This sticky balsamic tofu with fresh thyme recipe is surprisingly flavorful. Simple marinade, pan fried tofu and you’ve got a killer vegan & gluten-free dinner that is ready in no time. Serve alongside quinoa and roasted veggies for a well balanced meal!
This Balsamic Tofu with Fresh Thyme is:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Flavourful
- Ready in less than 30 minutes
How to Cook Balsamic Tofu?
- Drain the tofu: remove as much water as possible with paper towels or tea towel. For best results, I often put the tofu on a layer of paper towels and place a heavy object on top (a cast-iron skillet or cookbooks). Let the tofu sit for 30 minutes to one hour.
- Slice it: we cut the tofu into slices for the presentation but feel free to cut into cubes if preferred.
- Add cornstarch to get crispy tofu: it will create a nice crust when we will cook it. Place tofu slices into a bowl with cornstarch. Toss with your hands to make sure the tofu is well coated.
- Cook in a pan on high heat: give the pan and oil time to warm up before adding the tofu. Cook it for 3-4 minutes on each side. Please make sure you don’t touch the tofu while it cooks. We want to create a nice crunch, so don’t the tofu shouldn’t move in the pan.
- Pour the sauce at the end: to get flavourful tofu. Here, the base of our sauce is made with balsamic vinegar, which will reduce and caramelize the tofu.
Flavourful Balsamic Vinegar Sauce Ingredients
Few ingredients mixed together before adding to the pan:
- Balsamic vinegar: it’s the base of our sauce. Use quality vinegar for best results.
- Soy sauce: to enhance saltiness.
- Maple syrup: to balance the sauce with sweetness.
- Garlic: we need 2 cloves of garlic for this recipe.
- Fresh thyme: to create even more flavor. Choose fresh thyme over dry thyme.
How to Serve it?
I like to serve this tofu alongside quinoa and brussels sprouts. It’s a versatile dish, so here are some suggestions:
- Grains: rice, couscous or quinoa
- Roasted veggies: carrots, asparagus or brussel sprouts
- Side salad, like my Sweet Kale Salad With Yogurt Dressing
You can also use the tofu slices in a sandwich for a quick lunch.
Sticky Balsamic Tofu with Fresh Thyme
4
servings15
minutes10
minutes25
minutesThis sticky balsamic tofu with fresh thyme recipe is surprisingly flavorful. Simple marinade, pan fried tofu and you’ve got a killer vegan & gluten-free dinner that is ready in no time.
Ingredients
- Tofu
350g-400g of extra-firm tofu
3 tbsp of cornstarch
3 tbsp of olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar sauce
⅓ cup of balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp of maple syrup
2 garlic cloves, minced
Fresh thyme: 1 tbsp of thyme leaves (approx. 4 sprigs)
- Serving suggestions: quinoa and brussels sprouts
Instructions
- Prepare side dishes.
- Remove tofu from packaging. Press the tofu firmly with paper towels or tea towel. Ideally, roll the tofu block in a tea towel and place a dutch oven/something heavy on top of it. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Cut the tofu either into slices (approximately 20 slices- see photo) or into small cubes.
- Place the tofu (slices or cubes) into a bowl with the cornstarch. Toss with your hands to make sure the tofu is well coated.
- Prepare the balsamic vinegar sauce. Add all ingredients to a small bowl and combine.
- Add olive oil into a large pan on high heat. Give the pan and oil time to warm up before adding the tofu. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Please make sure you don’t touch the tofu while it cooks. We want to create a nice crunch, so don’t the tofu shouldn’t move in the pan.
- Pour the sauce into the pan. Let it reduce for a minute while tossing the tofu with a wooden spoon.
- Serve with your favorite sides or in a sandwich.
Notes
- To cook quinoa, follow package instructions.
- To roast brussels sprouts: Rinse the brussels sprouts with cold water. Cut the bottom of each brussels sprouts and afterwards cut in half. Place onto a baking pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season well. Cook at 425F for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
