Easy Baked Tofu

Are you missing chicken?  It’s okay, we’re all friends here.  So, let’s just get all those food-feelings out in the open, shall we?

Because no one ever said that dramatically changing the way you eat is going to be without challenges!  And I’ve got just the solution for your carnivorous craving–it’s your vegan, nutritarian, and gluten-free solution to classic baked chicken: Easy Baked Tofu.

We’re talking three ingredients here folks…

3.

Yup, get ready to make this Easy Baked Tofu, like, a lot.

You’re going to love this super-simple method for making a savory and healthy tofu with no oil and low salt–pinkie-promise!

Cleaning Up Your Comfort Food

If you’re transitioning (or thinking about transitioning) to a whole-foods-plant-based-vegan or a nutritarian-vegan lifestyle, you’re going to be missing that savory and chewy texture you get from meat.

Maybe you’ve even explored a meat substitute like Gardein Chick’n strips.

But, let’s face it, processed meat-substitutes are not ideal foods, especially when you’re following a whole-food plant based lifestyle.  They’re overly-processed with lots of unnecessary ingredients (and that’s certainly a polite way of putting it).

Now, tofu is “processed,” since it’s derived from soy milk.  But it’s nowhere near as processed as these test tube vegan “meats.”  Let’s just compare ingredient lists here–tofu wins hands-down.

Eat Your Easy Baked Tofu Strips Responsibly

WARNING: You will want to eat this whole tray of strips (I should know because I absolutely have)!

Now, these Easy Baked Tofu “strips” are completely nutritarian-compliant but the only thing you have to be mindful of is sodium.

When you’re on the nutritarian plan you to want to keep your total sodium intake under 1,000 mg per day.  Dr. Fuhrman says that the fruits and vegetables we eat as nutritarians supply us with about 700 mg of naturally-occurring sodium for the day.  So, that leaves us with a balance of about 300 mg.

This recipe uses Coconut Aminos (instead of the more commonly-used liquid aminos) because it’s lower in sodium.

We’re going to use 1/4 cup aminos for 24 tofu strips so the sodium content per strip is about 45 mg.  I suggest a portion of 4 to 6 strips.

You can find coconut aminos at health food store like Whole Foods and Sprouts. This is the brand I use:

MAKE IT A MEAL:  I love to have a giant salad as my main course and follow it up with these Easy Baked Tofu strips with garbanzo bean pasta (learn more about bean pasta options here) topped with Nutritarian Cheese Sauce.

Let’s Get Baked

Baking releases flavor, it caramelizes the naturally-occurring sugars in your food, and it’s a great flavor-enhancer when you’re eating nutritarian.

This recipe can’t get any easier!

You’re going to press and slice your tofu, then dip it in coconut aminos, sprinkle with no-salt seasoning and bake!

5 from 5 votes

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Easy Baked Tofu

Savory, 3-ingredient, baked tofu recipe that's vegan, nutritarian, gluten-free and low-sodium.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 24 tofu strips

Calories 156.6 kcal

Author Kristen Hong

Ingredients

• 2 packages firm tofu (you can also sub extra-firm)
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos (you can also sub 2 tbsp. liquid aminos with 2 tbsp. water)
• no-salt seasoning, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside (or use a Silpat pad).

2. Press tofu by removing blocks from packages and placing on a cutting board with napkins on top and bottom.  Add another cutting board on top and allow to "press" for at least 10 minutes. 
   

3. Discard wet napkins and cut each tofu block into 12 equal slices. Slice the block in half, then slice each half in half again--now you have fourths. Cut each fourth into 3 slices, about 1/4 inch thick.

4. Pour 1/4 cup coconut aminos into a small bowl or plate.  Place one or two strips of tofu in the aminos for 1 to 2 seconds on each side.  Once quickly coated place on prepared baking sheet. 
   

5. After all 24 slices have been coated, add any remaining coconut aminos liquid evenly on the strips (you can use your fingers or a kitchen brush).  Sprinkle liberally with no-salt seasoning.  
   

6. Bake at 375 degrees for at least 50 minutes, the edges will begin to lift off the parchment paper and the strips will be dry to the touch. 
   

7. Let the fingers rest for at least 5 minutes before using a spatula to remove.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Use as a baked chicken replacement.  Wonderful in sandwiches or pitas, cut into strips for salads or tacos. 

Nutrition Facts

Easy Baked Tofu

Amount Per Serving (30.5 g)

Calories 156.6 Calories from Fat 61

% Daily Value*

Fat 6.8g10%

Saturated Fat 1.29g8%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2.68g

Monounsaturated Fat 1.83g

Sodium 439.47mg19%

Potassium 252.14mg7%

Carbohydrates 10.6g4%

Fiber 1.46g6%

Protein 14.7g29%

Vitamin C 0.32mg0%

Calcium 344.14mg34%

Iron 2.61mg15%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you’re more of a crispy-tofu-type then you’re going to want to check out one of the most popular recipes on this site: Crispy Tofu

If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think–please leave a rating and comment below!