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, dried oregano, and garlic; the whole family will love it.

tofu with Italian pizzaiola sauce

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There is a recipe in Italy called “carne alla pizzaiola,” made with thinly sliced veal cutlets cooked in a rich tomato sauce packed with oregano and garlic flavor.

A pizzaiola sauce is similar to a marinara sauce; it’s made with tomato puree, garlic, oregano, and olive oil.

Our recipe for tofu with pizzaiola sauce uses the same pizzaiola sauce recipe as the original Italian, but we then used thinly sliced firm tofu instead of meat.

The result is a delicious, light, yet flavourful dinner that tastes Italian. It’s such a super easy yet tasty dish you’ll be amazed!

Just remember to serve it with green veggies and a piece of crusty bread to dip in the pizzaiola sauce!

tofu with tomato sauce

Ingredients

ingredients for tofu pizzaiola

Tofu

Pick firm or extra firm tofu so you can easily slice it into thin tofu cutlets.

Soft tofu and silky tofu will not work for this recipe.

Tomato Puree

Try to find a tomato puree or tomato passata imported from Italy. One of our favorites is Mutti tomato puree, but there are many other good ones.

Tomato puree (or tomato passata) produces a rich and creamy tomato sauce that perfectly fits the pan-fried tofu.

Garlic

Garlic is one of the main ingredients in an excellent pizzaiola sauce. We like to slice it thinly so that it infuses its flavor into the sauce.

Oregano

Dried oregano is the other main ingredient in this Italian tofu dish.

Olive oil

We fry the tofu with a bit of olive oil to taste delicious.

Salt and pepper

Salt and freshly ground black pepper add taste and flavor to the tofu and the sauce.

tofu with tomato sauce served with spinach

Instructions

Drain the tofu from its water and pat it dry. Next, cut the tofu into 1/4-inch thin slices.

Fry it on a non-stick pan on medium heat with a drizzle of olive for 5 minutes on each side.

Season it with a pinch of salt and pepper.

pan fried tofu on a pan

Add tomato puree, dried oregano, thinly sliced garlic, and the remaining salt and pepper.

tomato puree and oregano added to the tofu

Spread the sauce and simmer on low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes until the tomato passata becomes a tasty pizzaiola sauce.

tofu pizzaiola is ready in the pan

Serving suggestions

Serve this Italian-inspired tofu in a pizzaiola sauce as a main dish with sautéed or microwaved spinach and some crusty bread on the side to scoop up the delicious pizzaiola sauce.

tofu with tomato sauce

Other delicious side dishes that go well with it are:

More Tofu Recipes

Are you looking for more protein-rich plant-based recipes? Then check out our:

For many more tofu ideas, check out our tofu category page.

Storage

Store the tofu with pizzaiola sauce for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Then, warm up on a pan with a dash of water. You can also warm it up in the microwave.

Not suitable for freezing.

tofu with pizzaiola sauce

Tofu with Pizzaiola Sauce

By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 6 votes
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, dried oregano, and garlic; the whole family will love it.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces firm tofu
  • cups tomato puree or passata
  • 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Drain the tofu from its water and pat it dry. Next, cut the tofu into ¼-inch thin slices.
    Fry it on a non-stick pan on medium heat with a drizzle of olive for 5 minutes on each side.
    Season it with a pinch of salt and pepper.
    pan fried tofu on a pan
  • Add tomato pureedried oreganothinly sliced garlic, and the remaining salt and pepper.
    tomato puree and oregano added to the tofu
  • Spread the sauce and simmer on low heat for about 5 to 10 minutes until the tomato passata becomes a tasty pizzaiola sauce.
    tofu pizzaiola is ready in the pan
  • Serve this Italian-inspired tofu in a pizzaiola sauce as a main dish with sautéed or microwaved spinach and some crusty bread on the side to scoop up the delicious pizzaiola sauce.
    tofu with tomato sauce

Video

Tofu Pizzaiola | easy dinner in 20 minutes

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 portion of tofu out of 2, without the bread and the spinach.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 913mg, Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1048IU, Vitamin B6: 0.3mg, Vitamin C: 22mg, Vitamin E: 5mg, Vitamin K: 27µg, Calcium: 225mg, Folate: 28µg, Iron: 6mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 54mg, Zinc: 1mg
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It’s a perfect weeknight dinner. We make it with pantry staples such as tomato puree, dried oregano, and garlic; the whole family will love it.
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Nico and Louise in the kitchen

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So simple, yet absolutely delicious. I will be making this again and again. I am so thrilled to have discovered your recipes! I think I am going to make….everything. 😄

    1. Thanks so much, Jody! We’re so happy to have you here! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Cheers, Nico