bite-sized pieces of tofu are coated in cornstarch and seasonings, topped with vegan butter and lemon juice and then baked until crispy and flavorful.
the inspiration
My mom is an amazing cook. She made dinner almost every night for us growing up. She made mostly Italian food but we would throw in some other things here and there.
One thing she made often was a roasted chicken. The flavor was amazing and I loved all the flavor of the sauce in the pan. Since the recipe actually was relatively simple I knew we could recreate this with tofu.
You just need some paprika, lemon, vegan butter, garlic and salt to make these delicious baked tofu bites. They are a great weeknight dinner or perfect for a holiday.
the ingredients
- Super Firm Tofu: the key to this recipe is to use super-firm or high protein tofu. You can use an extra-firm tofu but super-firm tofu is my favorite. It has the least amount of water in it so it is denser than a soft tofu. In my opinion it gives a better texture. If you want to use extra firm tofu be sure to press it beforehand.
- Olive Oil: the olive oil works to provide depth of flavor and help to create a crispy texture on the outside of the tofu.
- Vegan Butter: the vegan butter also provides flavor but in a different way than olive oil. It is salty, creamy, and a bit tangy. I like to use Country Crock’s Olive Oil plant butter or you can use my homemade recipe.
- Cornstarch: the cornstarch is used on the outside of the tofu to make a crispy outer coating.
- Lemon: the lemon of course adds in beautiful flavor.
- Seasonings: we will need salt, black pepper, paprika, dried parsley, and poultry seasoning. All of these work together to create a beautiful flavor for the baked tofu bites. Poultry seasoning is a combination of seasonings typically used in poultry (sage, rosemary, marjoram). There is no actual poultry in it.
how to make the baked tofu bites
- Break the tofu up with your hands. This is important because it gives the tofu jagged edges. We want this so there is more surface area on the tofu. It will create a better texture after they are cooked.
- Coat the tofu in cornstarch. This allows the outside of the tofu to become crispy and golden.
- Bake first with lemon and vegan butter. You will squeeze the lemon juice over top of the tofu and add in the cubed butter. This helps to create delicious flavor for the tofu and start the cooking process. This happens at a lower heat to allow the flavors more time to get into the tofu.
- Remove and add the oil. You will carefully cover the tofu in the oil and then bake at a higher heat. The oil will help give the tofu that beautiful crispiness.
- Serve with more lemon. After the tofu is done you will want to be eating it right out of the pan. You can squeeze more lemon juice over top if you like and some extra salt and pepper.
what should I serve the baked tofu bites with?
You can of course serve this with anything you like! It goes great with roasted veggies and potatoes. You can do mashed potatoes. A simple salad and some bread. The options are truly endless. Here are a few recipe ideas below to help you out.
baked tofu bites faq
Is this recipe allergy friendly?
It does use tofu. It is gluten free and nut free. If you want to use a soy free tofu like the Big Mountain Foods fava bean tofu that would work well here.
How do I store leftovers?
In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them if you like.
How do I heat this dish up?
You can heat it up on the stove, oven, or air fryer.
Do I need to press the tofu?
No. We are using super firm tofu which does not need to be pressed. While I really do only recommend using that kind of tofu for this recipe if you decide to use extra firm tofu, you will need to press it. You can use a tofu press to ensure all the water comes out.
Can I use frozen tofu for this?
Yes. Although you do not need to. The recipe is truly delicious as-is with super firm tofu.
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Baked Tofu Bites
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) block super-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley leaves
- Pinch black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ lemon juice only
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Cut the tofu slab into thirds lengthwise. So you end up with 3 slabs of tofu that are the original size of the tofu block just thinner. Then break them into bite size pieces using your hands.
- Place them into a 9 by 11-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle with cornstarch and all of the seasonings. Toss with clean hands to coat.
- Arrange tofu flat and then cover with lemon juice and top with the small pieces of cubed vegan butter.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle the olive oil over the tofu. Carefully, use a spoon to toss. If the tofu is a little stuck do not force it just give it a minute to loosen on it’s own.
- Turn up the heat to 450°F (232°C) and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle with extra salt and black pepper before serving.
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hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
Looks tasty!
thank you Dorothy!!
I used corn meal which is SO not corn starch bit these turned out great! O baked them in my air fryer. Thanks!
hahah I am still glad they turned out great! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! Love how your meals are easy to follow and also have a great taste! Looking forward to your cookbook 🙂
You are so welcome Jane!!! thank you so much 🙂
I tried this recipe just now and OMG! It’s a game changer! I’ve always heard people say if you don’t like tofu, you’re preparing it wrong and I finally understand, this is delicious!
Hi Lesly, I am so so happy you enjoyed it! thank you so much for trying it and taking the time to leave a comment/review means so much!!
I am SO over baked tofu bites ! I love when they are warm and soft , but within minutes i cant even chew them !
hi Melanie, did you try this recipe or are you just referring to them in general? I’ve never had a problem with them getting too hard to chew but you can always bake them for 1-2 mins less.
Do you press the tofu before cutting and baking it? or do you just take the tofu out of the package and cook it as is?
you don’t need to press it for this recipe but you can if you like!
I haven’t tried the recipe but where would I get vegan poultry seasoning?
Hi Monica, all poultry seasoning should be vegan it’s just a blend of spices and seasonings. You can just get it your local grocery store I use the one from McCormick
This is by far HANDS DOWN the best tofu recipe I’ve ever made. I make it at least once a week. It will have anyone who says they don’t like tofu, loving it! I like to add a little chili powder to the seasonings mix and cook for a little extra time (5-10 mins) sometimes as I like it extra crispy! But truly the recipe is perfect as is! Make this one!!!!! Thanks so much for it! 💛
Hi Kat!! Oh thank you so so much for making it and all the kind words!! I am so happy you enjoyed it so much and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment/review. Really means so much! Yes love the idea of a little chili powder in there yumm xoxo
This was super tasty! The lemon juice added a lovely dimension of flavor. Definitely going to make this again.
Hi Amira! Thank you so much for trying it and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment/review it means so much! So glad you enjoyed them xox
I’m just starting to eat tofu and came across your recipe! It is delicious and so easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe with others!
hi Susan!! oh yay I am so so glad to hear that! makes me happy 🙂
I’m making this recipe right now and that spice mix tastes amazing. I can’t wait to try them.
However, I have some questions. I’m trying to understand why I’m putting butter on top of the tofu and then adding olive oil 20 min in. This is a lot of fat. What does the olive oil do that isn’t accomplished by the butter? Or visa versa. And what does the butter do? Is this all about the wonderful flavor of complimentary fats or do these ingredients have a necessary role in the tofu’s cooking?
I’ve made a lot of baked tofu and at most I’ve tossed it in oil before roasting to help the herbs and spices stick, but never a full tbsp.
Thanks!
Hi Kai, this dish was inspired by my mom’s roasted chicken. Butter of course adds flavor, the oil helps with the texture. Also, as tofu doesn’t have fat the same way that an animal product would this helps to give a little bit of that in the pan. Creating great flavor.