Savory and tart, enjoy this ginger lime roasted tofu with garlic and soy straight off the pan. Air fry or bake in the oven for those golden brown edges. This oil-free marinated tofu recipe is delicious in rice bowls, salads or as a snack.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you quick & simple plant-based recipes every week!
🧄 Very useful ingredient notes
- Tofu - Use extra firm or firm tofu, packed in water, from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Be sure to drain it and press it, if you have time. Silken tofu is too delicate for this recipe, so save it for blending into desserts or creamy dressings.
- Ginger garlic paste - I keep a jar of ginger garlic paste in my refrigerator to save time in the kitchen. It keeps for weeks and weeks, as long as you dip into it with a clean spoon every time you use it. It makes recipes like this so easy (no chopping or grating!)
- Soy sauce - The best soy sauce we've tried is Pearl River Bridge Golden Label Superior Light Soy Sauce. We find it at our well-stocked Asian supermarket. You can also find it on Amazon. It has a much fuller flavor than more widely available soy sauces.
🔪 Instructions
- Step 1: First press your tofu with a tofu press, to get some of the water out, so the marinade can soak in.
- Step 2: Then, make your ginger lime marinade by whisking all the ingredients together.
- Step 3: After it's pressed, cut your tofu into cubes and place in a wide flat container.
- Step 4: Pour marinade over top and gently toss to make sure all the sides can soak up some marinade.
- Step 5: Transfer tofu to a parchment paper-lined air fryer basket or baking tray. Reserve extra marinade for brushing on mid-way through cooking. Bake or air fry, brushing the tofu with marinade halfway through.
- Step 6: When done baking, transfer tofu back to any remaining marinade and toss to coat. Enjoy!
Expert tips
- Don't have ginger garlic paste in a jar? If you'd rather not mince or crush your garlic and ginger by hand, then add all ingredients to a small mini food processor or small blender and it'll do the work for you! You can do extra, freeze it in an ice cube tray and then pop them into a ziplock bag to have on hand.
How to press tofu without a tofu press
First, prepare your extra firm tofu by gently squeezing the liquid with a clean dish towel or paper towel.
I recommend using extra firm tofu here because it saves so much time! No need to press
If you're using firm tofu or if your extra firm tofu is very wet, consider pressing it to remove more of the moisture.
Here's how to press tofu:
- Remove the tofu from the container
- Place several paper towels on a plate
- Place tofu on top of paper towels
- Place another plate or small, flat cutting board on top of tofu
- Place a weight on top (like a large can)
- Let sit for 20-30 minutes
👨👩👦👦 Serving suggestions
This ginger lime marinated tofu works well as a meat substitute for sandwiches, if you cut it into slices instead of cubes.
Wanna get fancy with your sandwich? Try a vegan Vietnamese-inspired banh mi.
These baked tofu slices can be added to vermicelli noodle bowls and fresh spring rolls, too!
Love this recipe?
Please rate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment below, so I know which recipes you like the best. This helps me know what to make more of!
📖 Recipe
Ginger Lime Roasted Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 ounces extra firm tofu pressed and cut into cubes
- 4 teaspoons ginger garlic paste or 2 teaspoons each of ginger and garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar or sweetener of your choice
Instructions
- Prepare the tofu by pressing it gently in a clean dish cloth to remove excess moisture, without crushing it. A tofu press works best here. Or, you can place the tofu on a plate lined with paper towels and place a plate or small cutting board on top, then weigh it down with a can for 20 minutes to remove excess moisture.14 ounces extra firm tofu
- Mix marinade ingredients in bowl, then brush half of marinade over pieces of tofu. You can also marinate the tofu slices up to 2 hours in the refrigerator, if you have the time.4 teaspoons ginger garlic paste, ½ teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice
- Cut tofu into cubes and place in a wide, flat container. Pour marinade over top and make sure all the pieces are coated. Marinate for at least 5 minutes, (or up to overnight).
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper, if it's not non-stick. Arrange pieces of tofu in air fryer basket in a single layer. (Do multiple batches, if they don't all fit.)
- Air fry at 400°F degrees for 12 minutes, stopping halfway through to brush them with the remaining marinade.
- When they're done cooking, transfer them back to the container with the remaining marinade and toss to coat.
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (convection/fan oven: 400°F).
- Then, arrange pieces of tofu on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, stopping halfway through to brush with marinade.
- When they're done cooking, transfer them back to the container with the remaining marinade and toss to coat.
Leave a Reply