Tofu is one of the most useful ingredients to know well, whether you’re just making the foray into a more plant-based diet or are interested in adding new skills and flavors to your cooking repertoire. Though some may think of it solely as a stand-in for meat, tofu is its own glorious thing. Here are a few super-simple, delicious dishes to get you started. Each foundational tofu recipe takes less than an hour of active time to prepare, and you can use our primers on the types of tofu and how to bake tofu and fry tofu to get acquainted with this versatile and delicious ingredient.
Scrambled Tofu with Potatoes, Mushrooms, and Peppers
Food & Wine / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Firm tofu is a surprisingly effective substitute for eggs in this fully vegan scramble from chef Neal Fraser, which also includes sliced potatoes, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and soy cheese.
Sheet-Pan Tofu with Broccolini, Mushrooms, and Sweet Potatoes
Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver
When you want something plant-based pronto, turn to this hearty recipe that gets dinner on the table in under an hour. The tofu derives its bright flavor from an easy marinade made from soy sauce, orange juice, vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic.
Crispy Fried Tofu Sandwich
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Freezing and thawing extra-firm tofu and then wringing out its moisture makes it more porous, all the better to absorb the tangy pickle juice marinade in this recipe. After a brief soak, the tofu is dredged in a spiced flour mixture, brushed with hot sauce and mustard, then dredged again and fried to yield the crispy, crunchy slabs for a satisfying sandwich. Slather on your favorite spicy plant-based mayo.
Crispy Salt-and-Pepper Air Fryer Tofu with Asparagus
Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn
This quick meal features tofu that’s crispy around the edges and tender on the inside, coated in a sweet and salty marinade including soy sauce, light brown sugar, and ground Sichuan peppercorns.
Tofu Skin Stir-Fry
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Hardy dried tofu skin sticks mimic the texture of shredded meat in this quick stir-fry. To use them, simply break them into pieces, then soak in hot water until pliable and drain before frying.
Vegan Pimiento Cheese
Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
This vegan rendition of the iconic Southern spread makes a stellar snack. Sweet pimientos stud a creamy, savory base made with extra-firm tofu; pickle brine and apple cider vinegar lend an acidic brightness to the mixture while nutritional yeast and miso provide deep umami notes that keep you coming back for more.
Vegan Sloppy Joes
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
F&W’s Justin Chapple offers a vegan version of the beloved meaty classic, showcasing a satisfying combination of highly seasoned crumbled tofu and tempeh to give the sloppy joe mixture some heft.
Shaking Tofu
This recipe from food writer Andrea Nguyen is a vegetarian version of Shaking Beef, the Vietnamese dish named for the quick back-and-forth shaking of the skillet that takes place during cooking. It comes together in 35 minutes with pan-fried tofu, a watercress salad with thinly sliced onion and herbs, and a sesame sauce.
Pan-Seared Tofu
Todd Porter & Diane Cu
Get that perfect, crispy pan sear with two ingredients in 15 minutes, then use the tofu planks however you please.
