It’s about time that I shared with you a simple crispy baked tofu recipe! Adding tofu to a stir fry or power bowl is a go to weeknight meal for me. It’s the perfect way to add a good dose of protein to a last minute meal. This is my favourite method for getting extra crispy tofu that is still full of flavour!
Golden and crispy
Flavourful on the inside
Quick and oil-free!
Ingredients
Using pressed extra firm tofu is the best way to get super crispy tofu in just 20 minutes!
If you can find a pre-pressed option at your local grocery store that will result in the easiest preparation and quickest baking time. You will just need to cut up your tofu, toss it in the seasonings below, and bake for 20 minutes!
If your extra firm tofu is not pre-pressed and you want it to turn out really crispy, you will have to take a few minutes to press the excess water from the tofu. Use a tofu press for 10-15 minutes or wrap your tofu in a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object on top. I do find that when I press a block of tofu myself it still takes 10-20 minutes longer to get as crispy as a pre-pressed option.
If you don’t have your heart set on super crispy tofu though, you can definitely skip the pressing! Just season, bake, and enjoy flavourful but softer cubes of tofu done in 20 minutes!
As for the seasonings. I use:
- Tamari or soy sauce
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- And nutritional yeast
The nutritional yeast gives these cubes of tofu an almost shiny exterior and helps to crisp them up even more. The tamari adds a great salty and savoury flavour. Smoked paprika is my favourite smoky flavour booster and garlic powder adds flavour without any moisture from fresh garlic.
Method
As mentioned above, if your tofu is pre-pressed you can skip right to the seasoning and the baking. If not, and you want really crispy cubes, then take 10-15 minutes to press the excess water from the tofu.
Toss your pressed tofu in the tamari, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Then sprinkle on the nutritional yeast and stir to coat.
*I like to add the nutritional yeast after the other seasonings so that the tofu absorbs the tamari. If added all at once the nutritional yeast will absorb the tamari and it will be harder to coat the tofu in the seasonings.
To Marinate Or Not To Marinate?
I find that these tofu cubes are still really flavourful even if they are not left to marinate in the seasoning. For this reason I often proceed straight to baking them. The flavour will, of course, be a little bit stronger if they are left to marinate. Feel free to allow the tofu to marinate for 15 minutes or cover it and marinate it in the fridge for longer!
When ready to bake, spread the tofu cubes on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or sheet of parchment paper. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20-40 minutes.
If you purchased your tofu pre-pressed I find that it is super crispy after just 20 minutes. Otherwise, I tend to turn the pieces and leave them in for another 10 to 20 minutes if I want them to get crispier.
Recipes With Crispy Baked Tofu
Now that your crispy baked tofu is done you’re ready to serve it up on your favourite meal!
Tossing these on my easy weeknight stir-fry is how I most often enjoy them. They will be perfect on any fried rice or noodle dish like my Green Curry Fried Rice.
Add them as your protein to any power bowls or to boost up something like my Pineapple Quinoa Bowl. They are a great way to add protein to a Vegan Caesar Salad or Caesar Wrap too!
Cost Of Crispy Baked Tofu?
This crispy baked tofu recipe costs me approximately $4.31 Canadian for 350 grams of tofu.
The majority of the cost is just the tofu and then the seasonings add around 60 cents. I often add this tofu to a recipe that will serve 4 so it works out to just over $1 per serving. Not too bad for a great protein source that doesn’t take much preparation to throw together.
Let me know in the comments below how you enjoy this crispy baked tofu!
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Crispy Baked Tofu
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 350 g 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
My go to crispy baked tofu recipe. Oil-free, flavourful, and perfect for tossing into a stir-fry, on a power bowl or whatever you would like!
Ingredients
- 350 g extra firm tofu, pressed
- 1 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
*All the ingredients for this recipe are from our pantry and freezer tips!
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and prepare a baking sheet with a silicone mat or sheet of parchment paper.
- If your tofu is not pre-pressed, remove as much excess water as you can. Use a tofu press for 10-15 minutes or wrap the block of tofu in a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object on top. I usually place a cutting board on top of the wrapped tofu and stack a couple of heavy cookbooks on the cutting board. This will apply pressure to the tofu and squeeze out excess water. *If you add too much weight you could cause some tears in the tofu so be careful to not overload it too much.
- Chop the pressed tofu into small cubes about 1 inch in size. (I find that smaller cubes absorb more flavour).
- Add the tofu cubes to a large bowl and gently coat with the tamari, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
- Finally, sprinkle the nutritional yeast on top and stir to coat. (I add the nutritional yeast after the other seasonings so that the tofu absorbs the tamari. If added all at once the nutritional yeast will soak up the tamari and the seasonings will clump).
- You can proceed straight to baking the tofu or leave the cubes to marinate for 15 minutes or longer in the fridge. (Marinating does increase the flavour but I still find them really flavourful if baked right away).
- Bake for 20 minutes then check the tofu. They are done when they are crispy, puffed up, and a little shiny. I find that store-bought pre-pressed tofu is really crispy after 20 minutes. Blocks of tofu that I have pressed myself tend to take 30-40 minutes to get really crispy (but you can remove them from the oven earlier). Turn the pieces of tofu if leaving them in for longer than 20 minutes. This will allow them to crisp up on all sides.
- Enjoy on a stir-fry, power bowl, in a wrap, or however you would like!
Notes
Approximate Cost: $4.31 Canadian for 350 g. I often add this tofu to a recipe that will serve 4 so it works out to just over $1 per serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Thrifty How-Tos
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American, Canadian
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