These lemon-marinated, baked tofu slices are good for sandwiches or for serving as a protein supply with any easy vegan meal. The slices are tangy and seasoned with herbs. I like to make use of tremendous agency tofu on this recipe, in order that the slices are particularly dense and chewy!
Yesterday night, I put a batch of those lemon-marinated baked tofu slices into the oven.
It had been a type of days once I felt proof against any quantity of cooking. I didn’t even need to whisk up a marinade.
However whisk it I did, and after that marinade had a couple of hours to work its magic, I popped my lemony, seasoned tofu slices into the oven.
Inside ten minutes, my house smelled properly of garlic and rosemary. I breathed a sigh of reduction, realizing that when the tofu slices got here out of the oven, I’d have a healthful vegan protein to work with for the following few days.
I already used the slices for a sandwich on my lunch break at this time.
A easy meal with the baked tofu slices, a grain of some form—perhaps mushroom farro?—and my easy steamed broccoli with tahini dressing will occur for dinner sooner or later this weekend.
As is often the case once I overcome my inertia and handle to do only a small quantity of meal prep, I’m grateful.
Whereas I sit down and plan the tasty makes use of that I’ll discover for these baked tofu slices, I’d as nicely share the recipe with you!
A many-sided marinade
I’ve created many sorts of marinades for tofu and tempeh.
Balsamic marinade is at all times a favourite, and I really like making teriyaki tofu cubes for bowls and noodle dishes.
The tamari glaze for my sheet pan tempeh and broccoli is a favourite as nicely.
By some means, nonetheless, I hold coming again to lemony marinades.
The lemon pepper tempeh cubes that I posted years in the past are nonetheless the most well-liked tempeh recipes on this web site, and I can’t say that I disagree.
The brilliant acidity of lemon can elevate so many sorts of dishes. A lemony protein works nicely with creamy pasta, with entire grain pilafs, in crispy, colourful salads or Mediterranean-inspired grain bowls.
My mom likes to joke that she knew I used to be half Greek once I would get caught sucking on lemon wedges and asking for triple parts of tomatoes as a child.
I really like acidic flavors, and there are only a few dishes that I don’t suppose could possibly be improved with an enormous squeeze of recent lemon juice to complete.
It’s no shock, then, that I really like the marinade for this recipe. Lemon—plenty of it—is the predominant taste, together with refined garlic and herbs.
I exploit soy sauce, moderately than salt, for saltiness, as I believe that the soy sauce provides a little bit of umami and complexity.
The herbs that I recommend are thyme and rosemary, however you might use oregano as nicely.
As glorious because the marinade is for tofu, you additionally might use it for tempeh, seitan, and even roasted chickpeas.
Why tofu slices?
I’ve posted a couple of recipes for tofu cubes, so why do I select slices right here?
The primary cause is that I believe the lemon marinated tofu is particularly good for sandwiches. It’s a lot simpler to layer a slice of tofu between slices of bread than a bunch of cubes.
Slices can be rapidly sliced into spears, that are then simple to layer into wraps.
Slabs or slices of tofu work nicely for whenever you’re serving tofu because the central protein on a dinner plate.
Generally I manage my dinner plate round a grain, a vegetable, and a protein, in a mode that’s harking back to the non-vegan dinner plates that I grew up with.
Once I create a dinner plate like this, I like the concept of slicing into slices of tofu, moderately than poking round my plate for smaller items.
Lengthy story brief, I believe that the baked tofu slices have versatility and usefulness. However when you’ve got a particular love of tofu cubes, then you possibly can definitely adapt this recipe to work for cubes, moderately than slices.
Tremendous agency tofu for tremendous agency slices
You might be very acquainted with tofu that’s labeled as “agency” or “additional agency.”
“Tremendous agency” tofu is a kind of tofu that’s even firmer. Much more moisture has been faraway from the bean curd than standard, leading to tofu that’s particularly dense.
Because of that density, tremendous agency tofu additionally packs extra protein into every slice. In reality, you might even see this kind of tofu labeled as “excessive protein” tofu, moderately than tremendous agency.
In the US, the Nasoya and Wildwood manufacturers each distribute tremendous agency tofu. I actually love this kind of tofu for the baked tofu slices; I believe its dense, chewy texture is right for sandwiches specifically.
In case you can’t discover tremendous agency tofu, nonetheless, it’s not an issue. Further agency tofu, which is out there in lots of main grocery shops, will work within the recipe as nicely.
Learn how to make lemon marinated baked tofu slices
That is a straightforward recipe to meal prep. You possibly can depend on it for these days when cooking actually looks like a chore.
The one factor you must find out about making the tofu slices is that they’ll want time to marinate. I recommend a minimal of 4 hours, however as much as in a single day is ok.
Generally I discover it simpler to interrupt a recipe into steps over two days, moderately than one. So, if an in a single day marinating time fits you, go for it.
Step 1: Slice your tofu
Tofu slices for this recipe must be about 1/4-inch / 6mm. You’ll need to slice the tofu width-wise.
Step 2: Whisk collectively your marinade
The substances for the lemon marinade are simple:
- Lemon juice
- Soy sauce
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Dried or floor, dried thyme
Can you utilize recent, minced garlic? Sure, however since garlic powder flavors the marinade nicely, and mincing garlic creates extra mess, I go for the powder (or garlic granules, that are related).
You can too commerce dried oregano, Italian seasoning, or herbes de Provençe for the thyme.
Step 3: Pour the marinade over your tofu slices
I like to rearrange my slices of tofu in a single or double layer in a flat, rectangular container. The container turns into the vessel that you simply’ll marinate the tofu slices in.
Pour the marinade over your slices, cowl the container, after which switch it to the fridge.
The slices ought to stay within the fridge for no less than for hours, or as much as twenty-four hours.
Step 4: Put together the tofu for baking
First, take away the tofu slices from their marinade, reserving the marinade. Switch the tofu slices to a nonstick, rimmed baking sheet or a baking sheet that has been lined with foil.
Use a pastry or basting brush to brush the tops of the slices flippantly with a few of your reserved marinade.
Distribute some rosemary sprigs or leaves over the tofu—this can season the baked tofu slices flippantly. When you’ve got dried rosemary, it’s nice to sprinkle that over the slices, too.
Step 5: Bake
Switch the slices to a 375°F / 190°C oven and bake them for fifteen minutes. Then, take away the sheet from the oven. Push the rosemary to the aspect and flip the slices over.
Brush the brand new high sides of the tofu with a bit of extra of the reserved marinade, then re-arrange the rosemary on high.
Return the tofu to the oven and bake it for an additional 15-20 minutes, or till the tofu is crisping and browning on the edges.
That’s it!
Learn how to serve lemon-marinated baked tofu slices
I’ve already shared a number of the methods during which I wish to get pleasure from these easy slices. However listed here are a couple of extra recipes that I believe the tofu would make an particularly good addition to:
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Meal prep & storage
The lemon-marinated baked tofu slices are precisely the type of recipe that I wish to meal prep once I don’t have a lot time or vitality to meal prep.
Why? As a result of versatile vegan fundamentals, and particularly vegan proteins, can be utilized in lots of children of meals.
Furthermore, you possibly can depend on any protein as an “add-on” to an present meal.
The baked tofu slices will be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. It’s additionally nice to freeze them; the slices will be frozen for as much as six weeks.
Once you’re able to get pleasure from them, simply defrost them within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving.
Yields: 4 servings
- 16 ounces tremendous agency (excessive protein) tofu, lower width-wise into 1/4-inch / 6mm slices (450g)
- 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried or floor thyme
- Contemporary rosemary sprigs (substitute two teaspoons dried rosemary)
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Switch the tofu to a large hermetic storage container, ideally in a single layer. Whisk the lemon juice, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, and thyme collectively, then pour this combination over the tofu. Cowl the container and switch the tofu to the fridge.
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Enable the tofu to marinate for no less than 4 hours or as much as 24. If doable, flip the tofu over at one level throughout marinating in order that the edges marinate evenly.
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take away the tofu slices from the marinade, reserving the marinade for basting. Switch the tofu items to a nonstick or foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet and high them with the recent rosemary sprigs. Use a pastry or basting brush to flippantly brush a number of the reserved marinade over the tops of the tofu slices. Switch the baking sheet to the oven.
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Bake the tofu for quarter-hour. Push the rosemary to the aspect, flip the slices over, after which use your pastry brush to brush some further marinade over the brand new high sides of the tofu. Rearrange the rosemary on high. Return the sheet to the oven and bake the tofu for an additional 15-20 minutes, or till the tofu the slices are darkened and crisp and browning on the edges.
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Serve or retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
On a Friday afternoon, I at all times get to excited about the one or two easy issues that I can put together over the weekend for ease within the following week.
I really feel completely satisfied to have gotten a tiny head begin on that course of. Maybe yow will discover a while for this straightforward, nutritious protein this coming weekend, too. If that’s the case, I hope you’ll be proud of the hassle.
xo
