Easy Grilled Tofu Recipe: 3 Tips for Making Grilled Tofu

Grilled tofu is a dish consisting of marinated tofu cooked on a hot griddle, grill pan, or grill until crispy and charred on the outside and tender on the inside. You can serve grilled tofu as a side dish or vegan entrée along with grilled veggies to reinforce the smoky char flavor. Additionally, you don’t need a barbecue grill to make grilled tofu: You can grill the protein indoors using a broiler.

While you can season the tofu with salt and black pepper, the protein can benefit from a soy sauce-based marinade (or tamari as a gluten-free alternative), which travels toward the center of the slice more quickly than salt. Accentuate the marinade with sharp, pungent spices like ground cumin or coriander, aromatics like grated ginger, garlic, and lemongrass, or hot elements like cayenne pepper or fresh chilies. Adding sugar to the marinade—whether brown sugar, mirin, or maple syrup—will help caramelize and crisp the exterior.

Thanks to its porous structure, tofu is very absorbent, so aim to incorporate bold flavors into your grilled tofu marinade. Here are some tips to consider when you’re getting ready to grill:

1. 1. Use extra-firm tofu. As the firmest of all tofu varieties, extra-firm tofu maintains its structure while cut and cooked. This thick texture makes it perfect for grilling over a combination of low and high heat.
2. 2. Press the tofu before grilling. Slice the rinsed tofu and place it on an unfolded kitchen towel (or paper towels) to remove as much excess water as possible and ensure a tender and flavorful final result. Fold the towel over the tofu, and place a half-sheet tray on top of it. Finally, place a heavy object atop the tray for at least 10 minutes for a firm press.
3. 3. Use skewers for easy flipping. To avoid tearing the tofu slices, skip the tongs and thread the marinated tofu slices directly onto easy-to-handle skewers. All the pieces will cook evenly and come off the grates with grill marks intact.