Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2024)

By: AlyssaRating 29 Comments on Herb Crusted Baked Tofu

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This easy herb crusted tofu recipe is the perfect vegan entree! It's packed with flavor, is super simple to make, but also feels a little special at the same time. It's a great option for the holidays too!

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (1)

this recipe

I've always wanted to make the perfect crispy baked tofu. Not fried tofu, baked. Because baked is obviously healthier and I'm also not a frier. It scares me for some reason.

I've nailed tofu a few times before but it's always involved pressing the tofu, drying it, marinating, then baking. Just too many steps without the guaranteed result I'm looking for.

Until this recipe. Now, THIS recipe is perfect. And it works every single time. We're making herb crusted tofu that is crispy, golden brown, flavorful and also easy to make. It's great for the holidays, it's great for lunch and it's even great on top of salads!

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2)

Ingredients for Herb Crusted Tofu

We don't need anything crazy for this recipe. Just extra firm tofu, some olive oil, and our dry herbed coating. I wanted to make sure it was really flavorful, so I combined nutritional yeast and spices. And it's awesome!

Here's what we need for our dry herb mixture:

  • quinoa flour
  • nutritional yeast
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic powder
  • sage
  • smoked paprika

And of course a little salt and pepper. This is a mixture that has it all – salty, cheesy, herby and smoky all at the same time!

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (3)

How to Make Herb Crusted Tofu

To make our crispy baked tofu we're going to follow the same steps that you would do if you were breading chicken, except we're keeping things vegan. Once you've sliced your tofu into steaks, you'll want to set up your assembly line for the breading.

The steps you're going to take are:

  1. Coat the tofu in olive oil. I've found that olive oil works better than almond milk, but if you're oil-free I think you could do it with almond milk. And if you're not vegan you could do it with a beaten egg!
  2. Roll it in the dry ingredients. I like to place the tofu in the bowl and then use a spoon and my hands to make sure that it's fully coated on all sides. You might want to also press the coating into the tofu to really help make it stick.
  3. Bake it up! Then just place it on a pan and bake it up until it's golden brown and crispy.

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (4)

The Ultimate Crispy Baked Tofu Recipe

This truly is the ultimate crispy baked tofu recipe. I know those exist out on the internet already, but this one takes the cake for me.

You have a flavorful outer coating that is golden brown and then when you cut into it, you still have that soft tofu texture. It's meaty, without being dry.

And did I mention the flavor? Gosh, it's the best part! The combo of spices with the nutritional yeast gives it this really unique flavor that is cheesy and salty, but still bright and herbaceous. I don't curse often, but this is SO DAMN GOOD.

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (5)

Ways to Serve Crispy Baked Tofu

Now let's talk about the different ways you can serve this gorgeous tofu! I like to think of this recipe as something a little special; perfect for the holidays.

I purposely have it in this photo with some traditional vegan Thanksgiving sides because it's my favorite vegan entree for Thanksgiving. It's a cinch to make, people love it and it's you won't miss the turkey one bit with this on your plate.

Some of my favorite ways to serve this:

  • with a drizzle of garlic tahini sauce with a side of garlic green beans
  • piled high with vegan mushroom gravy with a side of mashed potatoes
  • in a “leftovers” sandwich with cranberry sauce and vegan cornbread stuffing
  • cut up into squares and added to a salad

But you can also make this any time of year! It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving ???? feel free to also change up the spice mixture if you want a different flavor profile. It could be delicious with some Mexican spices or maybe even curry!

If you do end up making it, snap a photo and share it with me in your stories by tagging @simplyquinoa!

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (6)

More Vegan Holiday Dinner Ideas:

  • Butternut Squash Vegan Lasagna
  • Perfect Vegan Meatballs
  • Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
  • Vegan Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potato
  • Easy Vegan Manicotti with Tofu Ricotta

Herb Crusted Tofu

4.6 from 43 votes

This easy herb crusted tofu recipe is the perfect vegan entree! It's packed with flavor, is super simple to make, but also feels a little special at the same time. It's a great option for the holidays too!

author: Alyssa

yield: 6 servings

Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (7)

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Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 40 minutes minutes

Total: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

  • Cut the tofu into steaks, about 1/2" thick. Each block should get you about 6 steaks. Set aside.

  • In shallow bowl or dish, whisk together the dry ingredients.

  • Now, set up your assembly line! Put the olive oil in another shallow dish. First, coat a tofu steak in oil. Then place the tofu in the bowl of the dry ingredients and coat the tofu with the dry mixture. Place the steak on a baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the tofu.

  • When ready to bake, place the baking sheet in the oven. Cook for 15 minutes, then flip and cook for another 15 - 20. You want the tofu to be golden brown and crispy.

  • Serve tofu with your favorite sauce (I love a garlic tahini sauce!) and your favorite vegetable side dish. Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 2steaks | Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg

cuisine: American

course: Entree

★★★★★

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Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (8)

Filed Under:

  • Dairy Free
  • Dinner
  • Flexitarian
  • Gluten-Free
  • Oven
  • Recipes
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Herb Crusted Baked Tofu Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

Why is my baked tofu not crispy? ›

Why won't my tofu get crisp? This could likely be a result of not drying out the tofu enough to drain out the extra moisture. It's also possible that your oven temperature is not hot enough. Make sure it's preheated and heat the pan in the oven for extra crispness.

What is a substitute for cornstarch in baked tofu? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

How do you cook tofu and make it taste good? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

Do you season tofu before or after baking? ›

Press the tofu to eliminate as much water as possible, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes to infuse it with flavor. Alternatively, you can skip this step and season the tofu right before cooking with a dash of salt and pepper or paprika and chili flakes.

Why is my baked tofu rubbery? ›

Why does tofu get rubbery? Because it was probably overcooked, it was probably exposed to too much heat. I don't know if it was roasted baked air fried or sauteed, but when it becomes, uh, overcooked, it's gonna get very, very tough.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch to make crispy tofu? ›

If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

How much cornstarch to coat tofu? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 (14- to 16-ounce) block. extra-firm tofu.
  2. 1 teaspoon. kosher salt.
  3. 3 tablespoons. cornstarch.
  4. 2 tablespoons. vegetable oil.

What is the thickening agent in tofu? ›

Traditional tofu-making coagulants include gypsum and nigari. But you can also make tofu with grocery store ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar and Epsom salts. What is this? Gypsum – aka calcium sulfate, a tasteless naturally occurring mineral salt traditionally used in tofu-making, especially Chinese tofu.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What should I season tofu with? ›

Cornstarch: This is the magic ingredient that helps make tofu (as well as many other foods) extra-crispy in the oven. Seasonings: I typically just use a mixture of garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper to season my tofu. (This mixture goes well with just about any recipe.) But see below for other seasonings ideas.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Toss the cubes with olive oil, tamari or soy sauce, and sriracha. If desired, you could also add cornstarch to make the cubes extra crispy. Finally, bake! Transfer the baking sheet to a 425°F oven and cook until the cubes are browned around the edges.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Tofu contains a large amount of water when it comes out of the package. In order to bake, fry, or scramble tofu, it's best to press out as much water as possible before cooking. The longer you press your tofu, the firmer the texture will be and the easier it will be to achieve a nice crispy texture.

Do you have to coat tofu in cornstarch? ›

3) Toss your tofu in oil, soy sauce and starch.

Cornstarch is a more processed ingredient, but it yields the crispiest results. Arrowroot is less processed and works well, but the outer covering can turn a little slippery and strange if you're adding the tofu to a dish containing a lot of moisture (like curry).

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

In this recipe I introduced a well balanced Asian sauce that is savory, a little spicy, and full of aroma. It takes no time to put together. Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it.

How do you fix soggy tofu? ›

One good solution is to put the tofu, in its original whole block, on a plate or sheet pan. Tip it at a slight angle by propping up one side. Put a weight — a plate will be just fine — on the tofu. Leave it there for 15–30 minutes.

How do you bake tofu to dry it out? ›

Arrange tofu on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking and bake for a total of 25-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through to ensure even cooking. This will dry out the tofu and help give it a more meat-like texture. If you want a tougher texture, cook it for 30-35.

How do you cook tofu so it's not mushy? ›

For the best texture, press the tofu using a tofu press or cast-iron skillet for 20 to 30 minutes. If you're short on time, just drain the tofu and gently press it in a kitchen towel or paper towels over the sink. The tofu won't be as firm this way, but it will still be delicious!

How do you fix extra firm tofu? ›

Instructions. Step 1: Press extra firm tofu for at least 30 minutes and cut into cubes. Add a small amount of oil to a non-stick skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add tofu to pan and brown on each side for about 1-2 minutes for a total of about 15 minutes.

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