Tofu Skewers (Grilled or Broiled)

Why do we find kebabs to be so cool? Maybe it’s the veggie chunks that look like colorful candy? Perhaps we like to sword fight with food? Either way, these vegan tofu kebabs will soar to the top of your favorite weekly recipe rotation.

Once you have the tofu shapes soaking up the marinade, the rest is a breeze. Cut and roast some veggies, layer your lances with tofu and pineapple, and broil until golden brown. The simple mix of sweet and savory is sooo good.

Tofu Skewers

Author: Mena Massoud

5 from 7 votes

Treat your family to some tasty tofu kebabs! The roasted veggies really turn this recipe up a notch. Either broiled or grilled, these sweet and savory sticks will satisfy with lots of plant-based protein.

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Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

marinating time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 14-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained, patted dry, and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 medium carrot, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 4 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into florets
• 2 ounces snow peas, about 1 cup, ends trimmed
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil, plus more for greasing
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
• 1 handful fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish

Instructions

• In a large bowl, whisk together the tamari, pineapple juice, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and turmeric to combine well.
• Add the tofu to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
• About 20 minutes before serving, preheat the broiler with a rack positioned 6 inches from the heat source.
• In a large bowl, toss together the carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, snow peas, and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables into a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned in spots, 5 to 10 minutes (broiler strengths vary, so watch closely to make sure the vegetables don’t burn). Remove the pan from the broiler and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm; keep the broiler on.
• Lightly grease a second rimmed baking sheet with oil. Remove the tofu from the marinade. Skewer alternating pieces of tofu and pineapple on 4 skewers, placing them on the prepared baking sheet as you go.
• Broil, turning the skewers occasionally until the tofu and pineapple are browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Serve the skewers and vegetables garnished with cilantro and scallions.

Notes

• Make sure you completely drain and dry your tofu, or it won’t absorb the marinade as well.
• If using wooden skewers, soak them for 20 minutes first to prevent burning.
• Instead of broiling the vegetables and skewers, you can put the vegetables on a sheet of aluminum foil, wrap it around them to make a packet, and cook them alongside the assembled skewers on an outdoor grill.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 3985IU | Vitamin C: 115mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword grilled tofu, grilled tofu skewers, tofu skewers

Tofu Can Be Terrific

Don’t be afraid to use tofu. There’s a lot of ‘soy scaring’ that goes on throughout the internet, but pay it no mind. If you take a look at all of the research and clinical trials completed, you will have no cause to worry.

Check out our article, “The Low-Down on Soy”: There’s No Reason to Be Afraid. We link to evidence-based resources concerning soy and its effects on our health. If you choose organic, unprocessed soy products (tofu, tempeh, soy milk, soybeans, etc.), you will not only gain a good amount of plant-based protein, calcium and fiber, but many essential vitamins and minerals, too.

Tofu is a super substitute for animal-based products when grilling, broiling, and baking. Just take a peek at all these vegan tofu recipes! In this particular recipe, the tofu tastes oh-so-amazing from the marinade. It also has a terrific texture that’s perfect to pair with pineapples.

It Must Be the Marinade

The marinade in this recipe for tofu kebabs is incredible. If you like a little extra to pour over your plate, I recommend doubling the amount you make. Everyone who has tried this recipe has raved over the fantastic flavor.

That said, as with any sauce, you can personalize it by adding or subtracting anything you like. If ginger gets to you, leave it out. If you want a little bit more spice, add in some cayenne. Can’t get enough garlic? Add an extra clove. Sweet tooth? Prepare with a little bit more pineapple juice.

The most important thing is that you are able to let your tofu sit at least a few hours (or, preferably overnight) in this mouthwatering marinade. It can do with less, but it’s well worth your time to wait.

A Variety of Veggies

The best thing about this recipe is that it’s so easy to substitute ingredients. If you don’t like any of the vegetables listed, no problem! As long as the veggies have a slightly similar broiling/grilling time, you can use anything you have in the fridge or use ones you love.

Here are some other appetizing options:

• Red onion
• Cauliflower
• Hot peppers
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Corn on the cob
• Green beans
• Mushroom caps
• Brussel sprouts
• Asparagus stalks
• Mango (instead of pineapple)
• Chickpeas (so delicious and crispy when roasted!)

How to Serve It Up

• Supersize With Sides – I love sides! You can create the most marvelous meals with them. This recipe pairs perfectly with our Sweet Potato Fries, Asian Zucchini Noodle Bowl, or even Rainbow Collard Wraps for a hot/cold contrast.
• Rev It up With Rice – Whether it’s white, brown, or wild, rice makes a meal more satisfying with healthy starch. If you have any leftover marinade, mix in with your rice for extra flavor.
• Extra Satisfaction With Soup – Serve the skewers alongside some really nice ramen or 10 Minute Miso Noodle Soup. Textured tofu, soft veggies and a slippery noodle soup is a winning combination.
• Gather up Your Greens – Whenever I have a meal that is more like an appetizer, I always add more bulk with a big salad. Salad recipes that would team up nicely with the tofu skewers: Asian Inspired Chickpea Salad, Summer Tomato Salad (especially if you’re making these on the grill) and Fresh Picnic Pasta Salad.

Tackling Your Tofu Leftovers

With this recipe, it’s best to separate the food on your remaining skewers into different containers. Store any leftover roasted/grilled veggies or fruit in a separate container from the tofu and any extra sauce.

This way, you can reheat accordingly without burning one or undercooking another. You may even have too much tofu and not enough veggies, or the other way around. You now have the freedom to make more of either ingredient and re-assemble the tofu kebabs from scratch.

Leftovers will last a couple of days in the refrigerator. It may be best to make a fresh batch after that. Any remaining veggies and sauce can be frozen for a week or so, but the tofu should be prepared from a new package if you want another round.

Check out our Tofu Guide for the Tentative Cook for more tips on tofu!

About the Author

Mena Massoud was born in Cairo, Egypt and immigrated to Toronto, Canada with his parents and two sisters when he was three years old. He studied neuroscience at the University of Toronto, transferred to Ryerson University and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Acting. He’s most widely recognized for his role as Aladdin in Disney’s live action film Aladdin. 

He is now the founder of Evolving Vegan, an organization which aims at making veganism accessible to all people. Mena has also launched a nonprofit organization to aid underrepresented artists, the EDA (Ethnically Diverse Artists) Foundation, and a production company, Press Play Productions.

You can find out more about Mena and his work at Evolving Vegan.

Other Tempting Tofu Recipes to Try:

• Vegan Lasagna With Tofu Ricotta
• Yellow Curry With Tofu
• Garlicky-Ginger Marinated Tofu Triangles

We want to thank our amazing recipe testers Taylor Gillespie and Kathleen Walters for helping us perfect this recipe!

We hope you love vegan kebab recipes as much as we do. This recipe for Tofu Skewers was reprinted with permission from the Evolving Vegan cookbook by Mena Massoud (Tiller Press, September 15, 2020). Photo credit: Andrew Rowley. Please note that this article contains affiliate links that help support our work at World of Vegan!