37 Tofu Recipes for Silky Soups, Hearty Salads, and Crispy Snacks
Looking for a few new tofu recipes? You’re in luck, because that’s just what we have here. And while we love the soft cubes of tofu you’ll often find swimming in a miso-laced broth; we also have a few modern preparations to add to your repertoire. Have you ever torn tofu into rough, craggy pieces before spicing and roasting it to crisp, golden-brown perfection? Highly recommended. Dredged tofu in a heady jerk marinade and tossed it on the grill? Add it to your summer plans. Blended tofu into a creamy dip that’s so flavorful your party guests refuse to believe it’s vegan? Get ready to wow ‘em.
Below, you’ll find our best tofu recipes, including main dishes, speedy weeknight stir-fries, warming soups and stews, homemade dumplings, saucy noodle bowls, and so much more. But before you start scrolling, make sure you’re armed with the best tofu for the job. Ready? Let’s go.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton1/37Chaozhou Flavor-Potted Tofu
Flavor-potting is a unique form of slow-cooking thanks to the braising broth, which can be strained and re-used for more tofu, poultry, or other types of meat. Serve with rice for one of the most comforting tofu meals we know.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou2/37
Red-Cooked Tofu
Braise deep-fried tofu with shiitake mushrooms in soy sauce and Chinese wine for this easy dish. Leave out the ground pork to make it vegetarian.
- Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell3/37
Sheet-Pan Collard Greens and Crispy Tofu With Niter Kibbeh
The secret to the best crispy baked tofu? A three-step breading process involving tapioca flour, egg whites, and toasted panko. Re-crisp leftovers on a hot baking sheet in the oven or a preheated air fryer.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne4/37
Vegan Pumpkin Pie
This silky vegan pie is so good you’ll probably want to eat it more often than once a year. The filling is made with canned pumpkin and soft silken tofu and spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Lillian Chou5/37
Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
Serve this invigoratingly spiced Sichuan takeout classic with plenty of white rice and a cooling beverage to tame the flavorful heat.
- Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege6/37
Shawarma-Spiced Tofu Pita Wraps
This recipe converted many an Epi staffer to Team Tofu. Tear the bricks into craggy pieces and roast them with a heap of spices until the edges turn crisp. The result is intensely flavorful and wonderfully textured, perfect for sandwiches or grain bowls. Use the recipe as a template to make tofu tacos and burritos with Mexican spices, or tofu and coleslaw sandwiches with barbecue spices.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/37
Sayur Lodeh (Vegetable Soup With Pressed Rice Cakes)
A homemade spice paste forms the base of this coconut milk soup, ensuring every bite is jam-packed with flavor. Adding tofu makes it extra satiating; it’s one of the heartiest vegan recipes we know.
- 8/37
The Best Vegan Breakfast Sandwich
Take a break from tofu scramble and make this superior sandwich a part of your vegan brunch routine. It’s got a savory tofu-based patty, but the best part is the vegan cassava bacon that’s glazed with tamari, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and smoked paprika.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert9/37
Miso Soup
Savory, warming miso soup is a Japanese mainstay, commonly enjoyed for breakfast alongside rice, eggs, fish, and pickles. Don’t skip the green onion garnish, which adds freshness and color to the umami-rich broth.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch10/37
Grilled Jerk Tofu and Plantains With Mango Salsa
Like jerk chicken? Try switching out the protein for grilled jerk tofu at your next backyard BBQ. For the best results, freeze and thaw the tofu before adding it to the marinade, which will make it more absorbent and give it a hardier texture.
- Photo by Matt Armendariz11/37
Manchurian Green Beans With Tofu
This aromatic Manchurian sauce, popular in Indo-Chinese cuisine, lends a big boost of flavor with minimal effort from you.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini12/37
Rice Noodles and Tofu in Peanut Sauce
This 30-minute noodle bowl will be a lifesaver on busy weeknights. The no-cook peanut sauce is brilliant and doubles as a dipping sauce for veggies or spring rolls.
- Photo by Hannah Che13/37
Vegan Mapo Tofu
Minced shiitake mushrooms bring savory punch to this vegan take on the beloved Sichuan dish. Simmering the tofu in salted water before adding it to the stock refreshes its flavors and firms it up.
- Photo by Jenny Huang14/37
Spinach Dumplings With Tofu and Rice Noodles
Combine fried tofu, vermicelli noodles, minced carrots, bok choy, and Sichuan peppercorns into an aromatic stuffing for these vibrant spinach dumplings. Not quite ready to assemble? You can freeze the filling for up to three months.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell15/37
Kimchi Soup With Tofu and Clams
Two flavor powerhouses—bright, spicy kimchi and savory, briny clams—create a soup fast enough to make on even the most hectic weeknight. Tofu adds creamy texture and a bit of extra protein.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne16/37
Oden
A collection of tofu recipes wouldn’t be complete without oden, a popular Japanese soup filled with fried tofu, daikon radish, hard-boiled eggs, and more. It’s particularly comforting during the cold winter months.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo17/37
Creamy Ginger Dressing
You’re missing out if you’ve never made a creamy dressing with silken tofu. Chef Bryant Terry uses this version to dress a hearty grain salad with celery, persimmons, and chopped nuts—but you can also drizzle it over grilled vegetables or use it as a dip for crudités.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Lillian Chou18/37
Vegan Beer-Cheese Sauce
This 10-minute vegan tofu cheese sauce requires very little prep time and comes together with the blitz of a blender. It’s endlessly versatile: slather it onto vegan cheesesteaks, drizzle it onto veggie burgers, or use it as a dip for crispy potatoes.
- Photo by Joanne Lee Molinaro19/37
Dooboo Jorim (Braised Tofu)
Out of all the types of tofu, the extra-firm variety seems to get the most attention. But this recipe calls for medium-firm tofu, celebrated for its soft and velvety texture. Save any extra spicy scallion-soy dressing for pouring over rice or adding to tofu stir-fries.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Lillian Chou20/37
Shamey Momos
Skip the usual meat and potato filling for this lighter take on Tibetan momos, stuffed with tofu, baby bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms. Serve immediately after steaming with the dipping sauce of your choice.
- Photo by Cara Howe21/37
Silken Tofu With Soy-Sauced Tomatoes
If you’re not already in love with ethereally creamy silken tofu, this dish will convert you. It’s perfect for warm weather, capitalizing on juicy tomatoes and requiring the stove to be turned on for just a few minutes.
- Photo by Akiko Ida & Pierre Javelle22/37
Mitarashi Dango (Rice Balls in Syrup)
Silken tofu and glutinous rice flour are all it takes to make these Japanese dumplings, which you’ll roll in a sweet soy glaze before serving. Total time from start to finish? 30 minutes flat.
- Photo by Maggie Zhu24/37
Stir-Fried String Beans With Tofu
Patting the tofu dry with paper towels and tossing it with cornstarch ensures this tofu crisps to perfection—no need for a tofu press! If you have time, make a big batch of black bean sauce from scratch, which lasts for up to six months in the fridge.
- Photo by Ed Anderson25/37
Jerk Tofu Wrapped in Collard Leaves
This tofu recipe from Bryant Terry’s Vegetable Kingdom is a bit elaborate but worth it for the deep flavors and contrasting textures. You’ll marinate the tofu in a vibrant mix of garlic, nutmeg, allspice, Scotch bonnet peppers, and lime, then fry it before wrapping it with garlic chips in collard-leaf packets.
- Photo by Akiko Ida & Pierre Javelle26/37
Tonyu Nabe (Soy Milk Hot Pot)
In this creamy soy milk hot pot recipe, mild cubes of tofu soak up the flavors of the slightly nutty broth, enhanced by soy sauce, mirin, and miso paste.
- Photo by Yuki Sugiura27/37
Piri Kara Soba
Hot miso soup, ginger teriyaki tofu, and earthy soba noodles come together in this spicy, no-fuss Japanese dish. Make extra tofu to add to grain bowls, salads, and soups throughout the week.
- Photo by Con Poulos28/37
Baked Chocolate Tofu Cheesecake
The mousse-like texture of this creamy (but dairy-free) chocolate cheesecake is truly impressive. Bookmark it for dinner parties where you’re serving vegan guests.
- Photo by Eric Wolfinger29/37
Chile and Ginger–Fried Tofu Salad With Kale
In this spicy salad from Melissa Clark’s Dinner: Changing the Game, cubes of pan-fried tofu act like tender-bellied croutons amid baby kale leaves, only with much more protein and character than the usual toasted bread. It’s delicious proof that salads can be so much more than appetizers.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez30/37
Vegan "Tofurkey" With Mushroom Stuffing and Gravy
Set aside store-bought faux turkey roasts and place this stunner on your holiday table instead. The vegan loaf is packed with tons of flavor, thanks to miso-infused tofu, a pecan and mushroom stuffing, and a soy-maple glaze.
- Romulo Yanes31/37
Summer Rolls With Baked Tofu and Sweet-and-Savory Dipping Sauce
These Vietnamese-style rolls require little cooking and make for a wonderfully light appetizer. Baked tofu makes them hearty, while the pickled vegetables keep them cool and crunchy.
- Hugh Forte32/37
Dairy-Free Lemon Crèmes With Oat-Thyme Crumble
Be sure to use only silken tofu in this dish. It’s sold in shelf-stable packages, meaning you can stock it in your pantry to pull out whenever the craving hits.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks33/37
Nabeyaki Udon Soup With Chicken, Spinach, and Mushrooms
Although this soup is often served in American restaurants topped with fancy ingredients such as shrimp tempura, in Japan, it is a simple weeknight dinner that comes together quickly and usually features a few classic elements. Fried tofu makes a chewy, flavorful addition.
- Photo by Jennifer Davick34/37
Tofu-Vegetable Noodle Toss
This simple pasta uses gluten-free buckwheat noodles to complement blanched vegetables, plus a soy sauce, sesame oil, and mirin dressing for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve with sriracha for more heat and a sprinkling of sesame seeds or gomasio for extra nuttiness.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell35/37
Coconut Cabbage and Tofu With Lemongrass and Ginger
For this comforting vegetarian dinner, you’ll cook tofu in a baking dish with wedges of cabbage and chunks of carrots. Blanket the mixture in a Thai-inspired lemongrass and coconut sauce, then slide it into the oven, where it will turn silky underneath and caramelize on top.
- Photo by Kristin Teig, Food Styling by Kay Chun, Prop Styling by Nidia Cueva36/37
Doenjang Jjigae
This Korean stew is warming, earthy, spicy, and soothing. You can adjust the recipe to skip the beef, replacing the brisket with ½ pound of seafood or waxy potatoes.
- Photo by Ana Cuba37/37
Kimchi and Miso Noodle Soup
Extra-firm tofu soaks up the flavorful kimchi-laced broth in this noodle bowl from Anna Jones, author of The Modern Cook’s Year. It will quickly become one of your favorite tofu recipes.
Kendra Vaculin
Joe Sevier
Andrea Nguyen
Tiffany Hopkins