Easy Grilled Tofu

Here’s how to make the best grilled tofu! It tastes simply irresistible when perfectly charred and then dipped in a sweet and savory marinade.

One of the best ways to cook tofu? On the grill. Yes, that grilled tofu A simply irresistible taste, perfectly charred and then painted with a sweet and savory marinade. Summer can be more difficult to create plant-based dishes when grilling is king. You can eat any number of grilled veggies… but you need protein to keep you full. Grilled tofu is a healthy idea for a grilled dinner that’s packed with plant-based protein. They might even convert meat eaters if they try it…that’s damn yummy.

Ingredients for grilled tofu

We like simple meals here. So for this grilled tofu, we kept things super simple. It has a savory marinade with just a few ingredients that make for great flavor. Here’s what you need:

• Extra firm or firm tofu
• mirin
• rice vinegar
• soy pasture
• sesame oil or olive oil
• Spicy Sriracha Sauce (Optional)

Here is the most important key to grilled tofu: Use firm or extra firm tofu. If you see a marked package soft or silky tofu: Go away ! This is a soft version of tofu not meant for grilling. (Note: Silk sometimes refers to soft tofu, but Alex and I also saw a brand called Silken. Just look for Firm or Extra Firm anywhere on the packaging and you’re good to go.)

How to Squeeze Tofu… the Fast Way

For this grilled tofu recipe, you need to press the tofu. Why? Pressing will remove excess liquid from the tofu. trust us! Otherwise it will be mushy and watery on the grill. (Want a tofu recipe that doesn’t require pressing? Try our Breaded Tofu.)

Alex and I have a special way of pressing tofu that makes it quicker than most. Some recipes suggest pressing it for 1 hour, but our method takes just over 15 minutes. Here’s what to do:

• Halve the tofu and microwave for 2 minutes. This will release most of the liquid!
• Put it between towels and then cover it with a cutting board and a heavy object. The cutting board distributes the weight. Do this for 15 minutes and most of the water should be squeezed out.

How to grill tofu

There are many ways to grill tofu, but here’s the easiest method we’ve perfected. Many people say tofu sticks to their grill. But if you coat it with enough marinade, it’ll easily pull off the grate once it’s browned. Here’s what to do:

• Preheat grill to medium-high heat. It’s about 375 to 450 degrees.
• Squeeze the tofu and then slice it. See below!
• Brush with the marinade.
• Grill on the grates for a total of 5 minutes rotate when it comes out of the grids.
• Paint with additional marinade and serve!

Other ways to serve tofu? Try all of our tofu recipes, especially fried tofu, fried tofu and scrambled tofu.

What is Mirin?

Mirin is a type of Japanese rice wine that is essential in this recipe. It brings a subtly sweet complexity that’s hard to replicate! You should be able to find some at your local grocery store alongside the Japanese ones. Take a close look at the soy sauce!

Add hot sauce for more complexity (no heat).

Add a dash of hot sauce to this recipe if you like! Spicy Sriracha Sauce is only a teaspoon full, so it adds complexity to the flavor without adding heat. If you like spicy food, you can always increase the sriracha to 1 tbsp! But as written, this recipe is not spicy. You can also omit the sriracha if you prefer.

Ways to serve grilled tofu

Once you have your grilled tofu, how do you dress it up? Alex and I like to serve it up with a big veggie platter! Although it has an Asian flavor, it really can go with anything. Here are our favorite vegetarian BBQ recipes to accompany:

This recipe for grilled tofu is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.