This Easy Ginger Hoisin Tofu is an easy weeknight meal. Tofu is marinated in a sweet and savory hoisin sauce with spicy ginger.
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This sweet and savory vegan Ginger Hoisin Tofu has been my latest go-to meal. Served over quinoa, rice, or cauliflower rice, it is an easy versatile weeknight meal. You can use it in all sorts of dishes.
If you've never had hoisin sauce, you are in for a treat. It is a soybean-based sauce commonly used in Chinese cuisine as a glaze or dipping sauce. It has a sweet and savory taste.
Here, I've married it with ginger to add a slightly spicy flavor. I cooked the tofu on the stove, but a grill would work nicely too.
Pair the tofu with some quinoa or rice, plus a side of veggies, and you have a complete meal. Better yet, pair it with cauliflower rice and you don't need any extra veggies.
Other vegan recipes you might like are my Baked Peanut Tofu, Tofu Meatballs with Sweet and Spicy Glaze, Crispy Tofu with Teriyaki Sauce, Tofu Sushi Rolls, Balsamic Tofu, or Tofu Peanut Noodles.
Serve this tofu recipe with Kombucha with Ginger.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- It's quick and easy and tastes great the next day.
- It is sweet and savory.
- It's incredibly versatile. You can add it to sushi, tacos, tostadas, or pizza.
🧾 Ingredients
- Ginger: I used freshly grate ginger. It adds a strong ginger flavor.
- Hoisin sauce: The type of hoisin sauce will determine the outcome of this dish. I have made this dish a few times with a couple of different gluten-free hoisin sauces. The latest hoisin sauce I bought needed sweetener, but yours may not.
- Tamari: I used low-sodium gluten-free tamari because I like to control the amount of sodium. You could also use low sodium soy sauce.
- Toasted sesame oil: Adds a nutty flavor. I used dark sesame oil (toasted).
- Brown rice vinegar: You could also use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. I've used apple cider vinegar when I ran out of brown rice vinegar, and it worked just fine.
- Maple syrup (optional): Adds sweetness. Depending on the hoisin sauce you use, you may or may not need it. Make sure to taste the marinade before adding it. You could also use agave syrup, brown sugar, or sugar.
- Extra firm tofu: I used a block of extra firm tofu packaged in water found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. You could also use a block of firm tofu. Another tofu recipe to try is my Harissa Tofu.
- Olive oil: To cook the tofu. You could use any neutral high-heat oil.
To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
📖 Variations / Additions
Add any of your favorite veggies to make it a complete meal. These are some of my favorites to add:
- Broccoli
- Red bell peppers
- Snow peas or sugar snap peas
- Mushrooms
- Cabbage
- Bok choy or baby bok choy
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Red pepper flakes
- Cauliflower rice
- Brown or white rice
- Rice noodles
- Sesame seeds
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🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Drain and press a block of tofu. If you don't have a tofu press, you can place it in between a clean kitchen towel.
Step 2: Place a heavy object on top, like a cast iron pan to get out the excess water.
Step 3: Mix the sauce ingredients. Slice the tofu and place the slices of tofu in a single layer in the marinade for an hour to overnight.
Step 4: Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan on medium heat. Fry on both sides until golden brown.
💭 Tips
- If you serve it over quinoa, make sure to thoroughly rinse it. It contains saponin, which gives it a soapy or bitter taste if not rinsed. If you buy packaged quinoa, make sure that it says it was rinsed before packaging.
- You can toast your quinoa for a more nutty flavor before adding liquid and cooking it.
- If you decide to eat it with quinoa or rice, you may want to double the sauce, depending on how much sauce you like. That way you have extra sauce to drizzle over the dish.
🍽 Serving
- Add it to pizza with some red pepper, pineapple, and green onions.
- Include it in sushi rolls with some sliced cucumber.
- Pile it on fusion tostadas with some mango and Sriracha Hummus.
- Stuff it in some tacos with pickled cucumbers and onions.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
The main ingredient is soybean paste. It has other ingredients like vinegar, sweetener, and spices depending on the brand.
Some brands of hoisin sauce contain wheat, so make sure to read the labels.
No, hoisin sauce has a sweet and savory profile, whereas soy sauce has a salty umami flavor profile. Good substitutes for soy sauce are tamari, coconut aminos, or Bragg's Liquid Aminos.
Other Asian-Inspired Recipes
If you tried this Ginger Hoisin Tofu Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!
I originally posted this recipe on March 17, 2018. I added new photos and text when I republished it.
📋 Recipe
Ginger Hoisin Tofu
Ingredients
- ¼ cup gluten free hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons low sodium gluten free tamari
- 2 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
- 14 ounce extra firm tofu drained and pressed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Drain and press the tofu. If you don't have a tofu press, place the tofu in between a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object on top, like a cast iron skillet. Let sit for 15 minutes to get the excess water out.
- Mix hoisin sauce, ginger, tamari, brown rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. Taste the marinade to see if it needs maple syrup. Add it if needed. Slice tofu and add it to the marinade. Marinate for an hour to overnight.
- In a non-stick pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Place marinated tofu in a pan along with a few spoonfuls of the marinade, and cook until golden brown on each side.
- Serve over rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or noodles.
Notes
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Nutrition
*Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results
Barrbara says
Loved this recipe. I made it on a Sunday afternoon, so had to make a few substitutions. I used a teaspoon and a half of smoked ginger powder since I didn't have fresh (go figure - who doesn't have fresh ginger -.. I also added a tablespoon of maple syrup "just cause". I served it on basmati rice since, again, that's what I had on hand, with a side of roasted roasted brussel sprouts. So delicious. Thank you!
Willow Moon says
Thanks Barbara, I'm so glad that you liked it!
Jenny says
This is delicious! I ate it with brown rice and added some steamed broccoli.
Madison Pollard says
Mmm I love how simple this is and the photos look INCREDIBLE!
Francesca says
This looks delicious! I never know how to make tofu so I’ll have to try this !
Kim says
This looks so succulent and delicious. As I am reading I am thinking that this may also work with ponzu. This is awesome comfort food and worth trying out. Thanks for sharing.
Willow Moon says
I don't think I have ever had ponzu. I am going to have to look for it the next time I go to the grocery store.
Cat Chiang says
Yum! This looks so delicious.
Aliza says
I love this! I am a vegetarian so this is perfect for me because I am always looking for new ways to spice up my tofu! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Erica says
This looks great. I'm gluten-free so I was so excited the day I discovered gluten-free hoisen sauce. I'm pinning this right now so I can make this later!
Mary says
Now I know what to make for dinner tonight!
Willow Moon says
I hope you enjoy it!
daneen rogers says
I have a love-hate relationship with tofu! I like it "in" dishes but not as a main...I do love love love this marinade though and think it would soooo good over salmon! Pinning this to my strictly vegetarian board too! Thanks for a great recipe!