Sesame Marinated Tofu

Tofu is an often overlooked ingredient, but it is one of the best plant-based protein sources out there, rich in calcium, manganese, iron, and other nutrients. One of our favorite ways to use this powerhouse ingredient is in our sesame-marinated tofu recipe. Just like with meat or fish, marinating tofu is a great way to create a lot of flavor in a short amount of time. And with potent ingredients like sesame, soy, and fresh garlic, you’ll find yourself coming back to this quick and easy tofu recipe time and time again.

Tofu Is Versatile

While it’s very commonly used in a variety of Asian cuisines, tofu can also be found in everyday recipes stateside. Tofu can be deep-fried to mimic chicken nuggets, crumbled and served with your morning toast instead of scrambled eggs, and even blended into decadent sweet desserts. The variety of tofu textures—from extra-firm to silken—means that there are seemingly endless ways to use it. 

The Importance of Draining and Pressing Tofu

All tofu is packaged in water to help prolong its shelf life. Before cooking, you need to drain off the water. Depending on the recipe, you’ll usually need to take one more step and press even more excess moisture out of the tofu (with the exception of silken tofu, which is too soft to apply much pressure to). 

Moisture in tofu makes it soft and creamy. Draining off that moisture makes the tofu act more like a sponge in terms of both texture and flavor. Extra-firm tofu contains the least amount of moisture, but even so, draining and pressing will make it taste even better.

Texture

When drained and pressed, tofu becomes more porous. This means that not only does it have a chewier, meatier texture but it also absorbs marinade more effectively. The marinade will permeate every inch of the tofu instead of just the surface level.

Flavor

Draining and pressing tofu makes it more amenable to whatever flavors you want to add. Even if it’s just salt and pepper, the porousness of the tofu means the seasonings will soak into the entire block.

How to Press Tofu

It sounds complicated, but as you'll see in the steps below, pressing tofu is easy. You simply cover the tofu with paper towels or a clean dish towel—to absorb the water that comes out when the tofu is pressed. Then, weigh it down to press out that moisture. We recommend pressing tofu for at least 30 minutes, but 15 will do in a pinch.