Add smoky flavor to any dish with this easy smoked tofu recipe. It uses a simple 6-ingredient vegan marinade to create rich, bold, flavorful crispy tofu prepared, air-fried, or baked without added oil.
It's no secret that I am a huge fan of tofu, and although I will faithfully stand by my original sheet pan vegan bacon recipe, I fell in love with this smoky tofu recipe after my first trial. It shares a few elements with my vegan tofu chicken recipe with the distinctive flavor of liquid smoke.
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Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Customize the size of your tofu pieces for stir-fries, sandwiches, wraps, and more!
- Made with plant-based ingredients and not a drop of oil.
- An easy way to add extra protein to bowls, soups, and stews.
- Use Tamari or liquid aminos for an easy recipe that's naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tofu. For best results, use firm or extra-firm tofu. If you use frozen tofu, thaw it in the refrigerator or boil it before pressing, then cubing or slicing it.
- Liquid Smoke. Here's where all the smoky flavor comes from. The best substitute is smoke paprika, although it won't have the intense smokiness of liquid smoke.
- Maple Syrup. Date paste or agave syrup are the best substitutes.
- Soy Sauce. Soy sauce adds umami flavor and saltiness. I've tried this recipe with low-sodium soy sauce, and it comes out great. Use liquid amino acids or Tamari as a gluten-free substitute.
- Nutritional Yeast. I added a tablespoon of nutritional yeast, combined with the soy sauce and lemon juice, giving the marinade a touch of vegan chicken flavor. Want more? Substitute with homemade vegan chicken broth powder.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Recipe Variations
For crisper tofu, toss the marinated cubes with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch or tapioca starch. This is my favorite crisping trick for lightly marinated recipes like salt and pepper tofu, crispy baked tofu, and Buffalo tofu, too!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Press the tofu, then cut it into cubes or slices.
Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
Add the tofu cubes and marinade in a shallow dish or a large sealed bag. Marinate for 1 hour or overnight.
Bake at 425 F (220 C) for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for 5-10 minutes. Or air-fry at 375 F (190 C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through.
Pro Tips
- My favorite way to marinate tofu is overnight in a sealed bag, laid flat enough so the tofu is covered. It makes it easy to swish it around in the bag, so all edges of the tofu cubes are covered. Plus, it doesn't overcrowd your refrigerator.
- The thickness of the tofu cubes or slices determines how long you need to bake or air fry. You want the final result to be firm tofu that's golden brown.
Why You Should Always Press Tofu
Even if you use super-firm or extra-firm tofu, pressing for a few minutes results in firmer and more flavorful tofu. Pressing releases excess water in the tofu and opens up space for the marinade to penetrate.
Smoky Tofu Serving Suggestions
- Cubed smoked tofu is delicious in stir fry with vegan hoisin sauce or with your favorite pasta sauce, such as chickpea sauce or cauliflower white sauce. I recently added it to smoky split pea soup. It was a big hit with my taste-testers.
- Try smoky tofu slices with spicy sriracha barbecue sauce, huli huli sauce, orange ginger sauce, or raspberry chipotle sauce. Side that with crispy carrot raisin and pineapple salad or curried macaroni salad. Wow!
- Make an awesome sandwich or wrap with veggies and vegan garlic aioli, vegan cashew mayo, or vegan ranch dressing. Delish!
- Create a smoked tofu salad supreme with crispy air fryer croutons and healthy oil-free dressings like vegan 'honey' mustard, avocado green goddess, or creamy tahini herb dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Smoked tofu can be frozen before or after cooking. To freeze before, add pressed and cubed tofu, plus the marinade to a freezer bag or sealed container. Freeze for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake or air fry.
Tofu can be marinated in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. After a longer period of time, it may start to soften too much, resulting in crumbly tofu. You can always freeze marinated tofu and then thaw and cook it when you have more time.
Reheat smoked tofu in the air fryer at 375 F (190 C) for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 375 F (190 C), wrapped in foil for 5-10 minutes. Unwarp for the last few minutes to crisp it up. I don't recommend reheating tofu in the microwave because it tends to get too chewy.
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Easy Smoked Tofu Recipe (Air-Fry or Bake)
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Ingredients
- 14-16 ounces tofu - firm or extra firm
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup - date paste or agave syrup
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce - use Tamari or liquid amino acids for gluten-free
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Press the tofu using a tofu press or wrap the tofu block in a paper towel and place it between 2 plates with the top weighed down. Press for 15 minutes.
- Combine the liquid smoke, maple syrup, soy sauce, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
- Add the tofu and marinade to a shallow baking dish or sealable plastic bag. Carefully mix to cover all sides of the tofu.
- Marinate the tofu for at least 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator.
How to Bake Smoked Tofu
- Preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C).
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper and add the tofu in a single layer to the baking tray.
- Bake for 15 minutes until it starts to brown. Flip each piece and bake for 10-15 minutes until brown and firm.
How to Air Fry Smoked Tofu
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 F (190 C).
- Add the tofu in a single layer to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Notes
- Use 1 tablespoon of homemade vegan chicken bouillon power as an alternative to nutritional yeast.
- Cook time is based on baking the tofu.
- Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or freeze for 3 months.
- I recommend marinating for 1-24 hours. After 24 hours, marinated tofu can be frozen, then thawed and cooked.
- Reheat smoked tofu in the air fryer at 375 F (190 C) for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 375 F (190 C), wrapped in foil for 5-10 minutes. Unwarp for the last few minutes to crisp it up. I don't recommend reheating tofu in the microwave because it tends to get too chewy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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