The Marinated Baked Tofu is tangy, a little salty, a little sweet, and the perfect caramelized texture. It’s great on salads, in grain bowls, in stir frys, and just for snacking. Plus, Baked Tofu is super easy to make – most of the time is hands off!
Table of Contents
The Story Behind the Recipe
I know people like to make fun of tofu, but it’s honestly one of my favorite foods. It’s such a great source of plant-based protein, and it’s a chameleon – it can take on so many different flavors and textures.
I’ve shared recipes for crispy pan-fried tofu, amazing air fryer tofu, tofu bacon (so good!), saucy buffalo tofu, and even a scrambled tofu fried rice. But today, I thought I’d share my favorite baked tofu.
This tofu is SO easy to make, and the long bake results in a bouncy-textured tofu with concentrated caramelized flavor. I especially love that it’s mostly hands-off to make.
Marinated Baked Tofu Recipe Ingredients
- Tofu – You’ll want to start with extra-firm tofu for the best texture. You’ll need one block.
- Tamari – Tamari is a gluten-free, not-quite-as-salty type of soy sauce. You can use soy sauce too, but plan on a saltier bite of tofu (which I think is delicious, but I just want to let you know!)
- Rice vinegar – For a bit of acid and tang.
- Brown sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness.
- Pure maple syrup – Adds another touch of sweetness plus helps create a sticky-delicious texture.
- Garlic powder – You can use fresh garlic too, but I designed this recipe to need minimal chopping. If you swap in fresh, go with one large or two medium cloves of garlic.
- Ginger – Again, I’ve opted for dried ground ginger instead of fresh. If you use fresh, use about a pinky-size piece, peel it, and finely dice it.
- Water – To help thin out the marinade.
How to Make Baked Tofu
- First, press and cut your tofu into squares.
- Next, mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the tofu and stir to coat the blocks.
- Soak the tofu in the marinade for about 30 minutes, carefully stirring occasionally.
- Spread the tofu on a baking sheet and bake, flipping one or two times during baking, until dark golden brown and caramelized.
I hope this marinated baked tofu helps to transform your mealtimes like it has ours! We love to keep a batch in the fridge or freezer for easy grain bowls, stir fries, or even just a quick snack on the go!
Marinated Baked Tofu
Ingredients
- 14 ounces extra firm tofu (one block)
For the marinade
- 1/2 cup soy sauce or Tamari
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger
- 1/4 cup cold water
Instructions
Press & cut your tofu
- Open the tofu and drain the water. Using a tofu press, press the excess water out of the tofu, then cut it into roughly 1-inch squares. You can also skip the pressing step and cut it into blocks, then blot it well with paper towels.
Marinate tofu
- In a medium-size bowl, add all of the marinade ingredients. Mix with a whisk until the brown sugar is dissolved.
- Add the tofu to the marinade and stir until all blocks are coated.
- Soak tofu at room temperature for around 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to help distribute the marinade. If you want to marinate it for much longer, I recommend refrigerating it. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
Bake tofu
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the marinated tofu hunks on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until browned on some sides and slightly crisp in spots. Stir one or two times while baking.
Hi! I’m Karen – I’m a real person with real recipes. No A.I. here! Since 2009, every recipe on Kitchen Treaty is thoroughly tested and loved before I hit “publish.” I’m a home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m a vegetarian married to a carnivore, and my goal is to coexist deliciously.
