Simple Savory Herbed Tofu 🌱 An easy and delicious vegan recipe for preparing beautifully seasoned seared tofu as an entree or hearty addition to any meal.
This recipe is as easy as it gets! All you need is a package of firm tofu and a few basic seasonings and you’ll have everything you need to make the most delicious savory herbed tofu to accompany most any side dish or salad.
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How to Cook Simple Savory Herbed Tofu
Here is what you’ll need to prepare this recipe:
🥕Equipment
- Large heavy bottom skillet (I prefer cast iron)
- Tofu press or two cutting boards and a couple heavy cans for weights
- Chef’s knife
- Measuring spoons
- Metal spatula or tongs
🥕Ingredients
- Tofu – firm or extra firm
- Olive oil
- Sage – dried
- Oregano – dried
- Rosemary – dried
- Garlic powder – dried
- Salt
- Pepper
🥕Variations
A combination of dried seasonings and fresh herbs can add a lot of flavor to tofu. Here are a few suggestions for different dishes:
- Cumin, chili lime seasoning – perfect with Mexican or Southwestern-inspired dishes
- Curry powder – adds an exotic flavor to any Thai or Indian recipe
- Smoked paprika, cayenne, chili powder – ideal for a barbecue flavor
- Sage, rosemary, thyme, sweet basil – holiday all the way!
Drain tofu and combine herbs & seasonings Rub herb seasonings onto tofu Sear in a hot skillet until browned
See complete recipe and details below.
It’s just that easy! I love adding savory herbed tofu slices to sandwiches, like this one made with my favorite Thanksgiving leftovers.
The beauty of this tofu recipe is the endless variety of ways you can enjoy it, simply by using different herbs, seasonings and additional ingredients. For this vibrant Tofu Orange Veggie Skillet (below) we used a simple seasoned rub of paprika and salt. It’s delicious!
A basic savory seared tofu served with Garden Zucchini Squash Casserole.
If you haven’t cooked with tofu before, here’s everything you need to know to get started.
What is Tofu?
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a nutrient-rich food created from soy milk that has been heated and coagulated. The soy milk curds are then pressed and formed into blocks, much like traditional cheesemaking. The word “tofu”comes from the Japanese term for bean + curdled or fermented. Tofu or bean curd is often served as a plant-based meat or egg replacement in many recipes. Mild in flavor, tofu readily absorbs seasonings or flavors of any other ingredients it is cooked with. According to Wikipedia, tofu first originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. Today, tofu is a staple in many Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea.
🥕Did you know? As if he wasn’t already amazing enough – Benjamin Franklin, the brilliant polymath inventor, publisher, writer, postmaster, diplomat, and Founding Father – became an ethical vegetarian at the age of sixteen. He was also the first American known to mention tofu, according to a letter he wrote in 1770, where he referred to it as “cheese from China”
Is tofu good for you?
Yes! There is good reason why tofu is so popular with vegans and vegetarians. Not only is it perfect for preparing delicious dishes, it is also super nutritious! Low in calories, high in protein and iron, tofu contains all 9 essential amino acids, as well as calcium and magnesium.
The number one question asked by people who are new to veganism is “Where do you get your protein?”. For those of us who have been vegan for awhile, we know how easy it is to consume more than enough protein from a plant-based diet – tofu of course – being a main staple for a lot of us.
🥕Is tofu gluten-free? Plain tofu is usually gluten-free, but some seasoned tofu products may contain gluten or have been processed with shared equipment. If you have gluten allergies, be sure to purchase only certified gluten-free tofu.
Is it hard to cook with tofu?
It’s easy! Sometimes people are a bit intimidated by tofu because they don’t know what to do with it or are worried they’ll prepare it incorrectly. Here’s a little tip: Tofu is very forgiving. Have you wondered how do you make tofu taste good? You can add almost anything you want and it will turn out tasty! It’s hard to undercook or overcook. In fact, you don’t have to cook it all in some recipes. Tofu is very subtle in flavor and is perfectly suited for using with marinades and seasonings. It absorbs and takes on the flavors of whatever you prepare it with. Once you learn the basics about preparing tofu, it will quickly become one of your favorite ingredients to use.
How to choose which tofu to use?
Here’s how. One of the first things you should know is tofu comes in different firmnesses: Silken (for puddings, desserts, and sauces), soft (desserts, dips), medium & firm (tofu scramble, eggless egg salad), and extra firm (braised or seared tofu, strips, sandwiches, barbecue, skewers). The texture and levels of firmness may vary depending on the brands you buy. I suggest trying a few different brands and finding the ones that work best for your particular recipes. 🥕For this recipe, you will want to use firm tofu.
How to cook with tofu
Step #1 Remove the water. Tofu is packaged in water. Before you use it, you will need to drain off all of the water and press any excess liquid out of the tofu. This will make the tofu absorb marinades and seasonings much better. The simplest and fastest way is by using a tofu press, but you can also sandwich the tofu between two cutting boards (I suggest first slicing the block of tofu into 1″- 2″ thick slabs) and then press down firmly, or, place heavy cans or books on top and let it sit for 10-15 minutes (on a slight slant so the liquid drains into a bowl or sink).
Step # 2 You’re now ready to create any tofu recipe!
🥕What does savory herbed tofu go well with? Check out these easy & delish side dishes!
- Simple Vegan Homemade Stuffing
- Vegan Classic Green Bean Casserole
- Simple Cranberry Orange Sauce
- Vegan Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich
- Orange Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Simple Maple Cranberry Yams
very vegan 🌱 very good
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it using stars in the comment section below the recipe. It helps other readers find it online & decide if they want to give it a try too!. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Simple Savory Herbed Tofu
Equipment
- Large heavy bottom skillet (I prefer cast iron)
- Tofu press or two cutting boards and a couple heavy cans for weights
- Chef's knife
- Metal spatula or tongs
Ingredients
- 14 oz Tofu firm or extra firm – drained
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Sage dried
- 1 tsp Oregano dried
- 1 tsp Rosemary dried
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder dried
- 1/2 tsp Salt add more if needed
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Drain tofu and slice into 1/6" – 1/4"thick slices
- Place tofu on cutting board.
- Combine dry herbs and seasonings.
- Rub seasonings onto both sides of tofu slices.
- Pour 2 tbsp olive oil into skillet. Place over med-high heat.
- Arrange tofu slices in skillet. Sear both sides in hot pan until lightly browned.
- Remove from heat.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Cumin, chile lime seasoning – perfect with Mexican or Southwestern-inspired dishes
- Curry powder – adds an exotic flavor to any Thai or Indian recipe
- Smoked paprika, cayenne, chile powder – ideal for a barbecue flavor
- Sage, rosemary, thyme, sweet basil – holiday all the way!
Nutrition
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please consider rating it using stars in the comments below. It helps other readers and allows more people to find it online. I love hearing from you! Let’s keep in touch!
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This easy & delicious recipe for preparing savory herbed tofu is the perfect foundation for any meal. Serve it with potatoes, pasta, casseroles, salads or in sandwiches . . . the sky’s the limit!
Love this tofu. I use it on pumpernickel bread add arugula and vegan creamy Italian dressing. It’s so good
Hi Angie! That sounds like a fantastic sandwich! I’m so happy you enjoy the tofu recipe. Thank you for sharing!💚🥕
What do you think about broiling this on a cookie sheet? I often make a double recipe so that would save time over frying.
Hi Bonnie! I think it is worth a try, just keep a super close watch on it because the seasonings could burn quickly under a broiler & make sure to flip them over to brown both sides. Love to hear how it turns out!😊