Vegan Korean Tofu

This vegan Korean tofu recipe is a sweet yet slightly spicy, delicious tofu recipe. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, this lovely, tangy tofu can be added to any dish to add pizzaz to your next meal.

As many of you know, I'm a huge tofu fan, and I love Asian food. Although I bake, air-fry, and saute tofu often, I enjoy creating new flavors similar to recipes I eat in restaurants. This vegan Korean tofu recipe tastes exactly like my favorite dish at my favorite Korean restaurant in Phoenix. You will love this Korean vegan spicy tofu.

Jump to:

• Korean Tofu Marinade Ingredients
• Korean Tofu Marinade Ingredient Substitutions
• What is Gochunjang Sauce?
• How to Make Vegan Korean Tofu
• Cooking Options 
• Grilled Tofu
• Baked Tofu
• Air Frying Tofu
• Vegan Korean Tofu Serving Suggestions
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Although generally sautéed in oil, vegan Korean tofu can easily be oil-free. For example, every tofu recipe has a unique purpose, resulting in unique marinades.

For people who think tofu is gross, my advice is to try it. When prepared correctly, tofu opens up a new vegan world of possibilities. But first, you have to know how to prepare it. 

Korean Tofu Marinade Ingredients

Like other tofu recipes, it's all about pressing the tofu and marinating it before cooking. 

• Tomato Sauce: The tomato sauce is the base for this delicious tofu marinade.
• Korean Chili Paste: Korean Chili Paste or Gochujang Sauce is a spicy, flavorful sauce. With a small amount of this magical sauce, the tofu marinade comes alive.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup gives the sauce a slight sweetness.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce provides a salty, umami flavor. I prefer the low-sodium kind.
• Fresh Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic whenever possible.
• Green Onions: Green onions or scallions are used as a raw garnish.
• Sesame Seeds: I used black sesame seeds for added color and texture.

Korean Tofu Marinade Ingredient Substitutions

• Tomato sauce of puree substitutes tomato sauce in the recipe. For the paste, add a little water to thin it out.
• Any type of hot sauce will work as a substitute for Korean chili paste.
• Date syrup or agave are natural substitutes for maple syrup.
• Tamari or liquid aminos are gluten free options for soy sauce.
• Spring onions substitute green onions.

What is Gochunjang Sauce?

Gochujang sauce is a Korean or red chili paste, a fermented condiment that is savory, sweet, and spicy. Located in the Asian section of most grocery stores, Gochujang sauce is a staple in Korean cooking. This recipe is similar to a Korean BBQ tofu.

How to Make Vegan Korean Tofu

• Press the tofu if you are not using extra firm or super-firm tofu.
• Once pressed, cut into 4- 6 equal-sized pieces for grilling.
• Set aside.
• Combine tomato sauce, gochujang, maple syrup, and minced garlic.
• Whisk together.
• In a refrigerator safe container, add ¼ of the marinade to the bottom of the container.
• Add a layer of tofu, followed by a little more marinade.
• Add more tofu.
• Retain ¼ of the marinade to use after cooking.
• Marinate overnight or for at least a few hours.

Cooking Options 

Grilled Tofu

• Preheat the grill to medium temperature (400 degrees)
• 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 8 minutes on each side, rotating every 4 minutes.
• Remove from the grill and place back in the marinade until ready to use.  
• Then, I cut the tofu (be careful not to burn yourself) into bite-sized pieces.

Baked Tofu

• 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

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

Vegan Korean Tofu Serving Suggestions

Today, I chose to add Korean tofu to a rice noodle bowl with spicy cucumber salad and black sesame seeds. Other options to use Korean tofu are:

• Korean tofu wrap with spicy cucumber salad in the wrap or other Asian vegetables.
• Top a spicy Asian salad!
• Serve over brown rice with sautéed vegetables. 
• On top of quinoa with grilled vegetables 
• Bibimbap Vegan with Korean tofu
• Cabbage Asian Salad with Korean tofu 
• Asian Coleslaw topped with Korean tofu.
• Kale Asian Pasta Salad with Korean tofu recipe
• Peanut Noodle Salad with Korean tofu added. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Marinating tofu overnight results in the best flavor.
• I suggest using super firm or extra-extra from tofu to avoid having to press the tofu.
• For a soy-free tofu option, try chickpea tofu.
• Reduce the amount of Korean chili paste and add more tomato sauce for a less spicy marinade.
• Always taste the marinade before adding the tofu.
• If baking or air-frying the tofu, cut it into cubes or strips before marinating; however, leave it in larger pieces to grill evenly if grilling.
• For the cucumbers, mix sliced cucumbers with 1 Tablespoon of rice vinegar and 1 teaspoon of Korean chili paste. Allow to marinate for the best flavor.
• Prepare the rice noodles while the tofu is cooking if using rice noodles as a base for the Korean noodle bowl option.

Try this vegan Korean tofu recipe, a delicious and easy weeknight meal.

If you love this vegan Korean tofu recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

📖 Recipe