Easy Marinated Tofu (Oil-Free)

This easy marinated and baked tofu is super flavorful and oil-free.  It’s very versatile, so adjust the added flavor components to suit your preference, or it’s also tasty with just tamari and maple syrup.

How to Press Tofu

A very common way to buy tofu is packed in water, but if your tofu is vacuum packed and not packed in much water you can probably skip the pressing step.

I use a tofu press; to extract the excess water from the tofu. Place the tofu in the press, turn the press sideways so the water can drain out (depending on your tofu press you may not need to), and place it on a plate or in a baking dish to catch the liquid.

If you don’t have a tofu press, simply wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel, place the tofu on a plate to catch any liquid that the towel doesn’t absorb, then place a heavy pot on top of the tofu to squeeze out more liquid. 

Another option is to use a plate (or cutting board) and then place canned goods on the plate to put pressure on the tofu.  You want to remove the liquid so it will absorb the marinade.

Let the tofu sit and drain for about 30 minutes. It can also be left in the refrigerator overnight to remove any excess liquid. 

How to Make Easy Marinated Tofu

Drain the tofu, then press for 20-30 minutes. 

Then pat dry with a paper towel.

Preheat the oven 350 F (180 C) and mix the marinade together. Then slice the tofu into ¼-1/2 inch slices. Then place the tofu in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over it.

Flip the tofu slices around in the marinade to make sure they’re covered in the sauce.  

Let the tofu marinate for 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even marinating. Line a baking tray with a silicone mat or parchment paper and evenly space the tofu so it's not overlapping.

Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. The finished tofu will have firmed up and turned golden brown.

Tips for the Marinated Tofu Recipe

• Look for firm or extra firm tofu in the refrigerated section at your grocery store, not the silken tofu found in the shelf-stable aseptic containers.
• The tofu can be marinated overnight.
• If you can’t find tamari, low sodium soy sauce works well.  I don’t use regular soy sauce because it’s too salty.

Storage

The tofu can be made in advance and stored in an air tight container for 4-5 days.

Serving Suggestions

• Leave the tofu as slabs for sandwiches
• Slice smaller for spring rolls
• Cut into cubes for stir fry
• Add it to vegan sushi bowl
• Add it to vegetable fried rice
• Add it to vegan peanut noodles
• Serve it as the main with sides

Need More Tofu or Tempeh Recipes?

• Crispy Oven Baked Tofu (oil-free)
• Spicy Tofu Scramble
• Hatch Green Chile Tofu Scramble
• Peanut Tempeh Bowl
• Mustard Tempeh Buddha Bowl
• Tofu Nourish Bowl with Peanut Sauce

I hope you enjoy this oil-free baked marinated tofu recipe! 

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