Fire up the warmer seasons with these easy and delicious grilled Greek tofu skewers. Blocks of marinated tofu paired with veggies for skewers of epically healthy and protein-packed proportions.
Let me introduce you to my favorite new way to eat tofu in these warmers months: grilled tofu skewers! I was going to a cookout and in the back of my mind, I wondered to myself: what can I eat that won’t be animal-based, won’t be processed and won’t be a piece of lettuce? I’m lucky in that many in my family have gotten on board with my family being plant-based. For Easter, they grilled us some Beyond Sausages – wonderfully tasty meat alternatives. While they are delicious, processed meat alternatives aren’t something that we consume frequently. Thus, these tofu skewers were born.
The Tofu
First, let me say that the type of tofu you select is super important for the skewers and I highly recommend using extra or super firm tofu. My favorite brand at the moment is Wildwood Organics high protein firm tofu but any extra firm tofu will work. Silken or soft tofu will likely fall off the skewer. To get an even meatier texture on your tofu, I recommend freezing it first and then thawing it overnight. The texture changes as the tofu expands from the freezing liquid. I also recommend pressing the tofu for at least 15 minutes to remove as much liquid as you can. You can use a tofu press or you can simple place some heavy objects on the block of tofu to press the liquid out!
Seasoning
For the seasoning of the grilled tofu skewers, I’m opting for a simple yet traditional Greek-inspired seasoning blend: salt, pepper, oregano and lemon juice. That’s it. The beauty of this is that you can use ANY spices or seasonings that you like. This is just a guide on how to make them rather than a guide on taste. Taste is personal and food should be enjoyed!
For the veggies, I added sliced zucchini, red onion chunks, bell peppers, and mushrooms to a bowl. I seasoned them with a little olive oil and the same spices as the tofu. Then I tossed them to coat well and then skewered them along with the tofu.
Pro tip: soak the skewers in water for a few minutes prior to skewering to prevent burning on the grill.
Pro tip #2: I highly recommend the use of a grilling mat. This will help prevent sticking to the grill grates. Here are some you can purchase on Amazon.
You can eat the tofu skewers as is. Another option is to remove the tofu cubes and veggies from skewer and plate with other sides. Also, consider putting atop a salad like I did in the image below or add the grilled tofu cubes to a pita with tzatziki, tomato and red onion for a gyro! My homemade vegan tzatziki recipe can be found here.
These tofu skewers hold up remarkably well, whether you are grilling them at home or bringing them to a friend’s for a cookout. The longer the tofu sits in the marinade, the tastier the tofu becomes and absorbs the lemon and spices. Feel free to press and marinate the tofu the day before and let it sit in your refrigerator until it’s time to cook.
As always, I recommend a squeeze of fresh lemon juice right off the grill for that extra zest and flavor!
Grilled Greek Tofu Skewers
Equipment
- Skewer Sticks
Ingredients
- 1 14oz package of extra firm tofu pressed and drained
- 1 large zucchini
- 2 bell peppers
- 1/4 large red onion
- 5 oz mushrooms
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp oregano
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Drain and press the tofu and soak the skewers first.
- While the tofu is pressing, slice the zucchini into rounds, and the bell peppers and onions into chunks. Add the veggies into their own bowl.
- Cut the tofu into 1" cubes and add to a bowl.
- Dress the tofu with olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper and juice of half the lemon. Toss lightly until well coated.
- Lightly season the veggies with the same marinade and toss until well coated.
- Skewer the tofu and veggies.
- Grill on medium-high heat for about 15-20 minutes, rotating as each side starts to brown.
- When finished cooking, top off with a fresh squeeze of lemon.
Video
@thewholescoopblog Grilled Greek-style Tofu Skewers #vegan #veganrecipes #plantbasedrecipes #plantbased #recipes #grill
♬ Slow Music – TROPICAL MUSIC
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