Tofu Marinade – WellPlated.com (2024)

Marinated tofu is the best tofu! Bold statement, yes, but it’s true: when you infuse your tofu with this sweet, savory, and smoky Tofu Marinade, it’s delicious all the way through and NEVER bland! Use it for baked tofu, pan-fried tofu, or cooking tofu in the air fryer.

Why You’ll Love This Marinated Tofu Recipe

• Has All the Flavor. Umami? Check! Sweet? Check! Smoky, warm, spicy, and savory? We’re giving out checks right and left here! This is the best tofu marinade, giving you tofu that is anything but bland and boring.
• Made With Pantry Ingredients. Just like my BBQ Chicken Marinade and Pork Tenderloin Marinade, you probably have most—if not all!—of the ingredients for this simple tofu marinade recipe on hand in your kitchen already.
• The Secret to Tasty Tofu. Marinating really is the trick to making tofu delicious. A lot of recipes have you cook tofu then toss it in a sauce, and while this is good, it still leaves the middles of the tofu bland and under-seasoned. When you marinate tofu and then cook it, you get flavor inside and out.
• Cook It Any Way You Like. This recipe works as a grilled tofu marinade, for making baked marinated tofu (the method I cover in How to Cook Tofu), for pan-frying (see Crispy Tofu for a recipe), and for Air Fryer Tofu. You have options!
• Surprisingly Versatile. The flavors in this tofu marinade work with everything from Asian cuisine to (hello Cabbage Stir Fry!) to classic American dishes like Baked Potatoes.

How to Make Tofu Marinade

The Ingredients

• Extra-Firm Tofu. Make sure you buy refrigerated tofu, not the aseptic shelf-stable silken kind.
• Low-Sodium Soy Sauce. For umami flavor without extra salt.
• Pure Maple Syrup. The sweetness brings balance to our tofu marinade, but I also like the maple flavor here.
• Rice Vinegar. Use the unseasoned kind—seasoned is sweetened. Apple cider vinegar works too.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. An everyday variety you use for cooking.
• Sesame Oil. Toasted is best for this simple tofu marinade.
• Garlic Powder. For garlic flavor without the work.
• Smoked Paprika. We associate the flavor of smoke with meat, so adding smoked paprika will give your tofu a meaty quality. For extra smoky flavor, add a few drops of liquid smoke to your tofu marinade.
• Ground Ginger. Brings a little warmth to the table.
• Sriracha or Hot Sauce of Choice. Go bold and add some extra, or skip it if you like your tofu mild.

The Directions

1. Press the Tofu. You can use a tofu press or or set a cast iron skillet or plate with heavy cans on top of the tofu for a make-shift press.
2. Cut Tofu into Cubes. I like to keep the pieces at least 1 inch big so they don’t fall apart.

3. Marinate. Whisk the marinade ingredients together, then pour over the tofu. Marinate tofu for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to a day in the refrigerator.
4. Cook However You Like!

What to Serve with Marinated Tofu

• Healthy Grains. Pair your tofu with Instant Pot Brown Rice or quinoa and drizzle some of the extra tofu marinade over the grains.
• All-American Sides. The smoky flavor of this marinated tofu makes it an excellent accompaniment to Cauliflower Mac and Cheese and Boston Baked Beans.
• Stir Fries. This tofu marinade is versatile though! It also works with Asian-inspired dishes like Stir Fry Noodles and Zucchini Stir Fry.
• Salads. Proving once again that this tofu marinade pairs with all kinds of flavors, try serving your tofu with Asian Noodle Salad or in place of the bacon in Sweet Potato Salad with Bacon.

• Tofu Press. If you cook tofu often, a tofu press makes the process of getting the excess liquid out super easy!
• Measuring Beakers. You can measure multiple tablespoons at a time with these handy little beakers.
• Liquid Measuring Cup. My go-to for whisking sauces and marinades.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Squeeze the Excess Liquid Out. Even if you don’t press the tofu, you’ll need to at least squeeze it to get most of the water out. Think of your tofu like a sponge: if it’s completely saturated, it won’t be able to soak up the marinade. The more liquid you can press out, the more room there is for the marinade to soak in.
• Don’t Use Silken Tofu. Silken tofu is sold in aseptic packages on the regular grocery store shelves, as opposed to the refrigerator case. It’s great for using in smoothies and desserts, but it doesn’t hold up well to being pressed, nor does it do a great job soaking up marinades. Buy extra-firm tofu that’s packed in water.
• Turn the Tofu. Make sure you go back to the tofu every so often to turn it so the tofu marinade soaks in evenly.