Easy and Simple Marinated Tamari Tofu Recipe and Video

Looking for a healthy, easy, and simple tofu marinade recipe?

This extra firm tofu recipe marinates tofu in tamari (gluten free soy sauce) and peanut or sesame oil. The tofu is pan fried until seared and crispy.

Pan fried and browned cooked tofu in a different shapes (wedges, cubes, slices, triangles) in a dark teflon pan. Side view.

This simple marinated tamari tofu recipe is perfect for days when you're craving a light vegetarian dish with simple flavors. Bonus - this tofu recipe is easy to prepare!

The tofu soaks up the soy sauce marinade and delivers a lot of punch, especially for the minimal effort that this recipe requires.

Serve pan seared crispy tamari tofu in wraps, on salads, in stirfrys, or as any meat substitute. Try my easy peanut sauce recipe as a dip.

Raw tofu cut into different shapes (slices, triangles, wedges, cubes) marinating in soy sauce in a white plate on a white table. — *Marinating tofu for 30 minutes and up to a day helps develop more flavor. Try different sizes and cuts to see which you prefer!* *Flip it over half way through to get both sides or place in a ziploc bag and turn occasionally.*

What Kind of Tofu For Marinating

Softer tofu holds marinade better than firm tofus. Marinades really pops with softer tofu. But, softer tofus are also harder to cook and keep their form. Pan searing extra firm tofu is much easier.

I've cooked for a lot of different people in my time as a personal chef. The general OVERWHELMING preference for tofu types is extra firm.

Tofu texture is a real deal breaker for people's tastebuds. Firm and extra firm tofu give a great "chew factor" that the softer tofu version lacks. Extra firm tofu is a total game changer for folks who think they don't like tofu.

Not all firm or extra firm tofu's are the same. Pick something that doesn't have a lot of squish or water in the packaging. Firm tofu's should not need to be pressed and do not leach out much liquid, if any.

Extra firm tofu generally holds it's shape much better when cooking. Some people swear by the tofu press but that's also just one more kitchen gadget sitting around in my opinion. Buy extra firm tofu and avoid having to press tofu.

Pan fried and browned cooked tofu in a different shapes (wedges, cubes, slices, triangles) in a dark non stick pan. Top view.

How To Cut / Slices for Marinated Tamari Tofu

Play with cutting different shapes and sizes of tofu. I like "sticks" for salads although they are the hardest to get a sear on.

The bigger wedges or triangles will take less time to sear on all sides, are "meatier", and are less fragile than the sticks. They also have a lot of flat surface area touching the pan which makes for a crispier seared tofu. Cubes are a fun "go-to" for stirfry's.

Use a a non-stick skillet to pan fry this marinated tofu recipe. Non stick pans generally help cooks to avoid using excess oil when pan frying. They are more forgiving then stainless steel and cast iron and also lighter in weight and easier to clean.

Pan fried and browned cooked tofu in a different shapes (wedges, cubes, slices, triangles) on a white plate on a white table.

Simple Marinated Tamari Tofu Recipe FAQS

What is tofu?

Tofu is pressed soybean curd (think pressed ricotta or even cheese which is pressed coagulated cow milk). It's made by pressing the curds that form from coagulated soybean milk and forming blocks.

How do you make tofu taste good?

Usually when people say they don't like tofu it's because of the texture. Choosing extra firm tofu addresses a lot of people's texture issues. Most people general love tofu when it's marinated in soy sauce

What flavors go well with tofu?

Marinating tofu in things like soy sauce, sesame oil, peanut oil, sriracha sauce, or vinegars (lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, rice wine vinegar, etc...) makes tofu taste amazing. Any herbs or spices go well with tofu.

What is a good sauce to put with tofu?

Keep it simple and just use soy sauce, peanut or sesame oil, and a little bit of vinegar. Otherwise, branch out and use my favorite peanut tamari dipping sauce.

What is the difference between tamari and soy sauce?

Generally speaking they are the same but hold on! Having said that, classically, tamari is a Japanese sauce made using fermented soybeans only. It's supposed to be vegan and is generally gluten / wheat free. Check that label!

Soy sauce is traditionally a Chinese sauce made with soybeans and generally contains wheat / gluten and is usually saltier.

Things In My Kitchen:

12" Non-stick Skillet - PFOA free, has a lid, and affordable. Your tofu ain't gonna stick to this.

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Easy Marinated Tamari Tofu

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EatSimpleFood.com

This tamari marinated tofu recipe is perfect for days when your craving a light vegetarian dish with the simple flavors of umami. The tofu soaks it up and delivers a lot of punch.

Author: beckie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

16 oz extra firm tofu
3 tablespoon soy sauce / tamari - regular or gluten free
2 tablespoon roasted peanut oil or sesame oil

Instructions

Dry the extra firm tofu with paper towels and cut into slices, cubes, or wedges.
Toss with soy sauce / tamari. Marinate for 30 minutes if you have time. If not, just go for it as is!
Bring a large non-stick pan to medium high heat and add enough peanut oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan.
Pan fry the tofu until brown and crispy, turning /flipping to each side as needed (~3-5 minutes on each side). Turn down the heat if it starts to burn!
Serve marinated tofu in wraps, on salads, in stirfrys, or as any meat substitute.
Happy eating and thanks for trying more vegetarian food! Beckie

Notes

Play with shapes and sizes of your tofu. I like "sticks" for salads although they are the hardest to get a sear on. The bigger wedges or triangles will take less time to sear on all sides, are "meatier", and are less fragile than the sticks. Cubes are a fun "go-to" for stirfry's.
Choosing extra firm tofu addresses a lot of people's texture issues. It also holds it's shape much better when cooking.
Use a a non-stick skillet if you want to avoid using excess oil.
Pick a fermented tofu if available. The probiotics in fermented soy will have more gut friendly bacteria, boosting nutrient absorption and digestion.