39 tofu recipes
Tofu is a great meat alternative, and its unique texture adds something extra to stir-fries and soups – check out our easy tofu recipes for meat-free inspiration
Looking for the best tofu recipe ideas? Check out our easy tofu dishes, from a simple tofu stir fry to a top tofu curry. We’ve got recipes using smoked tofu and silken tofu, as well as tofu miso soup and ramen recipes for an easy, vegetarian midweek meal. Then, try our vegan meal ideas and tempeh recipes.
Lots of our ideas are vegan tofu recipes, and tofu acts as a great meat alternative for a vegan diet. Whether you want low calorie recipes, or tofu recipes that are quick to make, check out our guide. Check out our colourful guide for even more healthy vegetarian recipes.
First up, here's how to cook tofu...
How do you fry tofu?
Tofu always comes with a little of its liquid in the packaging, so its best to drain it thoroughly on kitchen paper before frying, to prevent it from spitting too much. You can then cut into whatever size pieces you like, or even keep whole. Heat 1cm of oil in a frying pan until hot, then fry the tofu on all sides until browned and crisp, around 30 seconds – 1 minute each side. Drain on kitchen paper, season and serve.
To make crispy tofu, cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until really caramelised.
Can you eat tofu raw?
Yes you can. Silken tofu is often served on top of dishes, as its name says it is prized for its soft texture and is sometimes served chilled. Normal tofu can be eaten raw, but is often fried to add extra texture and flavour to it.
How do you cook silken tofu?
This is often cubed and added to soups and stews, right at the very end. As it is quite fragile it is added at the end of cooking to warm through, with minimal stirring as you want to keep it whole in the final dish.
Easy tofu recipes
Crispy baked tofu
This versatile, protein-rich ingredient is given the crisp factor with our foolproof method.
Californian vegan tofu scramble
Check out this vegan breakfast recipe with smoked tofu, punchy chilli and pan fried courgette. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this easy recipe is a quick brunch idea.
Silken tofu
Make this creamy, silken tofu as a vegan side or starter – smother in soy sauce, gochujang and sesame seeds to soak up the flavour.
Tofu stir-fry
Try our easy veggie stir-fry with crispy tofu and crunchy broccoli. This simple recipe is packed with plenty of flavour, plus it's high in protein too.
Sesame tofu bowl
Combined golden, sesame-crusted tofu with edamame, avocado, quinoa and a soy dressing for a nourishing and satisfying vegan meal that contains 9 different plant foods.
Vegetarian ramen
Firm tofu, veg and tahini combine to make this warming veggie ramen that’s rich in umami flavours, making a nourishing dinner for two.
Tofu katsu curry
A clever veggie version of a Japanese curry classic, made by coating slabs of tofu with breadcrumbs, baking them, and serving with a curried carrot, ginger and honey sauce.
Yellow curry with swiss chard and tofu
Chunks of tofu soak up the gingery, coconut broth in this easy vegan recipe.
Tofu fried rice
Check out our vegan fried rice with smoked tofu. Make this quick and easy recipe for a low-calorie midweek meal for two.
Mapo tofu
The people of Sichuan love chilli and the lip tingle of Sichuan peppercorns – exactly what this dish celebrates. Add plenty of chiu chow chilli oil to really make it sing.
Vegan stir-fry
This low-calorie cumin tofu stir-fry is inspired by the unique cuisine of Xi’an in central China. Expect bold and punchy flavours, especially from the cumin and chilli.
Kimchi-baked tofu
A traditional Korean food, kimchi (spicy, fermented cabbage and vegetables) adds flavour and health kudos to this tofu dish.
Vegan chocolate mousse
Silken tofu is the secret ingredient for this smooth and creamy (and totally vegan) chocolate mousse recipe.
Crunchy veg and smoked tofu salad with sesame dressing
Try our vibrant salad recipe with crispy golden tofu and crunchy vegetables. This easy dish is vegan friendly and low in calories. More vegetarian salad ideas here.
Chilli tofu ramen
One of our favourite vegan tofu recipes. Our chilli tofu ramen is vegan and low calorie, and is packed full of fresh flavours. The chilli adds a heat to the marinated tofu. Try this easy bowl of ramen for a warming meal. Here are our top noodle soup recipes to try.
Cajun tofu tacos
Looking for an alternative to fish tacos? Try our cajun tofu tacos recipe which is vegan, low calorie, and only need 30 minutes cooking time. A great vegan party dish. We love tacos and have loads of easy recipes here.
Hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice
A great vegan tofu recipe. Try this hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice. This dish jazzes up tofu and is under 500 calories.
The MBLT sandwich
Check out this impressive vegan sandwich recipe. This MBLT makes a super easy vegan alternative to the British BLT sandwich using shiitake mushroom 'bacon'. Plus, it's low in calories too.
Tofu miso soup
This gluten-free miso soup with crispy smoked tofu is a perfect low-calorie midweek meal. It's warming, cleansing and super easy to make. Make this tofu recipe for a hearty winter dish.
Shan warm chickpea tofu noodle soup
Looking for an alternative tofu recipe? Check out our shan ‘tofu’ noodle recipe which is made from chickpeas and is more like a very thick soup. This tofu noodle soup is a comforting dish.
Seared sesame tofu with noodle salad
A simple tofu recipe that's really indulgent. If you're looking for a Chinese takeaway alternative, try this seared sesame tofu with noodle salad. Red chilli livens up the tofu and the noodles make it a filling meal. A great vegetarian alternative.
Mapo tofu
Check out this easy vegan tofu recipe from the new Taiwanese restaurant XU in London's Chinatown. This super simple recipe is packed with flavour and takes no time at all to make.
Banh mi with crispy tofu and pickled vegetables
An easy tofu recipe that is simple to make. Make this banh mi recipe which is a Vietnamese baguette. Our version is filled with tofu, coriander and freshly pickled veg. This easy tofu recipe is a great lunch idea. Create a Vietnamese banquet with our recipes here.
Peanut tofu stir-fry
Try this simple tofu stir-fry for a speedy vegetarian recipe. Both healthy and quick this dish makes an easy midweek meal. Crunchy peanuts add the finishing touch to this tofu recipe. Check out our easy stir-fry recipes here.
Tofu and winter greens stir-fry
If you're looking for a meat free stir-fry recipes, try this one with tofu and winter greens. This quick Indonesian stir-fry flavoured with sesame and ginger is a great vegetarian main course.
Marinated tofu with udon noodles and greens
We've used Asian flavourings such as soy, mirin and sesame oil to liven up tofu in this recipe. Served with udon noodles and greens, this tofu recipe makes an easy vegetarian meal.
Miso-flavoured broth with marinated tofu
Our best tofu recipe, perfect for a healthy meat-free-Monday with bags of protein and only 143 calories a serving. Marinate tofu in Japanese-style teriyaki and then pour over the miso broth. A warming winter dish.
Chinese-style purple sprouting broccoli with tofu
If you want an easy Chinese inspired dish, try our Chinese-style purple sprouting broccoli with tofu recipe. This vegan recipe is under 500 calories and would make a great side dish or lunch.
Glazed tofu with pickled veg
This recipe for glazed tofu with pickled veg is easy to make, vegetarian and ready in under an hour - perfect for a midweek meal. Try this tofu recipe tonight for a quick meal.
Tofu noodles
Put a new spin on tofu with this speedy veggie noodle recipe, on the table in half an hour.
Sticky tofu with pak choi
Tofu is amped up with a sticky ginger marinade in this simple and quick recipe. Perfect with pak choi on a bed of jasmine rice.
Tofu katsu kare
This veggie sharing dish sees crisp tofu combined with a Japanese katsu sauce, crushed edamame and aubergine pickle.
Tofu steak with beetroot noodles and dukkah
Tofu steak, served with beetroot noodles and sukkah, makes for a special vegetarian meal for one that's ready in just 30 minutes.
Thai green tofu curry
Thai green curry gets a vegan makeover in this quick and easy tofu curry. It's packed with smoked tofu and plenty of crunchy veg, plus it's ready in just 25 minutes.
Coronation tofu salad
This simple vegan salad, with smoked tofu, fragrant madras powder and sweet mango chutney, will become a go-to dish when you want lots of flavour in a short amount of time.
Tofu piccata
We've swapped chicken for sautéed tofu in this vegan twist on a classic meat dish, served with a white wine sauce and long-stemmed broccoli.
Cauliflower fried rice with crispy baked tofu
Serve crispy, golden tofu on a bed of cauliflower fried rice, with plenty of sweet chilli sauce for a low-calorie vegetarian dinner.
Vegan tofu tikka masala
Use tofu in place of chicken in this vegan version of a classic takeaway favourite.
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