Best Ever Marinated Tofu

Name: Best Ever Marinated Tofu
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 720 min
Total time: 725 min
Ingredients: 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu (drained and cut into 1-inch cubes); 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce (or tamari to make gluten-free); 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar; 1/4 cup olive oil (or 2 tbsp sesame oil and 2 tbsp olive oil to change the flavor); 4 cloves minced garlic; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp minced ginger; 1 tsp spice blend of choice (or other fresh/dried herbs); 1-2 tsp hot sauce (tabasco, sriracha, etc); 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or honey

Marinated tofu is a great plant-based protein! Try these 4 different tofu marinades: Classic, Lemon Rosemary, Chipotle and Ginger Sesame!

Four different types of marinated tofu each in its own reusable freezer bag.

Ingredients and substitutions

Tofu – make sure you use firm or extra-firm tofu. Do not use silken tofu!
Low sodium soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari would also be good here.
Apple cider vinegar – white wine vinegar will provide a similar flavor.
Olive oil – use a combination of sesame oil and olive oil for a different flavor. You could also use another neutral oil like avocado oil.
Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best, but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
Black pepper – to taste.

Optional add-ins

Minced ginger – you could also use ginger powder.
Spice blend – use any combination of seasonings of your choice. Fresh or dried herbs would also be good.
Hot sauce – like sriracha or tabasco. You could also try garlic chili sauce.
Maple syrup – honey or agave will also add a bit of sweetness.

Ingredients for making marinated tofu: firm tofu, black pepper, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar.

How to marinate tofu

Step 1: Mix together the marinade.

Add all the marinade ingredients to a large bowl or ziptop bag. Mix everything together well.

Step 2: Drain and dice the tofu.

Squeeze all the excess liquid out of the tofu, then cut it into 1-inch cubes.

Step 3: Add the tofu to the marinade.

Add the tofu to the marinade, gently tossing to combine and making sure the tofu is saturated. Let it sit overnight (at least 12 hours, ideally up to 24 hours). You may need to toss or stir throughout the marinating process.

Step 4: Serve and enjoy!

Serve the tofu however you'd like and dig in.

Tofu marinade variations

You can experiment with different ingredients until you find a marinade combo you love. Here are some of my favourite options:

Lemon Rosemary: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Chipotle: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 pinch each salt and pepper
Ginger Sesame: 1/4 cup sesame oil, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1″ piece of fresh ginger sliced into coins

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you marinate tofu?

I'd recommend marinating the tofu for at least 12 hours, and ideally up to 24 hours. If you marinate it for 24 hours, it'll have time to fully soak in all the yummy flavors of the marinade.

Why isn't it absorbing the marinade?

If you find that your tofu isn't soaking up the marinade, you may not have drained the excess liquid out of the tofu. Make sure you squeeze out any excess liquid so it can soak up the marinade.

How do you cook it?

You can eat your marinated tofu uncooked, but if you want to cook it, there are a few different ways to do so. You can pan fry it over medium heat, bake it for 30-35 minutes at 350ºF, or make it crispy in the air fryer.

Should you marinate it in the fridge or on the countertop?

Since you're marinating the tofu for at least 12 hours, you should absolutely store it in the fridge. The countertop is fine if you're only marinating something for a few minutes, but in this case, it should be marinated in the fridge for food safety purposes.

How do you serve marinated tofu?

Serve your tofu in a buddha bowl, a stir fry or cook it in the air fryer. It makes a great vegetarian protein option in your favorite salad, wrap or sandwich. You can also use the marinades for any of these tofu recipes.

Bowl of marinated tofu served over rice with veggies

Storing this recipe

You can store your marinated tofu in the fridge for 3-4 days. Since it doesn't need to be cooked, you don't need to worry about reheating it – just add it to your bowl or salad and dig in. If you pan-fried, baked or air fried the tofu, I'd recommend reheating it in a skillet, or follow the individual reheating instructions for whatever recipe you used.

Can you freeze marinated tofu?

Yes! You can freeze tofu in the marinade. In fact, freezing the tofu might actually make it firmer. Freeze the tofu in the marinade for up to 3 months in a glass bowl with a lid or freezer-safe Ziploc bag. When you're ready to enjoy, let it defrost in the fridge overnight then serve or cook as normal.

Reusable bags containing tofu with a different marinade in each bag

More marinade recipes

See more related recipes

Meal Prep Tools

Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on meal prepping this marinated tofu.
Use these Ziploc bag holders for easy marinating.
**Get my full list of tools here**

Katie Didow says

May 14, 2024

Delicious!