Americans are eating more tofu than ever. In fact, in 2020, research suggests that people in the US consumed five or more packages of the soy-based ingredient. It’s no surprise that tofu is rising in popularity; it’s nutritious, sustainable, and incredibly versatile, too.
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Why cook with tofu?
Tofu is popular for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a good source of plant-based protein—around 100 grams contains around 8 grams of protein. It also contains fiber and protective plant compounds, too.
Tofu can also take many different forms and textures, including soft, firm, and extra firm, and it absorbs flavor well, making it incredibly versatile and adaptable to different recipe applications. As you’ll see below, tofu can become vegan egg, chicken, pork—whatever you’re craving, there’s a good chance you can use tofu to replicate it.
And finally, tofu is far more sustainable than meat. As per the BBC’s climate change food calculator, eating a serving of beef twice a week for one-year results in more than 600 kilograms of emissions. Consuming the same amount of tofu, however, results in 12 kilograms of emissions.
35 vegan tofu recipes to try now
If you’re looking for tofu cooking inspiration, you’ve come to the right place—check out the 35 delicious vegan recipes below.
1 Vegan Maple-Glazed Tofu Musubi
Musubi is a Japanese-inspired sushi-style snack, but it was actually created in Hawaii. While traditionally it’s made with spam luncheon meat, you can create the same taste and texture by using tender slices of marinated tofu.
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Lauren Toyota
2 Vegan Tofu Benedict With Hollandaise
Eggs Benedict, but without the eggs? It sounds odd, but it’s totally possible (and totally delicious). As this recipe demonstrates, crispy-fried, spiced tofu is the perfect egg alternative.
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Bri Beaudoin
3 Vegan Firecracker Tofu With Broccolini and Chili Garlic Oil
Fiery chili oil packs in the heat in this spicy, flavorful firecracker tofu recipe, which is served with nutritious broccolini and zesty lime slices for the perfect midweek meal.
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Chrissy Mergogey
4 Marinated Tofu Veggie Kebabs
Bookmark this easy protein-packed recipe for an outside barbecue, or alternatively, bring a little bit of summer to the colder months by cooking these tasty kebabs using the oven grill.
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Lauren Toyota
5 Supreme Vegan Nacho Fries With Tofu Bacon Crumbles
Loaded fries are indulgent, delicious, and comforting, especially when they’re topped with crispy tofu bacon crumbles, nacho cheese, and a generous dollop of sour cream.
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Hannah Sunderani
6 Easy Vegan Tofu Egg Salad
If you’re craving a simple egg salad sandwich, good news: you can get the same taste and texture by using just a handful of vegan ingredients, including chopped tofu, kala namak, nutritional yeast, and dijon mustard.
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Ashley McLaughlin
7 Vegan Nashville-Style Hot Tofu Chicken
Cayenne, paprika, and maple syrup are the secret to these deliciously fiery and flavorful vegan chicken fingers, which swap out meat for tofu.
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William and Susan Brinson
8 Vietnamese-Inspired Vegan Tofu Bánh Mì
Traditional bánh mì is often made with pork or chicken, but tofu is arguably one of the best vegan filling choices. Try it out in this veggie-loaded sandwich, which also features a combination of hoisin, seasoned vinegar, jalapeños, and sriracha.
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9Quick and Easy Vegan Tofu Caprese
This Italian salad is usually made with a handful of simple ingredients: tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. The only difference in this elegant vegan version is that soft cheese is replaced with extra-firm silken tofu (with mouthwatering results).
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Marie Laforêt
10 Vegan Orange and Miso-Glazed Tofu
Add this tangy, flavor-rich, easy-to-make vegan orange and miso-glazed tofu to many different recipes. It will work well in everything from salads to stir fries to tacos.
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Eric Isaac
11 Cheesy Vegan Tex-Mex Tofu Tacos
Scrambled tofu takes the place of egg in these savory, tasty breakfast Tex-Mex tacos, which are best served with a big helping of vegan cheese, avocado, and cilantro.
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Kylie Perrotti
12 Vegan Whipped Tofu With Summery Basil Zucchini
Tofu can take on many textures, but whipped is arguably one of the best. It’s creamy, rich, and delicious, especially when served with stewed tomatoes, zucchini, and fresh basil.
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13 Vegan Filipino Tofu and Mushroom Sisig
Traditional Filipino dish sisig is usually made with pork, but this plant-based version proves that you can have all the signature sour and savory flavor and tender texture without the meat.
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Lauren Hartmann and Julie Grace
14 Vegan Spicy Oven-Fried Tofu
This oven-fried tofu is crispy and crunchy on the outside, and tender and packed with flavor on the inside. What more could you want?
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Francesca Bonadonna
15 Easy, Crispy Vegan Tofu Popcorn Chicken
Forget the Colonel, this tofu popcorn chicken is just as crispy, golden, and addictive. Serve with your favorite sauce (we recommend sriracha or BBQ!).
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16 Vegan Sticky Sweet Char Siu Tofu
Put down the takeout menu. Thanks to this vegan recipe, you can make sweet-and-tangy delicious char siu tofu from home. Make sure to pair with rice noodles or steamed rice for a nourishing, filling, and satisfying meal that’s cheaper than ordering in.
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Maureen Eppler
17Tangy Vegan Tofu Adobo Musubi
Combine the Hawaiian favorite with the flavor and texture of Filipino Adobo in this unique recipe. It’s tasty on its own, but if you want something more substantial, it also tastes delicious with a tangy cucumber salad on the side.
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Hannah Kaminsky
18 Easy Two-Step Vegan Tofu Scramble With Mixed Veggies
It doesn’t get more simple and delicious than a tofu scramble. It’s one of the easiest ways to prepare tofu, and it’s packed with flavor and nutrition, especially when it’s served with your favorite mixed vegetables, too.
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Danielle Keith
19 Spicy Vegan Air-Fried Buffalo Tofu Poppers
These crispy, spicy vegan air-fried buffalo tofu poppers are best enjoyed with friends, in front of a movie, with cool vegan ranch and sour cream.
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Wade Hammond
20 Vegan Spicy Korean BBQ Tofu Satay
Popular Indonesian street food satay is usually made with marinated, grilled chicken, but as this recipe demonstrates, you can get all the same delicious taste and texture with tofu.
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Hollan Hawaii
21 Curry-Spiced Vegan Tofu Scramble
The best way to level up a simple scramble? Add some warming spices and serve with roasted potatoes, toast, vegan butter, and jam. Perfection.Get the recipe
So Vegan
22 Vegan Harissa-Spiced Tofu Scramble
Okay, so there is more than one delicious way to upgrade a scramble. This recipe is also packed with flavor, and it’s super easy to make, too. The key ingredients are just tofu, harissa paste, and red onion.
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Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer
23 Vegan Tandoori Tofu Skewers With Yogurt Sauce
Succulent, fiery, and mouthwatering = three words that sum up this tasty tandoori skewer recipe. Need we say more?
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America’s Test Kitchen
24 Vegan Tofu Rancheros With Avocado
Huevos rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast. To make it vegan, this recipe combines the dish’s signature rich, tomatoey sauce with creamy silky tofu.
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Alison Bickel
25 Vegan Fried Rice Bowl With Baked Tofu
If you’ve got some leftover rice at hand, put it to good use in this delicious fried rice bowl, which is also loaded with vegetables and crispy baked tofu, and drizzled with sriracha.
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Luke Albert
26 Crispy Vegan Beer-Battered Tofu Fish and Chips
Crispy beer-battered tofu takes the place of fish in this iconic British-inspired recipe. Just like the original, it’s best served with a squeeze of lemon and mushy peas.
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Eat the Rainbow
27 Vegan Sushi Sandwich With Crispy Tofu and Pickled Beets
Bored of regular sandwiches? Switch things up with these tasty sushi sandwiches, which feature juicy pickled beets and crispy tofu.
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Mixed & Measured
28 Crispy Hoisin Tofu Vegan Tacos With Scallion Tortillas
Impress your friends on Taco Tuesday with this fusion dish, which combines Cantonese hoisin tofu with Mexican tacos with delicious results.
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Neelam Pokhrel
29 Savory Vegan Kadai Tofu
Silky garlicky tomato gravy pairs beautifully with crispy tofu in this nourishing Indian recipe. For extra sustenance, serve with rice or naan (or both!).
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30 Vegan Crispy Tofu Parm Melt Hoagies
This ultra-filling, ultra-satisfying sub sandwich, which combines crispy breaded tofu with marinara sauce and vegan mozzarella and parmesan, is the ultimate lunchtime treat.
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31 Oil-Free Vegan Sweet Chili Tofu Broccoli Mushroom Stir-Fry
For an easy, quick, healthy weeknight meal, look no further than this oil-free stir-fry. The dish is loaded with nutrients thanks to ingredients like tofu, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, peas, and kale.
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32 Vegan Spicy Spinach Chili Pālak Tofu
This hearty, flavorful Indian gravy is usually made with paneer cheese, but the texture of the chopped tofu works beautifully as a vegan alternative.
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Compassionate Cuisine
33 Herbed Vegan Tofu Ricotta
Paneer isn’t the only cheese that tofu can replace. It also works well as a creamy, tasty vegan ricotta, too. Try it on toast, in pasta, or any other dish that takes your fancy.
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34 Vegan Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu
Best served with noodles or over rice and vegetables, this is another great dish to bookmark for a fakeaway night.
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Neelam Pokhrel
35Vegan Malai Kofta
Think you need meat to make meatballs? Think again. These savory, crispy bites are made with a mix of tofu and potato, and they’re arguably even more delicious than the meat version.
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For more vegan recipes, read:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
