Grilled Tofu Skewers

Easy marinated grilled tofu and vegetable skewers.

Nothing says summer like firing up the grill and these grilled tofu skewers, also known as tofu kebabs, are a great addition to any BBQ. Loaded with smoky marinated tofu and seasonal vegetables, these skewers are a plant-based protein-filled meal that is sure to please vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike.

While many people remain skeptical about tofu, it’s an incredibly versatile and relatively inexpensive ingredient that works well for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not only is tofu a good source of vegetarian protein, but it’s also rich in fiber and healthy fats, and extra-firm tofu has a very sturdy texture making it an alternative to chicken, meat, or seafood in a skewer recipe. But how do you make tofu taste good? The key to making tasty tofu is to ensure that you prepare it the right way. While tofu has a lot of potential, when under-seasoned or poorly cooked it can end up rather bland and boring, so here are my top tofu tips.

Tips for Grilling Tofu

The key to good tofu skewers is texture and flavor. To ensure the best results for grilled tofu be sure to:

Press your tofu. The more water you can press out of your tofu the crispier your tofu will get once grilled. I recommend wrapping the tofu in a tea towel or paper towel, or both, placing a heavy object on top and allowing it to rest for at least 10 minutes to remove as much excess water as possible.

Cut the tofu evenly. To ensure that your tofu cooks evenly on the grill, cut it into equal-sized pieces. If you’re grilling tofu “steaks”, I suggest large deck-of-card-sized pieces, if you’re making tofu skewers, I suggest slicing the tofu into 1-inch cubes or as close as possible.

Marinate the tofu. While you can cook tofu as is or with a little salt and pepper, the flavor will be quite bland. For deeper flavor, and better texture, marinate your tofu for at least 30 minutes, or several hours, before grilling.

Make sure your grill is hot. To get those deep, dark char marks, make sure your grill is nice and hot before adding your tofu skewers. If you’re grilling tofu on the BBQ, preheat it to 425°F, if you’re grilling tofu in a grill pan, warm the pan to medium-high heat before adding your tofu to the grill.

How To Grill Tofu Skewers

Prep your tofu. Press, evenly slice, and marinate your tofu before adding the pieces to the skewers.
Prep your veggies. Wash and slice the vegetables before adding them to the skewers. While this recipe calls for zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and mushrooms, you could also use white onion or shallots, cherry tomatoes, sliced corn, broccoli, or cauliflower.
Preheat the grill. For perfectly grilled tofu, make sure your grill is nice and warm before adding your tofu skewers. You really want to hear a sizzle when the skewers hit the grill!
Grill the skewers. Grill the tofu skewers for 4-5 minutes per side, or for a total of 15-20 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through, and the tofu pieces have dark char marks.
Eat up! Serve your grilled tofu skewers with rice, roasted potatoes, and/or a simple green salad.

Although you’ll get the best results from grilling tofu skewers on a BBQ or in a grill pan, they can also be cooked in a cast-iron skillet or large frying pan if needed. If you are cooking them in a pan, do it in batches to ensure you don’t crowd the pan and you can also finish them in the oven under the broiler if you want to add a little extra crispness. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!

Easy Marinade for Grilled Tofu

While you can certainly buy a pre-made marinade, you can easily create a smoky tofu marinade at home with a few pantry staples. I suggest using:

Soy sauce
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
Maple syrup
Smoked paprika
Onion powder
Garlic powder

The contrast of salty and sweet along with the smoky flavors from the paprika infuse into the tofu and give it a deep BBQ-style flavor. For ultimate flavor, be sure to marinate your tofu for several hours to ensure the flavors really soak into the tofu.

How long can you keep grilled tofu?

Cooked or grilled tofu can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. To reheat grilled tofu skewers, return them to a grill for a couple of minutes per side, under the oven broiler for several minutes, or add a few drops of oil to a pan and cook them for a minute or so on all sides. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

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