11 Creative Recipes to Cook with Extra Firm Tofu

Tofu has been around for nearly 2,000 years, thanks to the Chinese. It’s a good source of plant protein and several vital amino acids, making it ideal for people following a vegan diet. Its use spread to other Asian countries like Japan and Korea together with Buddhism since most of its followers consider killing for meat brings negative karma into the afterlife.

Tofu-making requires a process similar to cheesemaking using condensed soy milk and nigari, a coagulant made with sea water after salt extraction. It’s then compressed into solid white blocks of varying firmness.

Many people find tofu bland, but it’s versatile because it takes any flavor you cook. Its uses include making starters, soups, hearty one-pot meals, grills, and desserts.

Compared to soft and delicate silken tofu, extra firm tofu has a dense consistency thanks to its low water content. Its sturdy texture makes it ideal for grilling, baking, deep-frying, and stir-frying.

11 Creative Recipes to Cook with Extra Firm Tofu

Some people are determined to hate tofu until they try something delicious cooked with it. Here are 10 creative recipes to cook with extra firm tofu for meals that will impress and remain unforgettable.

1. Thai Coconut Tofu Curry

Create a rich curry with an authentic Thai flavor using extra firm tofu, lemongrass, coconut milk, and peanut butter. You need 45 minutes to prepare this easy curry that serves 4 and makes a perfect meal even for weeknights.

Ingredients:

• 1 block extra-firm tofu
• 1 stalk lemon grass, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon each ground cumin, ground coriander, freshly grated ginger, and salt
•  ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 cup coconut milk
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons tamari sauce or Liquid Aminos
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• some crushed peanuts and cilantro leaves for topping

Instructions:

• Press tofu to dry after draining and rinsing, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
• Place tofu in a large bowl and coat it with the sesame oil, lemongrass, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and salt and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 F while preparing a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper.
• Place the marinated tofu on the baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes until golden. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a pan. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger, cooking for a few minutes until the onion is soft.
• Add curry powder, cooking for another minute before removing from heat.
• Stir in the water and coconut milk.
• Transfer the onion to a food processor. Add peanut butter, Liquid Aminos, maple syrup, lime juice, and ginger, and process until creamy and smooth.
• Pour the mixture back into the pan and continue cooking on medium-high heat. Constantly stir until it has thickened.
• Finally, stir in tofu, cayenne pepper and serve with rice or quinoa.
•  Garnish with crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro leaves

2.     Barbecued Tofu Skewers

Barbecues are ideal for summer and not just for meat eaters. Try these delicious tofu skewers from Rainbow Plant Life made with extra-firm tofu, which you can serve with any sauce you prefer. The recipe includes five sauce variations to try.

3     Tofu Parmigiana

Tofu might not come from Italy, but it lends itself perfectly to this traditional Italian dish with its hearty Mediterranean flavors presented by here by Delish.

4.     Tofu Pad Thai

You can prepare this Tofu Pad Thai for four people from start to finish in 35 minutes, meaning it’s ideal for even the busiest weekdays.

Ingredients:

• 14 oz. extra-firm tofu drained and cut into thick slices
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 8 oz. rice noodles
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. sweet chili sauce
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 red pepper, sliced
• 2 cups mung bean sprouts
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup chopped peanuts

Instructions

1. Weigh the tofu slices between paper towels for ten minutes before cutting them into smaller blocks.
2. Toss the tofu in a bowl with the cornstarch.
3. Meanwhile, cook noodles following the package directions, rinse with cold water, and drain.
4. Combine the soy sauce, sugar, chili sauce, lime juice, and garlic in a bowl, and keep aside.
5. Heat the oil in a large pan on medium. Add red pepper and cook until tender. Remove from pan and add tofu, tossing until cooked and golden brown—about 4 to 5 minutes.
6. Add noodles and sauce, tossing to combine.
7. Fold in pepper, sprouts, and scallions, and cook for 2 more minutes.
8. Garnish with lime wedges and serve.

5.     Vegan Tofu Burger in Bun

These tofu burgers from the Spruce are a bit different because they contain vegetables instead of a bean base. They are so easy to make.

6.     Fried Tofu Sandwich

Here’s a gourmet tofu sandwich from Food & Wine with pickles and shredded cabbage. It’s well worth the extra effort.

7.     Tofu Tacos

You can prepare a fast and delicious tofu taco recipe in 30 minutes to serve four.

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves garlic, whole
• 1 small onion, whole
• ½ small poblano, a mild chili
• ½ red pepper
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 12 oz. extra-firm tofu, squeezed of moisture and crumbled
• 1 ½ tsp. chili powder
• ½ tsp. ground coriander
• ¼ tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper
• 8 small corn tortillas
• ½ head romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• Few lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. Place the garlic, onion, poblano, and red pepper in a food processor and blend until.
2. Add the vegetable mix to a large skillet after heating the oil. Sauté for 4 minutes.
3. Add the tofu and season with chili powder, coriander, salt, and pepper. Stir occasionally, cooking until golden brown.
4. Spoon the mixture into the corn tortillas.
5. Top the tortillas with the romaine and jalapeño. Finish off with lemon wedges and serve.

8.     Tofu Stir Fry

Extra-firm tofu is ideal for stir-fries because it remains intact even when cooked. Try this stir fry recipe from Delish, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the vegetables on hand, add what you have in the refrigerator.

9.     Sticky Tofu Bowl

Good Housekeeping’s yummy recipe for Sticky Tofu Bowls includes shitake mushrooms and takes 25 minutes to prepare. It serves four.

10     Asian Tofu with Bok Choy

Another delicious recipe for four people is this easy sheet pan dish with tofu and Bok choy from Prevention.

11.  Tofu Bolognaise

Whether you want to make a vegan bolognese sauce to serve with pasta or a potato casserole, this recipe from Our Plant-Based World yields four servings with 14 oz of extra firm tofu. It freezes very well, so you can even make a double batch.

Tips for Cooking and Preparing Tofu

•     Firm or extra-firm tofu is best when baking or frying, while silken tofu is better for purees, dressings, smoothies, desserts, and sauces.

•     For a firmer texture, press the tofu between two plates with a lightweight such as a can of vegetables on top. Leave it to rest for 15 minutes before cooking.

•     When stir-frying, use hot oil and preheat the pan properly so the pieces don’t stick.

•     To give your recipes an extra flavor boost, try marinating your cubes of firm or extra firm tofu in advance –use one of the sauces from the recipes suggested.

•     Freeze it – yes, you can freeze tofu and defrost it when ready to use.

•     Sprinkle some nutritional yeast on your tofu dishes for a cheesy flavor.

•     Add tofu to smoothies or shakes for an extra protein kick.

•     Make patties with mashed-up firm tofu by adding spices, herbs, grated vegetables, nuts, and oats. Shape into small cakes and bake for 20 minutes at 350°F or until golden brown.

•     Experiment with different cooking techniques – try baking, stir-frying, steaming or simmering in soups and stews.

•     If you don’t like the taste of tofu recipes, try adding some flavorful ingredients, such as ginger or garlic, to enhance its natural flavor.

No matter how you prepare it, extra-firm tofu is a great option for quick, nutritious meals that satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! Enjoy discovering all the amazing ways to cook with it!

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