10 Saucy and Flavorful Ways to Cook Tofu

Once you learn to cook tofu correctly, you then need to learn to cook it differently. Tofu is one of the most versatile foods so there’s no reason to eat it the same way every time. Besides being able to prepare it baked, pan-fried, broiled, stir-fried, scrambled, and stewed, tofu takes on the flavors that it’s cooked in so changing the flavor profile lets us enjoy tofu in endless ways. 

1. Make It Meaty

Tofu is a great substitute for meats in recipes including pork, chicken, and beef. We can get meaty flavors from seasoning blends, vegan beefy-flavored or chicken-flavored broths and other ingredients that give us that salty, savory umami taste like tamari, miso, and tomato paste. We can also use ingredients, sauces, gravies, and condiments that are classically associated with meat to further make a dish that is reminiscent of the original version. 

2. Make It Fishy

Just like we can make the flavor profile of tofu meaty, we can also make it fishy. Tofu has the right texture to make lots of seafood dishes because it’s firm, light, and kind of flaky. By using flavors we associate with seafood such as kelp, lemon, Old Bay seasoning, and dill, we can replicate our favorite seafood dishes without the fish.

3. Make It Asian

Speaking of sushi, tofu is perfect for Asian dishes of all kinds. Once it absorbs the flavors of tamari, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, miso, curry powder or chili pastes, tofu is incredible. You could travel through all of Asia and still not have the same tofu dish two days in a row.

4. Make It Mediterranean

Who doesn’t love the flavors of the Mediterranean – garlic, lemon, oregano, tomatoes, olives? Tofu loves playing with these flavors to make incredibly delicious dishes. 

5. Make It Southern

If you need comfort food, there’s nothing like Southern cuisine. It’s simple but filled with flavor. And gravy, don’t skip the gravy. 

6. Make It Spicy

Whoever thinks tofu is bland needs to buy themselves a spice rack because you get out what you put in. 

7. Make It Sweet

Since tofu takes on whatever flavors you use with it, it can also be made sweet for desserts.

8. Make It Breakfast

Who needs eggs when you have tofu? Tofu can replace eggs to make all kinds of breakfast dishes. 

9. Make It Cheesy

Everyone may be making vegan cheese with nuts and potatoes these days, but tofu is still a good choice when you want something easy and cheesy.

10. Make It Elegant

When you need a dish to impress your guests, your date or your future mother-in-law (aack!), tofu can help you make a dish they’ll never forget. Just as tofu can be casually cubed and tossed in a salad, it can be part of a beautifully composed dish. 

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/saucy-flavorful-ways-to-cook-tofu/