Sesame Baked Tofu Recipe

By
Ashley Adams
Ashley Adams
Ashley Adams is a restaurant professional and workshop instructor with a specialty in dairy-free cooking and baking.
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Updated on 02/25/22
Sesame tofu
Lisa Hubbard / Getty Images
Prep: 4 hrs
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 4 hrs 40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
275 Calories
20g Fat
12g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 275
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1153mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 412mg 32%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 308mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Baked tofu is simple to make and healthy, and it can be used in so many kinds of dishes. Serve it with steamed veggies and rice, turn it into a baked tofu sandwich layered with veggies and spreads, serve it over a salad, or eat it just as it is.

This recipe calls for Chinese-style extra-firm tofu, which is the kind of tofu that you'll find water-packed in a refrigerated section of the grocery store. Silken tofu, the kind that usually comes in 12.3-ounce boxes and can be stored on the shelf or in the fridge, will not work for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tofu, Chinese-style extra-firm, pressed

  • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

  • 3 tablespoons dark sesame oil, often referred to as toasted sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoons minced garlic

  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

  • 2 tablespoons sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds

Steps to Make It

  1. Slice the pressed tofu horizontally into 16 pieces (each will be about 1/4-inch thick), then slice lengthwise down the middle so that you have about 32 (2-inch) squares. Set aside.

  2. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar, and sesame seeds, stirring until well mixed.

  3. Pour a small amount of this mixture into a casserole dish or baking dish. Place all of the tofu squares into the dish in a single layer then pour the remaining marinade over the tofu. Place the pan in the refrigerator, and allow tofu to marinate for 4 hours or overnight, flipping the tofu once or twice to make sure that it evenly marinates.

  4. Heat the oven to 400 F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet or baking pan and, using a spatula, transfer the marinated tofu onto the pan, spacing the pieces so that they do not touch one another.

  5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping once halfway through, or until the tofu reaches the desired texture. (The longer you bake the tofu, the firmer, denser, chewier, and crispier it will become; the less you bake it, the softer it will be.)

  6. Allow tofu to cool for a minute or two in the pan before serving. Serve hot or cold.

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