7 Easy Tofu Recipes For Dinner

When you decide to go plant-based, tofu becomes your go-to easy protein. Thanks to its versatility and mild flavour, it pairs very well with all sorts of marinades, sauces and cuisines. The possibilities truly are endless when it comes to this amazing, plant-based protein. 

But that could be a double-edged sword sometimes, with so many possibilities. It can be overwhelming trying to come up with meal ideas that won’t be complicated but will also be tasty. And after a long day, who wants to be slaving away over a hot stove for hours?

Here we have compiled 7 of our favourite tofu recipes that will make your life a lot easier and your tastebuds all the more tantalized. Prepare one or all of these recipes for yourself and your family and you all are sure to be delighted and satisfied.

1. Salt and Pepper Tofu

Easy, simple and using all sorts of ingredients you probably already have in your fridge, this meal is sure to be a hit. A little bit of chopping and a few minutes in the wok, and you will have an absolutely scrumptious dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 400g of firm tofu
• 100g of bean sprouts
• 2 red bell peppers, sliced
• 1 medium red onion
• ¼ of broccoli, cut into small florets
• 2 tablespoons of corn flour
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• A handful of coriander, chopped up
• A drizzle of sesame oil (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

Drain the tofu and wrap it in kitchen paper, then put it on a plate. Place a heavy cutting board on top of it so that all the excess liquid can be soaked into the kitchen paper. Then cut each piece into four triangles and in half again; you should have 16 pieces of tofu. 

Mix the cornflower, ground pepper and sea salt together in a bowl, and use this mixture to coat the pieces of tofu. 

Heat the 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok and stir-fry the peppers, onions and broccoli for a few minutes. Then add the beansprouts and soy sauce and allow them all to cook for another 2 minutes or so. Drizzle with sesame oil. 

Heat the renaming oil in a small pan and fry the coated tofu for 5 minutes on each side, until they are all nice and crisp. Place the stir-fried veggies onto a plate and top with tofu and finish it off by garnishing with coriander. Then dig in! 

2. Curry Tofu Wraps

Can’t get enough of those aromatic South Asian flavours, but just don’t have the time to whip up an entire curry? This recipe is the perfect compromise. Bringing together classic Indian ingredients and making them into scrumptious and filling wraps. 

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 8 chapatis
• 600g of tofu, cut into cubes
• 500g of red cabbage
• 4 big tablespoons of plant-based yogurt
• 4 large cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons of tandoori curry paste
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 medium red onions, sliced
• A handful of mint, chopped
• 2 limes, quartered

Cooking Instructions:

Mix the cabbage, mint and yogurt and season with salt and pepper. In a separate bowl mix together the curry paste and olive oil, then toss in the tofu. 

Heat up a frying pan and cook up the tofu until it is golden. Use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan and throw in the onions and garlic and let them cook for about 8-10 minutes. Then put the tofu back in the pan and season. 

Warm the chapatis, according to the instructions on the packet, and put them on plates. Top each with the cabbage and curried tofu and veggies, squeeze a bit of lime, wrap it up and chow down. 

If you want to try out some more South Asian flavours, try out XMeal’s Squash Masala Bowl or Cauliflower Tikka Masala.

3. Homemade Miso Soup

Let’s keep things Asian but head further East with this next recipe. This classic Japanese dish is sure to warm you up on a cold winter’s day and won’t need hours of prep and cooking to be ready. Just a few simple steps and you will be enjoying a delectable bowl of soup. 

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 70g of your favourite mix of mushrooms, sliced
• 50g of tofu
• 50g of buckwheat or rice noodles
• 2 spring onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• ½ tablespoon of miso paste

Cooking Instructions

Heat half of the oil in a frying pan and fry up your mushrooms for about 6 minutes on a medium heat. Using a slotted spoon, place the mushrooms in a bowl, then add the remaining oil back into the pan. Fry up the tofu for about 4 minutes or until they look golden. 

Cook up your preferred noodles, according to the instructions on the packet, drain and place them in a bowl. Then mix the miso paste with 1¼ cups of boiling water in a jug. Spoon the mushrooms and tofu onto the noodles and then pour in the miso broth. Sprinkle with the spring onions and enjoy.

4. Tofu Shawarma Wraps

Another easy yet flavourful wrap, this recipe provides a vegan twist on the traditional Middle Eastern dish. Packed full of aromatic flavour and only needing a few simple steps to be ready, this is a meal that you are definitely going to want 3 or 4 times a month.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 400g of extra firm tofu
• 4 pitas
• 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar
• 2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons of ground coriander
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 teaspoon of kosher sea salt
• ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• ½ cup of vegan yogurt
• ½ small red onion, sliced

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 220°C. Toss the onion and vinegar together in a small bowl and set it aside. Drain the tofu and wrap it in a paper towel to remove the moisture. When it’s dry, tear it into small, bite-sized pieces. 

Toss the tofu with the coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, oil and 1 teaspoon salt and place it onto a baking sheet. Allow them to roast for about 20-25 minutes, turning them once or twice, until crispy.

Stir vegan yogurt and garlic together in a small bowl, and season with salt to taste.

Spread the yogurt sauce on the warm pitas, and then add tofu, cucumbers, pickled onion, and mint. Wrap it all up and get eating. 

5. Tofu Scramble

Here us out, is there anything more comforting than breakfast for dinner? Quick, easy and the perfect way to wind down after a long day, cooking up some tofu scramble will offer you a flavourful and cozy epilogue to the day. 

Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 280g of extra firm tofu
• 100g of cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 large cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 small red onion
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon of turmeric
• ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
• A handful of parsley, chopped
• Your favourite type of sliced bread

Cooking Instructions:

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry up the onions for 8-10 minutes over a medium heat. Stir in the garlic, turmeric, cumin, paprika and cayenne and cook for about a minute.

Mash up the tofu, so that it can mimic the look of scrambled eggs, and add to the frying pan for 3 minutes. Turn the heat up and toss in the cherry tomatoes and continue cooking until they start to soften. Fold in the parsley and serve, either on its own or on some yummy toast. 

If you are looking for some more “breakfast for dinner” meals, try out XMeals’ Tofu Benny Bowl and Tofu Rancheros Breakfast Bowl.

6. Tofu Veggie Burger

Who doesn’t love a good burger? This stunning veggie burger has the added benefit of being packed full of protein, thanks to the tofu, and is just juicy and delicious. This is a great recipe for a casual dinner party and after tasting this stunning burger, you are going to be asked for the recipe.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

• 400g of extra firm tofu
• 2 large onions, diced
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of wheat germ
• 2 tablespoons of garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 6 vegan burger buns
• 6 sliced tomatoes
• Lettuce leaves
• Ketchup, mustard and vegan mayo (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

Drain the tofu well and press out the extra moisture with kitchen paper. If all the moisture isn’t removed your burger patties aren’t going to turn out great. Once dry, place the tofu into a large bowl and mash it into small bits. 

Add the onions, wheat germ, flour, garlic powder, soy sauce, and pepper and mix thoroughly. Time to get your hands dirty; start pressing the mixture together to create 6 patties, about 2½cm thick.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add a few patties at a time, so as not to crowd them. Cook on both sides until they are brown and crisp, remove the burgers and repeat with the rest of the patties. Then serve on a bun and with your preferred toppings and sauces. 

7. Veggie Tofu Stir-Fry

Super classic and super flavourful, this stir-fry recipe is great because it is very customizable. You can easily make this with whatever leftover veggies you have in your fridge, so it can be a slightly different experience each time you make it. 

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 300g of tofu, cut into chunks
• 100g of baby corn
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 carrots, sliced into thin batons
• 2cm piece of ginger
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red pepper, sliced
• 1½ tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar
• 1 spring onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of cornflour
• A handful of coriander, chopped

Cooking Instructions:

Using kitchen paper, pat the tofu chunks dry and then season them well. In a small bowl, stir together the honey, vinegar and soy sauce and set aside. 

Heat half of the oil in a pan or wok over a high heat, then toss in the tofu until it’s golden brown. Add in the garlic and ginger and fry for a minute. Remove the tofu from the pan and pour half of the soy dressing over it. 

Add the rest of the oil into the pan or wok and toss in the veggies for about 5 minutes. Just when they start becoming golden, add a splash of water and cook for another 3-5 minutes. 

Add the cornflour and a tablespoon of water to the soy dressing and pour it in with the veggies. Allow it to bubble for 30 seconds and then stir it to make sure everything is covered in sauce. Sprinkle the chopped coriander.

Place the veggies in a bowl and top with fried tofu. Goes gorgeously on top of rice or noodles. 

Want to try some more Asian-inspired meals, try out XMeals’ Ginger Beefless Bowl.

Conclusion

You are sure to find a recipe in this collection that speaks to your tofu tastes. None of them are overly time-consuming or complicated, so it should be an enjoyable and stress-free experience whipping these bad boys up. Your tastebuds are sure to thank you for your efforts after just a few mouthfuls. So what are you waiting for, get reading and get cooking!