easy tofu marinade

This easy tofu marinade is made with just 4 ingredients and gives tofu amazing flavor. I prefer to cook the marinated tofu in a skillet because the flavors become more caramelized and the texture is crispier. But for a more hands-off method you can also bake it in the oven.
I often serve this tofu over rice with simple veggies on the side, like steamed broccoli, raw snap peas or sauteed baby spinach. Don't forget frozen egg rolls or pot stickers to make it a full dinner!
This recipe was originally published July 2019, and updated on August 16, 2022

Easy Weeknight Tofu Marinade 

tofu

soy sauce

balsamic vinegar

maple syrup

Pressing the tofu is optional for this recipe. See the section "Should I Press the Tofu" in the blog post above for more details about pressing moisture out of tofu. 

If you don't have time to press the tofu, just wrap the block of tofu in a towel and gently pat it dry before slicing the tofu. 

Slice the tofu into whatever shape you like best. Here's a video about how to slice tofu. 

Lay the tofu pieces out on a rimmed plate or in a baking dish just large enough to fit the tofu in one layer.

Whisk together soy sauce, oil, balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.

Marinate for at least 15 minutes. Flip the tofu once while it marinates. I often marinate the tofu and then let it sit on the counter while I prep the rest of dinner. You can also marinate the tofu earlier in the day or the night before. 

 Use a wide non-stick skillet (12-inch), so the tofu isn't crowded. Heat the skillet over medium-high and add a scant drizzle of oil.

When the skillet is hot, use tongs or a slotted spoon or your fingers to take the tofu out of the marinade and space it evenly in the skillet (watch out for oil splattering). Cook the tofu for 3 minutes without turning or moving it. Not moving the tofu is key for getting it a little crispy.

After 3 minutes, turn the heat down to medium. Use a wide spatula or tongs to flip the tofu and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. The less you stir and flip the tofu, the more browned and crispy it will get.

At this point, the tofu is ready to eat. However, you also have the option of creating a sauce by adding the leftover marinade to the skillet. This gives the tofu even more flavor, but does soften the texture a little bit. 

Optional: When the tofu is done searing, pour the remaining marinade over the tofu and let it simmer rapidly for 2 minutes until it reduces and thickens to a syrupy consistency. Make sure  to remove the tofu and sauce from the pan before it begins to burn. Soy sauce and maple syrup will burn if the heat is too hot. 

I use this marinade all the time! So good and so versatile.

This marinade was so flavorful and easy to make!! It made my tofu taste absolutely delicious!

I've always strayed from tofu because I never know what to do with it but this recipe has completely changed my mind on it! So quick and delicious and it was anything but bland!!

Yes! This tofu marinade was so easy to make and loved that it used pantry staples I always have on hand!

This was wonderful! I like to cook with tofu every once in a while, especially meatless mondays. Tried this with a stir fry last night and it was perfect! Everyone loved it!

I've tried this marinade several times and it's always so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

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