Spicy Tofu Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

It is really easy to make a flavorful tofu steak, by using this spicy, smoky marinade and grill the tofu slices until they get a crispy crust. Serve it with a refreshing chimichurri sauce and some baked baby potatoes and garlicky roasted asparagus. It is a perfect feast for dinner.

Do you need more flavorful tofu dishes? One of the most flavorful tofu dish we have ever made are these Copycat Chipotle Sofritas. We also spiced up our Crispy Rice Paper Spring Rolls with a delicious shredded Hoisin tofu. Oh, and you must try these Grilled Buffalo Tofu Skewers and our Chinese BBQ Tofu Burger. Check out all of our vegan tofu recipes.

What will this tofu recipe taste like?

A lot of people find it challenging to season tofu. They say it is hard because tofu is just too bland. That is true. You need a lot of spices, seasoning, or marinade to make it tasty. Some people don’t like this comparison, but meat and tofu are the same when it comes to seasoning. Nobody likes meat au naturel or only with salt and pepper, right? Well, nobody really likes plain raw tofu too. So it is essential for you to pick a flavorful marinade. Here is a list of the Most Flavorful Tofu Marinades that will turn you into a tofu lover.

In this tofu steak recipe, we used our Cauliflower Steak and our Vegan Philly Cheesesteak as inspirations. We wanted to have a spicy, smoky beefsteak-like seasoning. We added sweet smoked paprika powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a bit of balsamic vinegar to get it smoky, dried oregano, cumin, onion, and garlic powder to make it flavorful, and chili flakes to give it an extra kick.

Ingredients

First of all, you need to prepare a marinade for the tofu steak. Here is the list of ingredients we used. You can find the exact amounts in the recipe card:

• soy sauce (if you need gluten-free choose 1 of these 5 gluten-free soy sauce substitutes)
• Worcestershire sauce (yes, there are vegan and gluten-free brands)
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• sweet smoked paprika powder
• dried oregano
• ground cumin
• salt
• black pepper
• liquid smoke (optional)

How to make Tofu Steak?

Marinating tofu

1. After you pressed the tofu cut them into 1-inch thick slices (approx. 2 cm). If you use a 12 oz block (approx. 360g) then cut it in half horizontally.
2. Take an oven-safe shallow glass bowl and layer the tofu slices in one layer.
3. Pour the marinade on them and gently mix them. We use a silicone brush or a spoon to make sure it is thoroughly covered.
4. Let the tofu marinate for 15 minutes.

Grilling tofu steak slices in 4 ways

In a grill pan

1. Heat the grill pan over medium heat and add a bit of oil or dairy-free butter.
2. Place the tofu steaks on it leaving a small space in between them.
3. Grill both sides for approx. 2-3 minutes.

Under the broiler

1. Pre-heat the oven on 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
2. Take a baking tray with a grill rack and spray or sprinkle the grids with a bit of oil.
3. Place the tofu steak slicces on top. Leave some space in between.
4. Place the tray close to the broiler.
5. Grill them under the broiler for 8-10 minutes, turning them half time.

On a gas grill

1. Our little trick is to use aluminum foil drip pans* or grill mats*. This way you can be sure they don’t fall down even if you have large space between grids.
2. Spray or sprinkle the drip pans with a bit of oil. Grill mats are supposed to be non-stick.
3. Pre-heat your gas grill on 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grill your tofu steaks for 8-10 minutes, turning them half time.

On a blackstone or griddle

1. They can be super hot super quick as they have a completely flat surface unlike the grill racks. So pre-heat your blackstone on 300 Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius).
2. Spray or sprinkle it with a bit of oil. If you have a non-stick griddle, you don’t need to do that.
3. Grill your tofu steaks for 4-5 minutes, turning them half time.

What to serve with them?

Side dishes

Several side dishes pair perfectly with these spicy tofu steaks, but in this recipe we added some Baked Baby Potatoes and Garlicky Roasted Asparagus (pictured). Other delicious combinations are:

• Roasted veggies like asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, broccoli, other leafy greens
• Roasted or fried potato, or sweet potato
• Riced Sweet Potato
• Potato salad
• Easy Vegan Coleslaw
• Wedge Salad or other Fresh Garden Salad
• Vegan Mashed Potatoes
• Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
• Vegan Risotto
• Creamy polenta
• Rice or quinoa or couscous (Note: Couscous is not gluten-free)

Sauces

We really love to serve these tofu steaks with Chimichurri Sauce, because the fresh tangy parsley sauce perfectly balances the spiciness of the tofu marinade. Other delicious sauces you can try:

• Green Peppercorn Sauce (we have it in our Cauliflower Steak recipe)
• Vegan Spinach Pesto
• Vegan BBQ Sauce
• Vegan Tzatziki Sauce (we have it in our Vegan Gyros recipe)
• Vegan Steak Sauce from Veggies Don’t Bite
• Vegan Garlic Mushroom Sauce from Veggie Rose

This Tofu Steak recipe is vegan so meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. It is suitable for a vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free diet. This recipe is WFPB-friendly (whole foods plant-based) if you skip the oil.

More vegan grilling recipes

• Grilled Vegetable Kabobs (with 3 marinades)
• Grilled Buffalo Tofu Skewers
• Fajitas Portobello Mushroom Burger
• Smoky Vegan Beet Burger
• The Meatiest Vegan Burger