BBQ Tofu
Who needs meat when you have BBQ tofu? This delectable dish isn't limited to vegetarians and vegans alone—it can rival BBQ classics like brisket, short ribs, and chicken. Enjoy it alongside traditional BBQ sides such as potato salad and coleslaw, or sandwich it between a soft burger bun. Not in the mood for a backyard atmosphere? BBQ tofu is equally scrumptious when served over rice with steamed broccoli.Make sure to provide extra of the zesty sauce on the side. While this recipe includes a quick and effortless homemade version, if time is short, you can substitute 1 cup of store-bought BBQ sauce instead.Regardless of how you choose to slice it, the tofu will be incredibly flavorful. However, if you wish to recreate the steak-like planks as we did, follow these steps: Begin by placing one tofu block on a cutting board, with a short side facing you. Vertically slice each block three times to create four planks. Repeat the process with the second tofu block, resulting in a total of eight planks.This BBQ tofu is an excellent choice for weekday meal prep as it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, maintaining its deliciousness.
Ingredients
- 2 (14-oz.) blocks extra-firm tofu, drained
- 1/2 c. ketchup
- 1/4 c. unseasoned rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp. molasses
- 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. gochujang
- 1 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill
Instructions
- Cut each block of tofu lengthwise into 4 “steaks.” Arrange tofu steaks on a double layer of paper towels on a cutting board or rimmed baking sheet. Top tofu with 2 more layers of paper towels, then place a baking sheet on top. Top baking sheet with a heavy skillet. Let sit at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, in a small pot, combine ketchup, vinegar, molasses, brown sugar, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, and onion powder; season with a pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking often. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, whisking often, until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool slightly.
- Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; clean and oil grates. Brush tofu steaks all over with vegetable oil; season with salt and black pepper. Grill tofu, flipping halfway through, until slightly firmer and lightly charred grill marks appear, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Generously brush tops of tofu with BBQ sauce and arrange sauce side down. Brush tops with more BBQ sauce and cover grill. Continue to grill until sauce is slightly set, 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Transfer tofu to a platter. Serve with remaining sauce alongside.
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