Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu

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Every now and then it’s good for me to eat some protein rather than cookies.

And although I prefer cookies to tofu, as tofu goes, this is a win.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Make restaurant-style tofu at home that's firm, chewy & packed with flavor! (This tofu is anything but mushy or bland!)

I know many people say they don’t like tofu, but I think that has more to do with the preparation than the product.

I wrote a Tofu Tips Post to help demystify preparing it and cooking it, so your tofu turns out right, every time.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

One secret to making restaurant-style tofu at home is to use extra firm tofu that’s been very well pressed to remove the water. Removing the water before marinating it is key to creating dense and chewy tofu. Mushy tofu is not something I ever enjoy.

I use my Tofu Press, but if you don’t have one, wrapping the tofu in layers and layers of paper towels like it’s a little Christmas present, then setting it on a baking tray with another heavy object on top of it will work.

tofu press

Placing a heavy cast iron pan on it so it’ll release at least a cup of water is necessary.

I press overnight, or for up to 3 days in advance. Just like I have cookie dough and bread dough chilling in my fridge, I usually have tofu pressing, too. It’s quite the scene in my fridge.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

For the marinade, hot pepper jelly is a key ingredient. I love it so much and have two recipes for homemade. Either can it or make it on the stove top, in about an hour.

Trader Joe’s version is great or it’s sold in the condiments or ethnic foods aisle of most grocery stores. If your store doesn’t carry hot pepper jelly, using sweet and sour sauce will work. You may wish to add some finely diced red peppers or cayenne to kick it up if you’re using sweet and sour sauce.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

The tofu cooks very fast. After a quick 7 minute stint under the broiler, it’s ready. Make sure when you’re broiling it, to pay very, very close attention so you don’t char it.

Before broiling, blot any major pooling of marinade like you can see on the Silpat. If you don’t blot that, it’ll char into a black, gross mess before the tofu cooks through and your smoke detector will probably go off.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

Your oven, marinade, and the moisture content will determine broiling time and even an extra minute can cause it to go from raw to burnt. Stand in the kitchen in front of the oven and watch it the entire time.

After 5 minutes, I open the oven door and rotate the pan every 30 seconds or so, finding the sweet spot under the broiler until all pieces are evenly golden.

The marinade of hot pepper jelly, honey (or agave to keep vegan), and apple cider vinegar thickens while it cooks, creating a glistening hot slick on the firm, chewy, and dense tofu.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

The ginger, cayenne, and red pepper flavors marry and pack a punch with creeper heat. If you want in-your-face heat, double the cayenne pepper.

I love broiled tofu and could eat the whole block in a sitting. Since it’s vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein I wouldn’t feel bad.

It’s also great diced and tossed with extra marinade over quinoa, couscous, lentils, or in a brown rice side salad. Leftovers can be served chilled or warm, it’s great either way.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

It’s hot, sweet, sour, tangy. All the elements I go for. It’s firm, dense, extra chewy, and not mushy.

It’ll make believers out of tofu naysayers.

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Fast & Easy Recipe at averiecooks.com

Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) - Make restaurant-style tofu at home that's firm, chewy & packed with flavor! (This tofu is anything but mushy or bland!)

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Hot and Sour Broiled Tofu

By Averie Sunshine
This tofu will make a believer out of even people who say they don’t like tofu. The secret to making it is to start with well-pressed tofu. It’s firm, chewy, and full of intense flavor – sweet from the hot pepper jelly and honey/agave, while the cayenne, ginger, and hot peppers pieces add a kick. It’s addictive in the way spicier foods are – once you start, you want more, which is okay when it’s as healthy as this recipe.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 12 to 16 thin slices
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Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Open tofu package, drain the water, and place tofu in a tofu press and press it for at least one hour, or overnight; refrigerate it if you’re pressing overnight. If you don’t have a tofu press, wrap the block of tofu in at least 8 paper towels, going round and round, like wrapping a present. Place the wrapped tofu on a rimmed baking sheet. Place another baking sheet on top of the tofu and set a heavy cookbook or cast iron pan on top. The weight from the heavy object will cause the tofu to release water and the paper towels will soak it up, and excess water will be contained in the baking sheet. If you notice the paper towels are drenched, unbundle the tofu, and re-wrap as necessary. The most water will release in the first 30 minutes, but there’s value to pressing for up to 24 hours for extra-extra chewy tofu. If you plan to press it longer than 3 to 4 hours, you may want to refrigerate it.
  • Meanwhile, make the marinade by whisking together all ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside.
  • Slice the pressed tofu into 12 to 16 thin slices and place slices in the marinade. Very gently spoon the marinade over the slices and turn them to coat evenly. They are fragile, so do this very tenderly and carefully. Allow slices to marinade for at least 15 minutes, or up to 12 hours. You can let them marinate for the day while you’re at work which makes for an almost work-free dinner that night; cover and refrigerate if you’re marinating for many hours.
  • Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. I use my Siplat although technically you’re not supposed to broil with it. Do not bake on an unlined baking tray unless you love doing really stubborn with blackened and baked-on bits; set aside.
  • Turn broiler to high and position a rack on the top slot or second slot from the top of the oven. (I use the second slot)
  • Place marinated slices on the prepared tray and make sure there are no puddles of marinade pooling on the tray. It will burn horribly. Wipe off excess with a paper towel if necessary. Reserve extra marinade in a small bowl for dipping after baking.
  • Broil for about 7 minutes, or until edges are just beginning to turn golden and darken, with 9 minutes likely being the maximum. Watch your tofu the entire time, stand in front of the oven and do not leave the kitchen. The tofu can and will burn in a matter of one minute so keep a very, very watchful eye on it. I keep the door closed for the first 4-5 minutes. Then I open the door, rotate the tray, and stand in front of the oven with the door ajar, usually for about 2-3 more minutes. I rotate the tray a few times over those 2-3 minutes to find the sweet spot of my broiler’s heat.
  • Allow tofu to cool on tray for about 5 minutes before serving.
  • Tofu will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I like this tofu both warm or served chilled. Serving Tip – Dice the tofu and combine with rice or quinoa and other diced vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, snow peas, or corn. Toss with the extra marinade or with a simple balsamic and oil-based dressing; serve warm or chilled.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 53kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 3mg, Fiber: 1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Do you make tofu? What flavors, marinades, sauces, spices, or cooking techniques do you use?

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. I don’t cook tofu often because I never seem to get it just right, thanks for the tips! And your pics are beautiful:)

  2. I was wondering why I never saw this post when you mentioned it on my blog this morning and then discovered the whole tabbed inbox dealie that gmail just pushed out has messed up all my blog subscriptions. So now I know! Just pinned this one because I am TOTALLY making it soon. I love your pineapple mango tofu and I know I’ll love this one too!

    1. Thanks for pinning and the gmail thing – girl I figured it out last week after my inbox felt so ‘light’. Yeah. There were like 200 messages accumulated in…a day.

  3. I enjoyed reading your Tofu Tips! I grew up eating tofu and it’s one of the healthy light ingredient in my cooking. Love the tofu being broiled and glazed with sweet and sour sauce!

    1. I highly doubt you need me to learn about tofu – I need you! I would love to try your tofu, Nami! Thanks for pinning, too!

  4. I ate tofu once and I remember that, unfortunately, I didn’t like it. But it’s highly possible it was just my fault because I had no clue which herbs should I add or what would be good to compose it with.
    I’m going to make that tofu from your recipe and I believe it will be delicious :) It looks definitely encouraging.

  5. You make tofu look so incredible!! I’m not sure if my family would normally eat tofu, but I bet I could get them to eat this!!

  6. I didn’t know you had so many tofu recipes! :) I love tofu and usually cube it, marinate it, and use it as protein in stir-fry, though I may have to try baking/broiling it like you do.

  7. I am a HUGE tofu lover. Jason wouldn’t go near it but I could eat it every night. I honestly don’t press it that well though since I’m so lazy and exhausted. I think I’m really going to have to invest in a tofu press soon!

    1. If you could eat it every nite and you can deal with it not as well pressed, then more power to you. If you press it, you will just love it even more – and maybe Jason will enjoy it. The ONLY way I could get Scott to eat it is by pressing it very well and seasoning it and making sure the texture is right!