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Quick Raw Marinated Tofu (5-Minute Prep!)

Raw marinated tofu held by chopsticks, with more raw tofu blocks in the blurred background.
Raw marinated tofu, with just 5 minutes of cooking. Make this quick no-cook tofu marinade for a flavorful protein when you just don't feel like cooking!
Jem @ The Fruity Jem
Prep Time 5 minutes
Marinating Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Serving Size 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 block tofu 400-450 grams (14-16 oz), firm or extra firm, cubed into 2.5 cm (1 inch) on each side

For the Marinade

  • 5 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1.5 Tablespoons ginger (grated, about 2.5 cm or 1 inch when whole)
  • ¾ teaspoon sambal oelek optional, or sub with sriracha, cayenne pepper powder, or chili powder

(Optional) For Stir Frying or Baking

  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch optional, only for stir-frying or baking
  • cooking oil optional, only for stir-frying or baking

Instructions

Make Marinated Tofu

  • Mix: In a shallow container, mix all the ingredients for the marinade together.
    5 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1.5 Tablespoons ginger, 3/4 teaspoon sambal oelek
  • Marinade: Add the cubed tofu and stir so that each tofu cube can absorb the marinade. Set aside for at least 15 minutes.
    1 block tofu

Optional - Stir Fry

  • Add 1/2 Tablespoon of your favorite cooking oil to a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu into the pan without the leftover marinade, but do NOT throw the leftover marinade away.
    cooking oil
  • Let the tofu fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, without turning or moving it. This helps the tofu caramelize.
  • While waiting for the tofu to get crispy, add 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to your leftover marinade if using. Mix well.
    1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • After the first 2-3 minutes, flip it over and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Repeat until all sides are crispy and golden brown.
  • Once all the sides of the tofu look golden brown, turn the heat off. Immediately pour in the leftover marinade and stir. The residual heat will cook the sauce while the cornstarch will thicken it. Continue mixing for 1 more minute to coat the tofu evenly.

Optional - Bake

  • Scoop out the tofu from the marinade. Add 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch to the leftover marinade if using. Mix well.
    1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • Put the tofu back in and stir.
  • On a baking tray, bake your tofu for 20 minutes at 205 °C (400 °F). You can flip the tofu midway but feel free to skip if you are tight on time. The tofu will still be crispy as long as the baking tray is not overcrowded.

Video

Notes

Please scroll to the post above for the storage instructions, ingredient substitutions, FAQ, and other information.

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 631mgPotassium: 31mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.