Tofu Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

What to expect from this recipe?

A lot of people find it challenging to season tofu. They say it is hard because tofu tastes 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, not a lot of people like plain raw tofu too.

When you taste our tofu steak, you can expect to experience a combination of smoky, spicy, and savory flavors. The marinade used to season the tofu steak will give it a spicy kick. The texture of the tofu will be firm with a crispy crust.

We used our vegan cauliflower steak and our vegan Philly cheesesteak recipes as inspirations to develop spicy, smoked beefsteak-like seasoning.

Ingredients

First, you need to prepare the marinade for this grilled tofu steak recipe. Here is the list of ingredients we used:

Marinating tofu

1. After you press the tofu, cut it in half horizontally. We used a 12-oz tofu block (approx. 340g), and that gave us two 1-inch thick slices (approx. 2 cm).
2. Mix the steak marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Take an oven-safe shallow glass bowl and layer the tofu slices in one layer.
4. Pour the marinade on them and gently mix them. We recommend using a silicone brush to cover the steak slices completely.
5. Let the tofu marinate for 15 minutes.

Grilling tofu steaks

1. Heat the grill pan over medium-high heat and add oil or vegan butter to grease the pan.
2. Place the marinated tofu steaks on, leaving a small space between them.

3. Fry both sides for approx. 2-3 minutes.

Cooking tips

• Try freezing them – Have you heard of freezing tofu to get a chewy and firm texture? Freeze it overnight, let it thaw in the refrigerator, pat it dry with a paper towel, and use it afterward. If you prefer meatier tofu, then you should definitely try it.
• Marinate overnight – It is a relatively thin marinade, so tofu will soak up the juices nicely. The longer it sits in the marinade, the more flavors it can absorb.
• Use high heat – You need high heat to create a crispy crust. It doesn’t have to be cooked all the way through.

Serving ideas

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:

• Roasted veggies like roasted asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed carrots, roasted cauliflower, green beans, broccoli, and other leafy greens
• Roasted or fried potato, or sweet potato
• Sweet potato rice
• 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

Sauces

We really love to serve these grilled 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:

• Vegan Peppercorn Sauce
• Vegan Spinach Pesto
• Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
• Vegan BBQ Sauce
• Vegan Tzatziki Sauce
• Vegan Steak Sauce from Veggies Don’t Bite
• Vegan Garlic Mushroom Sauce from Veggie Rose
• Maple Dijon Tahini Sauce
• Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce

Storing tips

• Fridge: To prepare tofu steaks in advance, marinate them overnight and grill them the next day. This allows the flavors to penetrate the tofu fully. Once grilled, the tofu steaks can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, so you can enjoy them at your convenience.
• Reheat: We recommend reheating it in a grill pan or a simple frying pan, not in the microwave. That way it will be crispy again.
• Freezer: We do not recommend freezing tofu after it has been grilled as this will alter the texture significantly. Some people prefer to freeze tofu before using it in any recipe to mimic the texture of meat. If you are using frozen tofu to make this recipe, it will have a chewier and gummier texture and will not be similar to the texture of the steak.