How to Make Vegan Jerk Tofu + Homemade Jamaican Sauce & Fresh Salsa

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Over the years, our family has traveled to Jamacia often. When we stayed at Beaches or Sandals Resorts, eating plant-based was never a problem. In fact, I purposely stayed at these resorts knowing eating plant-based is possible. One of my all-time favorite Jamaican foods is jerk tofu and jerk veggie burgers.  

Even though Jamacia is famous for their jerk chicken, it isn't the chicken, but the jerk sauce! In Negril, on the beach, I ate the best jerk veggie burger ever in a little hut style grill.

Over the week we visited, I often visited the hut, making friends with the jerk grill master. And, with that friendship, I scored the Jamaican jerk sauce recipe. 

Of course, my Jamaican friend's recipe contained oil and a bit more sugar than I prefer, so I made a healthier version. 

WHAT IS JERK SAUCE AND MARINADE? WHAT IS JERK SEASONING

There are many versions of jerk sauce in Jamaica, but the one common ingredient is scotch bonnet peppers. The difference between a sauce and a marinade, however, is a game-changer.

 One of the first mistakes I made, for instance, was attempting to buy a bottle of sauce and attempt to use it to marinate my jerk tofu. 

Because jerk sauce is so spicy, trying to eat tofu marinated in a jerk sauce is like eating fire! Before knowing the difference between my Jamaican friend's jerk marinade recipe and the Pickappa Jamaican Sauce bottle I bought at a Jamaican store to take home, it caused a disaster.

Not only did I ruin an entire bottle of sauce and a package of tofu, but my first attempt at jerk tofu was an epic fail. My friend then pointed out the difference between the potent sauce, which is used sparingly, and a marinade to cook with. 

On the other hand, Jerk seasoning is made of a combination of spices that is used as a rub on meats. What I learned through trial and error, however, is to use jerk sauce to add a little more spice to food.  Jerk marinade is for vegetables, tofu, and veggie burgers. And, keep the jerk seasoning for meat. 

HOW TO MAKE SPICY, TANGY, AND DELICIOUS JERK TOFU 

Despite the number of ingredients, Jamaican jerk tofu is marinaded in jerk sauce overnight. To achieve the authentic taste of Jamacia, I make a homemade oil-free sauce. Although my kitchen is far from a jerk hut on a beach, the sauce is right on!

If you prefer to skip this step, I highly suggest Walkerwoods Jerk Marinade, authentic to Jamacia. But be careful! Walkerwoods also makes a bottled seasoning (wet, not fry) and a sauce. Again, make sure you buy the marinade! 

HOMEMADE JERK SAUCE FOR JERK TOFU RECIPE

• 1 cup white onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 green onions (scallions), chopped
• 2 scotch bonnet peppers, stems and seeds removed, chopped (habaneros can be used instead if you can't find scotch bonnet peppers)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon all-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 inch fresh ginger

HOW TO PRESS TOFU FOR JERK TOFU RECIPE

First, carefully remove the tofu from the package, discarding the fluid from the package.  

Then, place the tofu in the middle of the tofu press and turn both knobs equally about four turns. I usually place the tofu press in the sink on its side, but I placed it on a plate to drain for this visual post.

• Turn the knobs every two minutes, equally until you have the result (the last picture).
• Most people stop here…NOT YET. Keep turning until the knobs are screwed as far as they can almost to touch the end like this:
• Although I have never tried this, I decided this time; I would measure the amount of water I got from the bottom of the plate at the end.
• The amount was 3/4 cup fluid.
• Now, remove the press from the plate, and I give it another press with some paper towel for excess fluid removal.

HOW TO MARINATE AND GRILL JERK TOFU RECIPE

Once the tofu is pressed, and the water is removed, cut the tofu into 4 equal-sized slabs. Next, 1/2 cup of marinade at the bottom of a container adds tofu and repeats the process until the tofu is covered with marinade. For the best results, I suggest marinating overnight. 

GRILLING INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat the grill to low-low
• Place a grill mat on the grill (you can also use a grill pan, or if you are careful, you can place the tofu directly on the grill.
• Cook for about 16 minutes total, flipping every 4 minutes. 
• Remove from the grill and place back in the marinade until ready to use.  
• Then, cut it into strips or cubes.

BAKING TOFU IS JUST AS EASY

In the event you don't have a grill, you can still make this jerk tofu recipe. 

• Follow the same pressing and marinating process. 
• Then, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Place cut or uncut tofu on a silicone baking mat  or parchment paper
• Cook for 15 minutes
• Remove from oven and flip tofu over; cook for an additional 15 minutes. 

AIR-FRYING TOFU

You can also air-fry jerk tofu, but I suggest air-frying and adding the jerk marinade after. 

• Follow the same pressing and marinating process. 
• Set air fryer temperature at 375 degrees
• Cook 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket a couple of times through the cooking process.

Whenever I shop, I look for seasonal produce to buy fresh produce and save money. And, the available produce leads my menu for the week. For instance, this week, fresh pineapple was on sale for 2 pineapples for $3.00.  As a result, fresh pineapple salsa tops my tempeh tacos. 

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE NEEDED FOR FRESH HOMEMADE PINEAPPLE SALSA

• 3 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded, deveined, and diced
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 cup diced fresh pineapple
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup black beans

Not only is pineapple salsa perfect on top of jerk tofu bowl, but pineapple salsa is also great for a variety of other recipes:

• Vegan Fajitas
• Tempeh Tacos
• Roasted Broccolini and Sweet Potato Tostados
• The Best Ultimate Vegan Lentil Black Bean Burrito Ever
• Sweet Potato Tacos
• Mushroom Chorizo Tacos
• Skinny Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Cream
• Roasted Vegetable Tacos
• Vegan Oil-Free Lentil Tacos

ANOTHER GREAT IDEA FOR JERK TOFU IS A JERK TOFU LAVASH WRAP

If you don't like jerk tofu in a bowl, how about a lavash wrap sandwich. Since we had leftovers, I made jerk tofu wraps with the same ingredients. All I did was add a little spinach and the jerk tofu bowl is now a jerk tofu sandwich. 

 

Yield: 4 servings

Jerk Tofu

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes

Jamaican grilled jerk tofu is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Crispy on the outside and delicate on the inside, jerk tofu is wonderful in a Caribbean bowl, sandwich, wrap, or salad topper if you don't eat it all before you decide how to eat it.

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Ingredients

• 1 14 ounce container of extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into 4 equal pieces

Oil-free Jamaican Jerk Marinade

• 1 cup white onions, coarsely chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 scotch bonnet peppers, stems and seeds removed; chopped (habeneros can be replaced)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon all-spice powder
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 inch fresh ginger

Pineapple Salsa with Black Beans

• 3 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, deseeded, deveined and diced
• 1/2 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup black beans
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha (optional)

Other Ingredients

• 3 cups Cooked Brown Rice or Grain of Choice (quinoa or farro)
• Extra Jerk Sauce
• Lime wedges

Instructions

PREPARE TOFU

Press extra-firm tofu using a tofu press

1. Cut tofu into 4 equal pieces

JERK TOFU MARINADE

1. Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender
2. Blend on high until all is blended
3. Pour 1/2 a cup of marinade into a container.
4. Add two tofu pieces, followed by more marinade, and then repeat until tofu is covered in marinade.
5. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

PINEAPPLE SALSA WITH BLACK BEANS

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. Making ahead of time allows the flavors to become more intense, so I suggest making the pineapple salsa ahead of time.

GRILLING TOFU

1. Preheat the grill to low-low
2. Place a grill mat on the grill (you can also use a grill pan, or if you are careful, you can place the tofu directly on the grill.
3. Cook for about 16 minutes total, flipping every 4 minutes. 
4. Remove from the grill and place back in the marinade until ready to use.  
5. Then, cut it into strips or cubes.
   

PREPARING JERK TOFU BOWL

1. Place 1/2 cup cooked brown rice or grain of choice in the base of each bowl.
2. Add pineapple salsa with beans.
3. Then, top with grilled jerk tofu.
4. Garnish with limes and extra jerk sauce

Nutrition Information

Yield

4 servings

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 476Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 1mgSodium 512mgCarbohydrates 84gFiber 13gSugar 23gProtein 23g

Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.

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