinese-inspired dish in less than 30 minutes and get plenty of plant–based protein and fresh veggies
Tofu Meatballs
Tofu meatballs are a quick, tasty, and nutritious alternative to meat-based meatballs, as they are packed with flavor and protein.
You can make them with pantry staples in 3 easy steps
Navratan Korma
I never knew this combination of flavors would work so well together.
This Tofu recipe is such a comforting one; it’s rich, creamy, mildly spicy, and veggie-packed. It has it all.
Tofu Cacciatore
Tofu cacciatore is inspired by my Italian grandma’s chicken cacciatore and is the ultimate vegetarian comfort meal.
You can easily make this protein-rich dinner at home in about 30 minutes with Italian herbs, tender tofu, and a rich tomato sauce.
Vegan Fish
This vegan fish recipe is excellent for an original and delicious dinner with family and friends. It’s packed with Mediterranean flavors, and everyone will love tofu served this way.
Thai Red Curry
Creamy and filled to the brim with vegetables, this Thai red curry is a weeknight dinner favorite.
It takes 30 minutes to prepare and will make your kitchen smell incredible with the fragrant spices of sunny Thailand.
Tofu Stir Fry
Whip up this ridiculously tasty 30-minute tofu stir fry: mix in your fave veggies, drizzle our magic sauce, and done: better-than-takeout! 🍜🥢
It’s seriously one of the best stir-fried tofu dishes you’ll ever try. And it’s SO easy!
Braised Tofu
This is a tender, jerky braised tofu recipe with a mildly sweet, and delicious Asian-inspired sauce.
It’s an easy 30-minute dinner idea with plenty of plant-based protein, veggies, and an excellent combination of flavors.
Vegan Carbonara
Our vegan carbonara is a simple recipe that can be made in 15 minutes. The taste of our carbonara sauce is (almost) similar to the taste of an Italian carbonara recipe.
We use smoked tofu for this recipe for the best results.
Buddha Bowl
Prepare for a protein–packed Buddha bowl with colorful vegetables, nourishing whole grains, and tofu.
It is an excellent way to pack nourishing ingredients into one flavorful dish.
Tofu Butter Chicken
Endlessly creamy, and perfectly spiced, this vegan butter chicken is one of the best ways to combine tofu and Indian cooking.
Do I need to press tofu?
Based on our testing, pressing tofu before cooking has no (or negligible) impact on the final result.
All you need to do is take the tofu out of its package, drain the water, and pat it dry with a towel. Then, cook it according to the recipe instructions.
However, you can press tofu if you want to change its texture. If you like a firmer, tougher, drier tofu, feel free to push it. You can freeze, thaw, and press it to make it chewier.
What to serve with tofu
- 25 vegetable side dishes
- 12 delicious artichoke recipes
- 20 easy zucchini recipes
- 20 easy mushroom recipes
- 50 easy salad recipes
- 25 best easy appetizers
If you tried these tofu recipes or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
30 easy tofu recipes
Ingredients
- 9 ounces firm tofu (a tofu block around that size, not a problem if it's a little more or less)
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk soy, oats, cashew
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 2 twists black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black salt optional for an eggy flavor. Add more for more eggy taste.
Serving suggestions (totally optional)
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 thick slices bread toasted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil optional to drizzle on top
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chives, or green onions finely chopped
Instructions
- Crumble the tofu with your hands and put it in a non-stick pan on medium-high heat.
- Add the unsweetened plant milk. The milk will make the scrambled tofu softer and moist, similar to scrambled eggs
- Add the turmeric powder to give the scrambled tofu a yellow color. Season with salt, black pepper, and optionally with black salt or Kala namak, a rock salt that tastes like egg.
- Cook on medium-high heat until the pan is dry. It should take about 5 minutes.
Serving suggestion
- We like to serve scrambled tofu on toasted bread. Add some avocado slices on the bread, scrambled tofu on top, some freshly chopped parsley, chives, or green onions. Then you can add some roasted tomatoes and roasted portobello mushrooms on the side, and a drizzle of olive oil to make it a complete and fulfilling breakfast.
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Notes
Nutrition
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
We’re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy plant-based recipes (vegetarian & vegan) 🌿✨.
Welcome to our blog, we are glad you are here.
I was excited for so many tofu recipes but thst quickly turned to disappointment seeing the majority of the recipes call for soy sauce. Being gluten-free soy sauce isn’t an option. Gluten-free soy sauce often has an odd taste. I’d love if you had a suggestion for soy sauce in some of these recipes.
Hi LJ,
Each recipe on this list contains a section with substitutions where you will always see suggestions for soy sauce alternatives, often including tamari sauce or coconut aminos.
Great!
Hi there!
Me and my hubby is interested in plant based- diet. I’m excited to try all your recipes.
That’s fantastic, Amm – we’re so happy you are here.
Let us know if you have questions and any comments along the way. Happy cooking!
Kindest, Louise
Where are the recipes. I don’t see any one of them.
Hi Jeff, thanks for commenting. This blog post is a compilation of our best tofu recipes – you just have to click on the recipe(s) you like th best, and you’ll be directed to them. I hope that helps! Cheers, Nico
Loved it!!