Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (2024)

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Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (2)

Baked Tofu: Next to cauliflower and broccoli, tofu is my husband’s favorite. I’m in the constant look out for tofu recipes. Actually he would eat anything vegetarian if it’s healthy. For me the criteria is, it has to taste good. So I experiment with tofu recipes to satisfy both our needs.

So far our favorite is tofu paratha. I drain the tofu well, grate it, add some Indian spices and divide the mixture into small balls. Then proceed to prepare the parathas as usual, using the tofu stuffing.

The Tofu Mango Pudding did not get his vote. The truth is he is not a “dessert” person. My son, my mother and I loved it very much.

Paneer is my most favorite and his least favorite. He doesn’t eat it because of the fat content and caloric value. I wish I have the self control like him, I would be 30 pounds lighter! Because he doesn’t eat paneer and I love dishes made with paneer I try to make tofu recipes Indian style. Over the years have tried a variety of Indian tofu recipes substituting tofu for paneer.

The key is to use extra-firm tofu so that it would hold it’s shape. Also draining the water is a crucial step. Another important procedure is marinating the tofu with spices and herbs for it to soak the taste and flavor in few Indian tofu recipes. Once these three are taken care, you can prepare almost any recipe using paneer with tofu in Indian style. Tofu sides, tofu snacks, tofu desert, you name it you can make it.

Recently I was going through a South Indian cookbook and found a recipe for paneer tikkis. The original recipe mentioned to grill it in a convection microwave oven. Of course I had to use tofu and because I did not have that sort of microwave oven I had to use my regular oven to make this baked tofu recipe. I also mixed up some spices that I had in my kitchen counter and this baked tofu Indian style turned out very tasty.

Want to make something similar? A healthy, quick, no fuss snack? Then try this baked chickpeas recipe too.

Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (3)

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Prep TimeCook TimeMakes
1 Hr40 Mins32 Pieces
AuthorCategoryMethod
MadhuramSnacks/AppetizersBaking

Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (4)

4.9 from 11 reviews

Want to try tofu recipe Indian style? This baked tofu recipe is a good one to try. With a blend of flavourful Indian spices, marinating it enough, helps the tofu to soak up the flavour and the result is this delicious baked tofu.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Packet (14Oz) Extra Firm Tofu

For The Marinade:

  • 3 Tablespoons Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
  • A Pinch Turmeric Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt (As Per Your Taste)
  • Juice Of 1/2 Lemon Lemon Juice
  • As Needed Red Food Color (Optional)

Procedure:

  1. Open the tofu packet and drain the water. Wrap the tofu in paper towels and place some weight on it and leave it for 30 minutes. After draining the water cut the tofu into cubes of 1cm thickness. I got around 20 pieces.
  2. Take a 1 gallon ziploc bag and add all the ingredients required for the marinade in the bag.
  3. Whisk it with a fork and add the tofu cubes in the bag. Remove the air out and close the bag and toss it well to coat all the tofu pieces with the marinade.
  4. Leave it in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile preheat the oven at 425F/220C for 15 minutes.
  6. Grease a baking sheet lightly, place the tofu pieces and bake it for 25-30 minutes, turning once in the middle.
  7. To have a crispy outer, broil it for another 8-10 minutes.

Taste:

  1. We don’t eat very spicy foods. So taste the marinade to check the spices and add accordingly to suit your taste. Since tofu is bland, it definitely requires more seasoning than you would normally use.

My Notes:

  1. If you are a paneer fan like me you are not going to like the tofu tikkis immediately. For those who have not tasted tofu before, though they both look alike, the taste is totally different. So don’t expect the taste of paneer tikka. Try to appreciate the taste of tofu and then you would love it. After eating 3-4 pieces, I started liking it. Now this is my husband’s favorite.
  2. The marinading can be done in a bowl too. I saw the ziploc bag method in Food TV, so I thought of giving it a try. It’s definitely easy and no clean up. Simply toss the bag in the trash later.

Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (6)

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Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (7)
Indian Style Baked Tofu Recipe | Eggless Cooking (2024)

FAQs

Why is my baked tofu not crispy? ›

Why won't my tofu get crisp? This could likely be a result of not drying out the tofu enough to drain out the extra moisture. It's also possible that your oven temperature is not hot enough. Make sure it's preheated and heat the pan in the oven for extra crispness.

Does Indian cooking use tofu? ›

Try this vegan version of the classic and wildly popular British and Indian dish known as tikka masala that uses tofu in place of chicken or another meat protein. Many Hindus in India eat a vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian diet with recipes using grains such as rice and wheat, legumes, green vegetables, and soy products.

Should tofu be fried before adding to curry? ›

About Tofu Curry

To begin with, first you will get rid of the excess moisture from the tofu and marinate it with spices and herbs for a short time until the curry is ready. It is then pan-fried and then added to the delicious curry sauce. So the Tofu in the Curry is full-flavored with a excellent texture!

Do you season tofu before or after baking? ›

Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy. Step 2: Flip the tofu pieces and season the cooked side with salt. Allow the second side to cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the second side is golden brown and crispy.

Why is my baked tofu rubbery? ›

Why does tofu get rubbery? Because it was probably overcooked, it was probably exposed to too much heat. I don't know if it was roasted baked air fried or sauteed, but when it becomes, uh, overcooked, it's gonna get very, very tough.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

First, drain and press the tofu.

For the best texture, press the tofu using a tofu press or cast-iron skillet for 20 to 30 minutes. If you're short on time, just drain the tofu and gently press it in a kitchen towel or paper towels over the sink. The tofu won't be as firm this way, but it will still be delicious!

What is tofu called in Indian food? ›

Soya paneer is another word for tofu, which is made from the curd of soy milk whereas paneer is made from curdled animal-based milk.

What is the secret to Indian cooking? ›

Don't Just Add the Spices; Cook Them Too

The essential step in making good Indian food is cooking spices. Simply adding spices will not create the same flavor or depth of flavor. When you cook spices, they release their essential oil. So the dish becomes more flavorful and fragrant.

How do Asians use tofu? ›

These 15 Tofu Recipes are classic Chinese restaurant dishes that you will now be able to make at home cheaper and healthier.
  1. Salt and Pepper Tofu. ...
  2. Hot and Sour Soup. ...
  3. General Tso's Tofu. ...
  4. Tofu Stir Fry with Cashews. ...
  5. Sweet and Sour Tofu. ...
  6. Rice Paper Dumplings. ...
  7. Spicy Sesame Tofu Stir-fry. ...
  8. Chinese Braised Claypot Tofu.
Feb 2, 2023

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Do you have to marinate tofu before cooking? ›

Tofu has very little flavour itself but soaks up almost every flavour you add to it. When you put tofu in a stew or simmer it in a broth, you don't need to marinade it beforehand, as it absorbs all of the flavours during cooking. But for all other types of preparations, it's better to marinate the tofu first of all.

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Sauté for 5 minutes, shaking/flipping occasionally to cook on all sides, until tofu has a slight crust on each side and has begun to brown. Transfer skillet to oven to bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tofu is firm to the touch and has begun to dry out and crisp up. The longer it bakes, the firmer it gets.

What seasoning is good on tofu? ›

For Indian-inspired fried tofu, use curry powder, turmeric powder, and ground cumin. Use garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and dried rosemary for Italian-inspired fried tofu.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Place the tofu in a baking dish, top with marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Place cornstarch in a medium bowl. Working in batches, remove tofu from marinade (but, don't scrape it off) and toss in cornstarch; shake off excess cornstarch.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Marinate it: Tofu can be marinated in a variety of flavorful sauces or spices. You can use soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make a simple marinade. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking or grilling.

How do you bake tofu to dry it out? ›

Arrange tofu on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking and bake for a total of 25-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through to ensure even cooking. This will dry out the tofu and help give it a more meat-like texture. If you want a tougher texture, cook it for 30-35.

How do you cook tofu so it's not mushy? ›

Preheat your pan before adding the fat (the test kitchen likes vegetable and olive oils) and tofu, and don't crowd the pan. Adding too much tofu at once will cause the surface temperature of the pan to drop, meaning soggy, not crunchy tofu.

How do you fix rubbery tofu? ›

Press and Marinate: Press the tofu to remove excess water by placing it between paper towels and using a weighted object. Then, marinate it in a flavorful sauce for at least 30 minutes to infuse it with taste. Steam: Steaming tofu can soften it while retaining its flavor.

How do you know if tofu is cooked enough? ›

If you're cooking slices or cubes, cut the tofu into slices, layer them between paper towels and weigh down the individual slices. The finished tofu should be spongy yet dry (you'll need to weigh it down for 30 minutes to 2 hours).

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