How to prepare tofu and give it flavour

A closeup of marinated cubes of tofu being sauteed to golden color in a stick free pan

Click here to watch the video (only available in French).

While some people don’t like—or don’t think they’ll like—tofu because of its neutral taste, it’s an inexpensive and nutritious food that can be prepared in a way the whole family will love! It can also be a less costly substitute for meat because it’s rich in protein. Watch the video or follow the steps below to learn how to cook tofu and give it flavour.

1. Rinse le tofu

Firm tofu needs to be rinsed before cooking. Remove any excess water by wringing it like a sponge. This will help the tofu better absorb the flavour of other foods, sauces and marinades.

2. Cut the tofu

Grated or cut into cubes or slices, tofu can easily be added to many recipes.

3. Cook the tofu

You can also change the texture slightly through cooking. For example, you can fry tofu cubes in a bit of oil. Brown the sides to make them slightly crunchy outside. For more crunch, roll the tofu cubes in cornstarch before frying in oil.

You can also cook tofu slices in a frying pan or on the barbecue. Once seasoned, they can be eaten like steaks. They can also replace hamburger patties.

4. Crumble the tofu

You can add crumbled or grated tofu to spaghetti sauce or stews.

5. Give your tofu flavour

You can make a sauce to give the tofu a nice flavour. Because it has a neutral taste, tofu easily absorb whatever flavours you use with it. Start with our basic Tofu Stir-Fry recipe and select the sauce you prefer. See the marinade suggestions below for great ideas!

Variations of homemade tofu stir-fry sauces

Moroccan-style sauce

1 can (156 ml) tomato paste
310 ml (1¼ cup) water
15 ml (1 tbsp) ground cumin
10 ml (2 tsp) cinnamon
60 ml (¼ cup) raisins
Salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste

Mexican-style sauce

1 jar (±430 ml) mild salsa
125 ml (½ cup) fresh cilantro
1 lime (add the zest to the sauce, then cut in wedges to squeeze on the servings)
Salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste
Among the 1 litre of vegetables: ± 250 ml (1 cup) frozen corn