Tofu has the reputation for being bland but when you marinade it and bake it, it transforms into an incredible flavoursome food, perfect for salads. It is true that tofu in itself is pretty tasteless but that is also a good thing because you can flavour it whichever way you prefer, and this marinade is packed with savoury umami flavours that will make you wonder whether it is actually tofu that you are eating! This is also an excellent source of lean protein.
Ingredients
- 1 block of firm tofu (approx 375 g)
- 250 ml low salt vegetable broth
- 3 tbsp tamari soy sauce
- 1 tsp yeast extract (Marmite)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 block of firm tofu (approx 14 oz)
- 1 cup of low salt vegetable broth
- 3 tbsp tamari soy sauce
- 1 tsp yeast extract (Marmite)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- The first step is to press the tofu so that it releases excess water and absorbs the marinade. This is done by wrapping the tofu in several layers kitchen paper, placing it on a plate and placing another plate on top with about 4 tins of food to create some pressure from the weight.
- Allow the tofu to press for about an hour or so. This will make the tofu release any excess water and leave a approximately 260 g of tofu(just over 9 oz).
- Prepare the marinade with all the other ingredients in a bowl. One thing to note though is that all these ingredients have a high salt content, which is why it is preferable to use a low salt vegetable stock base. Also, if you can’t find tamari soy sauce you can use a low salt soy sauce. The ingredient that packs a punch is the yeast extract (Marmite), a little bit makes all the difference.
- Cut the tofu into 8 slices and leave to marinade for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 160C (320F) and bake for about 30 minutes or until firm. Leave a bit longer if you prefer the tofu to be crispy.