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crispy baked tofu cubes on a green sheet pan.
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5 from 26 votes

Simple Baked Tofu

In this 3-ingredient baked tofu recipe, everyday tofu is transformed into golden, satisfyingly crunchy nuggets using simple seasonings and the oven! It’s one of the best tofu recipes you can turn to whenever you want to add a simple and delicious plant-based protein to your meals.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Author: Nisha Vora

Ingredients

  • 1 (14- ounce/400g) block of extra-firm tofu
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil or neutral-flavored oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons potato starch (can sub with arrowroot powder)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425ºF/218ºC and arrange an oven rack in the top ⅓ of the oven. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  • Slice tofu block into 4 slabs, lengthwise. Wrap the slabs in a thin dish towel or several paper towels. Place your heaviest cookbook on top and press for 10 to 15 minutes.*
    If your cookbook isn’t that heavy, you can weigh the book down with a few cans of beans/tomatoes or a skillet
    NOTE: If you are using a tofu press, just press the entire tofu block (don't slice it into 4 slabs).
    *I don't recommend pressing the tofu for more than 15 minutes, as it can dry out too much in the oven.
  • Cube the tofu. I like to slice each of the four slabs in half vertically, then slice each of the 8 slabs into ½” to ¾” (1.25 to 2 cm) cubes.
  • In a large bowl, add the tofu, oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Toss gently to coat, using either a silicone spatula or your hands. Now add the potato starch and, as gently as possible, toss to coat the tofu.
  • Arrange tofu on the pan in a single layer, spreading out the pieces so they don’t touch. Bake for 15 minutes. Flip with a spatula or carefully turn the tofu with your hands, working quickly*. Bake for another 15 minutes, or until the tofu is golden and crisp.
    *I work quickly when flipping with my hands, and it's fine/I don't burn myself, but use a spatula if you're new to this.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 601mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2mg