Sweet Sesame + Thyme Baked Tofu

Making tofu tasty [or tolerable] might seem like a tricky task, but with a few pre-cooking steps, you can master this versatile plant based protein! I usually purchase extra firm tofu at Trader Joe's - this is the variety of tofu you want to purchase for tofu cubes/strips/steaks because the others are much softer and more difficult to work with. Once you drain the tofu, I recommend slicing it in half lengthwise and laying it flat on a kitchen towel. Cover the tofu with the other end of the kitchen towel and place something heavy [I used a baking sheet + sealed bottle of olive oil] on top to help press the water out. Let this sit for 30+ minutes. Pressing the water out of the tofu will help it absorb any marinade you might use.

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After this pressing processes, your tofu is ready to cook or marinate! Typically, you wouldn't use oil to marinate tofu because it's so water dense it won't absorb the oil. In this recipe, I used some sesame oil so the leftover marinade could also be used as a dressing to coat the cooked tofu. Enjoy!

sweet sesame + thyme baked tofu

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 block extra firm tofu [15 oz.]

  • 3 tbsp. liquid aminos/soy sauce

  • 1 1/2 tbsp. sesame oil

  • 1 tsp. agave/honey/maple syrup

  • 1/2 tsp. thyme

  • S + P, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper [or you'll be scrubbing for the rest of your lifetime].

  2. Prep tofu by pressing out the water according to directions above. Let sit for at least 30 minutes before slicing into cubes, longer strips, or steaks [your preference!].

  3. In a bowl, whisk together the marinade [everything but tofu] or shake it up in a sealed jar.

  4. Add tofu to the marinade and let sit for at least 30 minutes [I waited about 2 hours].

  5. Spread tofu evenly on the baking sheet [reserving marinade at the bottom of the bowl for later] and cook for ~40 minutes, or until edges are golden brown, tossing every 10-15 minutes.

  6. Once tofu has cooled, toss in leftover marinade if desired. Enjoy!

Main Dishes, Lunch, Dinner, Sauces, Side DishesLara Harristofu, sesame, thyme, easy recipe, quick recipe, soy, vegetarian, veganComment