Indulge in these Teriyaki Grilled Tofu Skewers that are savory, and flavorful, with a burst of umami. With the perfect marinade, grilled flavors, and a delicious teriyaki sauce, these skewers are perfect for an outdoor grilling day or when you want to feel summertime in your kitchen anytime! Whether you're a vegan, vegetarian, or a meat-eater, this dish is a perfect summer grilling option.
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📋 Ingredients for Tofu Skewers
Tofu. It's a great source of vegan protein, iron, calcium, and b vitamins. Look for extra firm tofu.
Teriyaki Sauce. I make my own teriyaki sauce versus store-bought so you can control and adapt the flavors according to your tastebuds. There are also store-bought grilled tofu marinades if you're looking to decrease cooking time (but trust me, it's only an extra 5-10 minutes!). Here's what I add to my teriyaki sauce:
- Soy Sauce
- Maple syrup
- Cornstarch
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame seeds
📖 How to Grill Tofu Skewers (+ Grill Options)
To achieve the perfect grilled tofu skewers, it all starts with preparing the tofu to ensure it absorbs the flavors of the marinade and grills up beautifully.
- Press the Tofu. To press tofu, place it on a paper towel-lined plate, cover it with another paper towel, and place a heavy object on top. Allow the tofu to press for 10-20 minutes.
- Prep the Teriyaki Sauce. While the tofu is pressing, combine all of the marinade ingredients for the tofu. Cook on medium heat until it forms a thin slurry. Since this is used for a marinade, I don't like to make it too thick.
- Marinate. After pressing, cut the tofu into evenly sized slices. Remember to slice the tofu thick enough to go through skewers. Marinate with ½ the mixture and save the remaining for the final glaze. Make sure to thoroughly coat each piece of tofu to maximize flavor. Place the tofu in a shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over it. Allow the tofu to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but if time allows, longer marination periods can intensify the flavors and improve the overall taste. If you prep ahead, you can complete this step the day before.
- Grill. Oil a grill pan for the stove or grill grate and preheat thoroughly. If using bamboo skewers, remember to soak them in water for 15-20 minutes before use. This prevents the skewers from burning when placed on the grill or in the oven. On each skewer, rotate a piece of bell pepper, onion, and then tofu to ensure even cooking. While grilling, make sure as many tofu cubes as possible are making contact with the pan, and turn every 3-4 minutes, until browned and beginning to char in spots — about 10-15 minutes. Drizzle the skewers with the rest of the marinade and serve immediately.
💭 TIPS
- To prevent tofu from sticking to the grill, make sure you use extra firm tofu, and press it well. Also, you want to make sure your grill pan is hot and oiled before you put the tofu on there.
- If using bamboo skewers, make sure to soak them in cold water for 20-30 minutes (while tofu is pressing) so they don't burn during the cooking process.
- Other vegetables you can add are mushrooms or zucchini.
These grilled teriyaki tofu skewers truly are a vegan delight that will leave you wanting to make these all the time. From the perfect marinade to the tender grilling techniques, each step is designed to build flavor and create an amazing dish.
🍽 More Recipes You May Love
- General Tso's Tofu
- Tofu Poke Bowl
- Paneer Tikka Recipe
- Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
- Vegan Gochujang Cauliflower Wings
- Easy Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
If you loved this Grilled Tofu Skewers recipe, please let me know in the comments below! I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my weekly emails at the bottom so you never miss a new recipe!
📖 Recipe
Teriyaki Grilled Tofu Skewers
Ingredients
For the Tofu Skewers Marinade
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ inch ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water
- Garnish: chopped scallion and sesame seeds
For the Tofu Skewers
- 16 oz package tofu
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 red onion
Instructions
- Press the Tofu. Drain and press the tofu by wrapping it in an absorbent towel and placing something heavy on it to remove excess water (or use a tofu press) for about 10-15 minutes. Note: If you're using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 15-20 minutes at this time.
- Prep the Teriyaki Sauce. While the tofu is pressing, combine soy sauce, maple syrup, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, corn starch, and water. Heat a saucepan and cook on medium heat until it forms a thin slurry. Since this is used for a marinade, I don't like to make it too thick.
- Marinate. After pressing the tofu, cut the tofu into evenly sized slices (slice the tofu thick enough to go through skewers). In a container with a lid, place the tofu slices and pour ½ the marinade over the slices, coating each piece well. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (overnight works best!)
- Grill. Oil a grill pan for the stove or grill grate and preheat thoroughly. On each skewer, rotate a piece of bell pepper, onion, and then tofu to ensure even cooking. While grilling, turn every 3-4 minutes, until browned and beginning to char on each side.
- Serve. Drizzle the skewers with the rest of the marinade and serve immediately. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Nutrition Info
PaulS
Wow, these are incredibly tasty! Will never buy premade teriyaki sauce again after seeing how simple it was to make this one.
Jgohel
I love it
Especially those vegetables
Souse tastes so yum
Shweta
Yes! Adding veggies to tofu skewers really adds to the taste and texture! Thank you!