These quick & easy tofu steaks are a staple in our household for a simple 30 min dinner!
In this era of vegan food, there are so many amazing products out there like vegan steaks, vegan chickn scallopini, and cutlets galore. But lately I’ve been craving more simple plant-based proteins. Falling back on things like tempeh and tofu have helped me meet my nutrition goals for strength training while keeping my grocery budget in check.
These quick & easy tofu steaks are simple to make with pantry staples. You can marinade for hours or overnight for a super flavourful plant-based protein. Or if you’re in a pinch, a quick marinade for 10-15 minutes makes for the perfect base to go alongside roasted potatoes and a salad.
Feel free to play around with different herbs, spices, and acids. Red wine vinegar adds a simple and rich acidic base, but something sweet and bright like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar works as well. The acidity of the marinade helps add contrast to the salt, especially if you’re serving these tofu steaks with a heavier potato side.
What to serve with these tofu steaks?
I first started making these because I had a giant bag of russet potatoes from Christmas and I was struggling to think of a protein to go with them. I made potato wedges, veganized melting potatoes, mashed potatoes, and these quick & easy tofu steaks went so perfectly with them all.
Aside from potatoes, you can serve with a lemony rice or a simple herbed rice. And I like to balance the meal out with a simple salad or cooked greens like these tahini garlic green beans.
If you’re really feeling fancy, I really loved making chimichurri to serve on top. The red wine vinegar in this chimichurri ties really well with the marinade of these tofu steaks. You can dress this up or down to suit a cute date night in or a simple family weeknight meal.
Meal prep these by making a double batch to keep in the fridge. Cook within 2-3 days and enjoy these simple and flavourful tofu steaks! Make these gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce.
Quick & Easy Tofu Steaks
Ingredients
- 1 block tofu 400 g (14 oz)
Marinade
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar (you can sub apple cider vinegar or lemon juice)
- 4 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Drain the tofu and pat dry with a clean (lint-free) kitchen towel. You can press the tofu while you prepare the marinade, for better marinade absorption.1 block tofu
- Cut the tofu in 4 slabs and score the tofu on both sides with a shallow criss cross pattern to allow the marinade to penetrate the tofu.
- Prepare the marinade by combining the remaining ingredients in a large container in which you can layer the 4 tofu steaks flat.2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 4 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika powder, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp oregano, 2 tbsp water
- Add the scored tofu to a container with the marinade and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. You can prep this the night before and cook the next day, or cook after 10 minutes of marinading. The longer it sits, the more flavourful it will be. If marinating for 10 min, flip after 5!
- Preheat a cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan to medium heat and cook both sides of tofu until you get a nice sear (about 3-4 min each side)
- Serve alongside potatoes in your favourite form and some fresh greens! I love this on its own but if you have chimichurri, this is incredible on it as well.
Katie says
These are so good! Super easy to make and so flavorful. I’ll definitely make these again.
Lisa Le says
Yay! Thank you for letting me know :)
Amber A says
I made these for my partner and I, who are both obsessed with mashed potatoes but never know what to make with them as I’m vegetarian.
Huge hit. I don’t think we will be buying mock meats any time soon. 10/10
Can’t wait to make more
Lisa Le says
Yes!! I love to see it
Sofía says
Saw the recipe yesterday and started the marinade right away. Left the tofu there overnight and lunch was a breeze today! Truly easy and quick to prepare! Oh, and the flavors… absolutely delicious! I was truly in awe of the perfect flavor combination.
Lisa, know that your recipe made a girl in Chile really enjoy her lunch lol
Lisa Le says
This makes me so happy! So glad you enjoyed
Sofía says
I’m comenting again cause I realized I forgot to add the 5 stars 🙈
Wes says
Super flavorful. I’ll be making this again. It smells so good cooking and the taste lives up to the smell. The tofu seared up a golden brown. Delicious!
Lisa Le says
Yay! So glad you like it :)
Lucy says
I’ve already made this 4 times. Delicious.
Dabney says
Delicious and easy!! Will definitely put in heavy rotation!!
barb says
really great and easy. Thank you.