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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

    Sep 20, 2022 by Becca Heyes · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

    Blackened Tofu Steaks

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    Total time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    5 from 2 votes
    Jump to Recipe Rate this Recipe

    If you've ever thought that tofu lacks flavour, you need to try these blackened tofu steaks. They're marinated and coated in an aromatic blend of spices, then cooked until they become rich and smoky.

    The toasted spices bring so much flavour to the tofu, and turn a simple tofu steak into a perfect focal point for all sorts of meals.

    Blackened tofu steaks on a plate with rice and asparagus.

    This is such a simple way to cook tofu, but it's so effective. The flavour from the smoky spices infuses right through the steak, and makes every bite tasty. The middle remains soft, but the coating becomes rich and crispy.

    If you're a hesitant cook, take comfort from the fact that not only are you allowed to burn this dish - it's actively encouraged! Not so much that all you can taste is carbon, but just enough that you get a lovely crumbly blackened crust that packs so much smoky flavour and really brings a boring slab of tofu to life.

    I served my tofu steaks with asparagus and rice, but really these vegan steaks would be great with all sorts of side dishes - crispy jacket potatoes, couscous, cauliflower mash... it's one of those recipes that can be repurposed in all sorts of ways.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • 🥗 Ingredients
    • 📋 Instructions
    • 💭 Tofu Steak FAQs
    • 🧈 More Tofu Recipes
    • 📖 Printable Recipe

    ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • The flavour of the toasted spices is incredible!
    • It's super simple to make, even if you're new to cooking tofu.
    • You can use whatever mixture of spices you choose.
    • It can be served with all kinds of different side dishes, so it's really versatile.
    • It's totally vegan.

    🥗 Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

    Ingredients for blackened tofu steaks with text overlay.

    A few ingredient notes:

    • tofu. You must use firm or extra firm tofu to make these tofu steaks. Silken tofu will not work.
    • soy sauce. I used dark soy sauce for an intense flavour.
    • spices - black pepper, smoked paprika, chilli powder, garlic granules, and dried thyme.

    See the printable recipe card below for detailed ingredient quantities.

    👌 Top tip

    Feel free to use a different combination of spices, if you like. Why not go for an Indian vibe with garam masala or curry powder, or go for a simple garlic and herb mixture.

    📋 Instructions

    Here's how to make these tofu steaks - see below for the printable recipe with detailed ingredients and instructions.

    A block of tofu cut into 'steaks' on a board.

    Step 1: Cut the block of tofu into 4 'steaks'.

    👌 Top tip

    You can press your tofu using a tofu press, if you have one - here's one with great reviews on Amazon US / Amazon UK. This helps to remove any water from inside the tofu, making it feel firmer, and allowing it to soak up more of the marinade.

    If you don't have a tofu press, you can sandwich the slices of tofu between some clean tea towels or kitchen paper, and press it down firmly a few times to remove the liquid.

    Tofu steaks being marinated in soy sauce.

    Step 2: Marinate the tofu on both sides in soy sauce. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to give it some time to soak in.

    A mixture of spices on a plate.

    Step 3: Mix up the spices.

    A tofu 'steak' being coated in spices.

    Step 4: Coat the marinated tofu steaks in the spice mixture on both sides.

    Collage showing blackened tofu steaks cooking in a frying pan.

    Step 5: Sauté the tofu steaks until they are crispy and blackened from the toasted spices.

    💭 Tofu Steak FAQs

    Can I use silken tofu?

    No, silken tofu will not work for this recipe. In order to get the 'steak' shape, you need to use firm or extra firm tofu.

    Do tofu steaks taste like meat steak?

    No. This recipe is not designed to imitate meat in any way, and although I've never eaten a meat-based steak, I feel pretty confident in saying that they're not particularly similar. These tofu steaks are a thing unto themselves, and they are delicious.

    What should I serve tofu steaks with?

    Vegan steaks can be served in all sorts of ways. For example: with a baked potato and some asparagus; with rice and stir fried vegetables; with pasta in creamy sauce, etc.

    Can I prepare these in advance?

    Yes! Marinades only get better the longer you leave them, so you could definitely prepare these tofu steaks in advance. I would probably add the soy sauce and spices, and then leave the coated tofu in the fridge for up to a day, until you're ready to cook. Then just fry off the steaks before serving.

    🧈 More Tofu Recipes

    • Pizza Baked Tofu
    • Cheesy Tofu Meatballs
    • Crispy Baked Tofu 'Chicken' Nuggets
    • Sticky Teriyaki Tofu
    A blackened tofu steak being cut open, served with rice.

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    📖 Printable Recipe

    Blackened tofu steaks being cut open.

    Blackened Tofu Steaks

    These blackened tofu steaks are marinated and coated in an aromatic blend of spices, then cooked until they become rich and smoky.

    If you've cooked this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating!

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 404kcal
    Author: Becca Heyes

    Ingredients

    • 400 g (~ 14 oz) firm or extra firm tofu
    • 4 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon chilli powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon garlic granules
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoon oil

    Instructions

    • Cut the tofu into 4 'steak' shapes. Use a clean tea towel or some kitchen paper to squeeze as much liquid out of each piece of tofu as you can (or you can use a tofu press, if you have one).
    • Place the tofu pieces in a dish, and drizzle with half of the soy sauce. After a couple of minutes, turn the pieces over, and drizzle the remaining soy sauce on the other side. Leave to marinate for a few minutes.
    • Mix all of the spices thoroughly on a small plate.
    • When the tofu has marinated for a few minutes, press each piece into the spice mixture, on both sides.
    • Heat the oil in a frying pan, and add the coated tofu steaks. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or so on each side, until the spices are a deep brown colour and the tofu is beginning to crisp up. Best served immediately.

    Notes

    If you'd like to prepare these vegan steaks in advance, just marinate the tofu and coat it in the spices, then store it in the fridge for a day or so, and cook just before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2 steaks - Calories: 404 kcal - Carbohydrates: 5.8 g - Protein: 33 g - Fat: 26.6 g - Saturated Fat: 3.2 g - Cholesterol: 0 mg - Sodium: 1860 mg - Potassium: 135 mg - Fiber: 2.1 g - Sugar: 0.8 g - Calcium: 437 mg - Iron: 5 mg

    Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @EasyCheesyVeg or tag #EasyCheesyVegetarian!

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    Comments

    1. Terri Fenwick says

      December 28, 2022 at 10:32 am

      Hi
      I've just found this and it looks delicious ☺️ could the "steaks" be grilled ?

      Thank you
      Terri x

      Reply
      • Becca Heyes says

        January 10, 2023 at 10:25 am

        Do you mean grilled like on a BBQ? Or under a grill/broiler? Either way I think it's worth a try, I'd probably try to use a medium heat though, so they have a chance to get hot in the middle before the spices burn completely.

        Reply
    2. Élodie says

      September 24, 2022 at 1:38 pm

      Just tried it for lunch and it was delicious! I love this recipe for it's easy and tasty. Thanks you :)5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca Heyes says

        October 21, 2022 at 10:35 am

        Thanks Elodie!

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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