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A plate of smoked tofu.
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Easy Smoked Tofu Recipe (Air-Fry or Bake)

Easy smoked tofu recipe with a simple 6-ingredient vegan marinade that adds rich smoky flavor for crispy tofu made oil-free in the air fryer or oven-baked.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Marinating Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan
Servings: 4
Calories: 130kcal
Author: Denise Perrault

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
US Customary - Metric

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

  1. Use 1 tablespoon of homemade vegan chicken bouillon power as an alternative to nutritional yeast.
  2. Cook time is based on baking the tofu.
  3. Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or freeze for 3 months.
  4. I recommend marinating for 1-24 hours. After 24 hours, marinated tofu can be frozen, then thawed and cooked.
  5. 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

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 760mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 2mg