Chinese Five-Spice Baked Tofu Recipe

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 12/28/21
Chinese five spice tofu recipe

The Spruce

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
176 Calories
13g Fat
4g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 176
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1048mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 341mg 26%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 251mg 5%
*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.)

A recipe for Chinese-inspired five-spice tofu, marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and Chinese five spice, and baked in the oven. This Chinese five spice tofu is perfect for adding into vegetable stir-fries, Chinese-style salads, any kind of noodle dish, or just for a quick Asian flavored snack. 

Chinese five spice is a unique blend of fennel, star anise, cinnamon, pepper, and cloves, but don't be fooled by those familiar ingredients—Chinese five spice packs a uniquely flavorful and pungent punch. It's a taste that certainly isn't for everyone. If you've never tried it before, or, if you have "undeveloped" Western taste buds, you may want to cut the amount of five-spice required in half, or try a milder recipe for vegetarian Chinese food or try another kind of baked tofu. If, however, you want a genuine taste of Chinese cuisine (or just want to try something new) in a vegetarian and vegan tofu recipe, try this recipe for Chinese five spice tofu.

This simple baked tofu recipe is both vegetarian and vegan, and, if you need it to be gluten free, swap out the soy sauce for a gluten-free substitute, such as nama shoyu or tamari, and check the ingredients on your vegetable broth to make sure it's gluten free as well. 

Ingredients

  • 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu, well pressed

  • 1 cup vegetable broth

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce, or use tamari to keep it gluten free

  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chinese five spice tofu recipe
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  2. Prepare your tofu. Like most vegetarian and vegan tofu recipes, this one will taste best if you press the tofu first.

    Tofu
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  3. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Slice your well-pressed tofu into 1/2-inch long strips (or you can cut them into another shape if you prefer). Lightly grease a baking pan and arrange the prepared tofu in a single layer in the pan.

    Put tofu in pan
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  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over the tofu slices. If you have time, you can also marinate the tofu slices in the soy sauce and Chinese five-spice mixture for a few hours or up to overnight.

    Soak tofu
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  5. Bake your tofu for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn each individual tofu piece over, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until liquid has been absorbed.

    Bake your tofu
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  6. Enjoy.

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