Grilled Tofu with Citrus Marinade 🌱 A simply delicious recipe for tofu skewers marinated in a savory citrusy orange & maple marinade and grilled to your liking. Perfect for outdoor cooking!
When the weather gets warm, it's the ideal time to get out of kitchen and enjoy outdoor living. For me, that means planning meals I can cook on the barbecue, like corn on on the cob, veggie skewers, a pot of vegan chili, vegan seitan chicken, and of course, tofu.
Tofu is one of my favorite vegan proteins to grill on a barbecue. Its dense, meaty texture and subtle flavor lends itself to an endless variety of sauces and marinades. Since tofu can be eaten raw, you only need to cook it long enough to suit your tastes. Want a nice dark char on your tofu? You can do that. Prefer it lightly browned? That's fine too!
Table of Contents
🌱 Ingredient Notes
See my printable recipe card below for quantities and details.
Tofu - (extra firm) For grilling, the firmer the tofu, the better. Otherwise, it can fall apart on the barbecue. If you haven't cooked with tofu before, firmness varies depending on the brand you use. Trader Joe's and Wildwood are two brands that I have used for grilled tofu.
Orange Juice - (fresh or bottled) Provides a wonderful citrusy tang to the marinade and a subtle taste of orange to the grilled tofu. You can substitute with lime or lemon juice.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Adds a tart flavor and the acid helps the marinade to absorb into the tofu. It can be substituted with other types of vinegar such as white vinegar, balsamic, red or white wine vinegar.
Soy Sauce - Adds a savory, salty flavor to the marinade. Good substitutes are vegan worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos or Bragg liquid aminos.
Maple Syrup - Balances the citrusy, savory and salty flavors with a touch of sweetness. Can be substituted with agave nectar, sugar, or vegan honey.
Garlic - (fresh or powdered)
Pepper - I prefer freshly ground black pepper but pre-ground pepper is perfectly ok to use.
Citrus Marinade Variations
This recipe for grilled tofu with citrus marinade is delicious just as is. But it's also easy to adjust to your own tastes. For instance, if you want to boost the flavor, simply add other seasonings such as:
Dried herbs - Sage, tarragon, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lemon pepper or all-purpose blends like Italian seasoning, Herbs de Provence, or Spike.
Fresh herbs - Finely chopped parsley, dill, or chives. Cilantro is delicious in this citrus marinade if you substitute the orange juice with lime juice.
Pepper - Add some spicy heat with red pepper flakes, chili powder, cayenne, finely diced jalapeño, Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce.
🌱 Instructions
Drain the tofu. Tofu is usually 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 the citrus marinade much better.
How to press tofu
One method is to sandwich the tofu between two cutting boards or dinner plates and apply weight on top, like heavy cans. Another way is to use a tofu press. Since I cook tofu a lot, I prefer a tofu press because it saves time and is tidier to use.
There are lots of tofu presses available online. I like the green press above for medium tofu and the white tofu press on the right for firm and extra firm tofu.
- Before pressing, I suggest first slicing the block of tofu into 1″- 2″ thick slabs.
2. If using cutting boards or a tofu press like the one above, place it on a slight slant over a sink or baking dish to drain (about 15 minutes).
3. Cut the tofu into cubes (or slices if your don't want to use skewers). Prepare the marinade. Finely chop (mince) the garlic and whisk together all the ingredients for the citrus marinade.
4. Place the tofu into a deep dish and pour the citrus marinade over the top.
5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. Turn the tofu over a few times to let the marinade absorb on all sides.
6. If you are using bamboo skewers, it's a good idea to soak them in water at least 15 minutes before cooking, as it will help prevent them from catching on fire on the grill. You can also use metal skewers as well.
7. Place the cubes onto the skewers, arranging them close together and in the same direction. It will make it easier for you to turn them while grilling. Be sure to save the left over marinade from the baking dish.
Tip: To keep the tofu from sticking, it is important your barbecue grate is clean and free of cooked-on debris. I use a wire brush to clean the grilling grates on mine. Wiping a small amount of cooking oil on the grate is helpful too. Be sure to use oil with a high smoking point like vegetable or canola.
8. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (under 400°F). Set up your work station with a pair of long tongs, the leftover marinade, and a basting brush.
9. Place the skewers on the grill. Brush the tofu cubes with marinade and let cook 3-5 minutes. Adjust the flame if needed to prevent the tofu from burning.
10. Use tongs to rotate the skewers, repeating the process until each side is nicely browned.
Enjoy!
Grilled Tofu Top Tips
- Use the firmest tofu you can find. Softer texture tofu will tend to fall apart when turned on the grill.
- The longer you let the tofu soak in the marinade, the more flavor it will absorb. I suggest 4-24 hours, refrigerated.
- If you prefer to cook larger pieces of tofu (slices or steaks) simply follow the same directions for marinading. You will need a long metal spatula to flip the steaks on the grill.
- See the FAQ's below for tips on grilling tofu indoors.
🌱 Serving Suggestions
Grilled tofu is delicious served over a bed of quinoa or rice or as part of a veggie-packed Buddha bowl. Enjoy dipping cubes of grilled tofu into this sweet and zesty vegan honey mustard sauce. It also pairs perfectly with grilled vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, and zucchini.
One of the many wonderful things about grilled tofu with citrus marinade is the limitless number of foods you can enjoy it with. Favorite chilled summer salads like classic coleslaw, old fashioned potato or macaroni salad or on top of a classic vegan Caesar salad. How about baked dishes like lemon roasted potatoes or garden zucchini casserole?
If you enjoy grilled tofu with citrus marinade, you might also like to try this vibrant one-pan veggie orange skillet made with seared tofu, cauliflower, carrots, chickpeas, and citrusy slices of fresh orange.
🌱 Equipment
In addition to an outdoor barbecue or grill, these are the items you will need:
- Two cutting boards, flat plates, or a tofu press
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Basting brush
- Dish for marinading tofu
- Barbecue tongs
- Bamboo or metal skewers
🌱 FAQ's
Can I use other types of citrus besides oranges in the marinade?
Yes, you can customize the marinade by using different citrus fruits such as lemon or lime adjusting the quantities according to taste.
How can I prevent the tofu from sticking to the grill?
Brush the grill grates lightly with vegetable oil before placing the tofu skewers on them. Alternatively, you can use a grill pan or grill mat.
How to grill tofu indoors?
Grilling tofu indoors can be a delicious way to prepare it, even if you don't have an outdoor grill. Here's a simple method to grill tofu indoors using a grill pan or a regular skillet:
- Cut the tofu into slices instead of cubes.
- Prepare the tofu and marinade following the directions in the recipe.
- Place a grill pan or a regular skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. If using a grill pan, you can lightly oil it to prevent sticking.
- Once the pan is hot, place the marinated tofu slices onto the grill pan or skillet. Allow it to cook for 3-5 minutes until or until grill marks form and the tofu is lightly browned. Flip the slices over and repeat.
- Serve and enjoy!
How should leftovers be stored?
Store leftover grilled tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can be enjoyed cold or reheated gently in a microwave or oven.
If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience lets me know that you enjoyed it and will help other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Grilled Tofu with Citrus Marinade
Equipment
- Two cutting boards, flat plates, or a tofu press
- basting brush
- Dish for marinading tofu
- Barbecue tongs
- Bamboo or metal skewers
Ingredients
- 16 ounce tofu extra firm
- ⅔ cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic fresh
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper fresh ground
Instructions
Preparing the tofu and marinade
- Drain the tofu and press out any excess water.
- Cut the tofu into approximately 1"- 2" cubes.
- Place the tofu cubes into a baking dish.
- Finely chop (mince) the garlic cloves.
- In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine all the ingredients for the marinade including the garlic.
- Pour the marinade over the tofu.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic food wrap or foil and refrigerate for 4-24 hours. Note: Flip the tofu cubes over every few hours to allow each side to absorb the marinade.
Grilling the tofu
- When you are ready to grill the tofu, remove it from the refrigerator.
- Place the cubes onto bamboo or metal skewers. Try to keep the cubes close together towards the middle of the skewers. Pour the remaining marinade into a bowl or measuring cup for basting the skewers while they grill.
- Preheat your barbecue on medium-high, below 400°F.
- Place the tofu skewers onto the hot barbecue grill. Brush the tops of the tofu cubes with marinade. Allow to cook 3-4 minutes. Turn the skewers over with tongs and repeat the process until each side has grilled to your liking.
- Remove from the grill and enjoy!
Notes
Tips
- Use the firmest tofu you can find. Softer texture tofu will tend to fall apart on when turned on the grill.
- The longer you let the tofu soak in the marinade, the more flavor it will absorb. I suggest 4-24 hours.
- If you prefer to cook larger pieces of tofu (slices or steaks) simply follow the same directions for marinading. You will need a long metal spatula to flip the steaks on the grill.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Connie says
This recipe is one of those that you can make your own by adding or substituting other ingredients to your liking. Grilled tofu with citrus marinade makes outdoor cooking easy, delicious, and fun.