Grilled Lemon Basil Tofu
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Published Jul 23, 2013, Updated Sep 27, 2021
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This lemon basil tofu is marinated in a zesty fresh basil sauce and grilled to perfection. It’s easy and absolutely delicious!
The one fresh herb that I’m actually pretty good at growing is basil. This works out quite nicely because it’s also one of my favorites to use in the kitchen. We currently have two massive basil plants growing strong so I’ve been looking for recipes to put the sweet leaves to good use. This tasty grilled tofu is one of those dishes…
Normally I leave grilling up to our resident grill master, aka Isaac, but we got a new grill this summer and I’ve been experimenting on my own a little bit. So far, I’ve only done grilled summer vegetables, veggies burgers and this tofu, but I’ve really loving it. Everything cooks so quickly and it’s nice not having to turn on the oven.
This tofu is awesome because the marinade is easy to prep, doesn’t require a ton of ingredients and tastes super fresh and summery.
I love the flavor of the lemon basil and how quickly the tofu cooks up on the grill. Plus grill marks just look cool.
If it’s raining, you don’t have a grill or you simply hate grilling, you can bake it instead. Just preheat your oven to 400° and bake the tofu for about 15 minutes, flipping it once during the baking process.
I served the tofu over a bed of spring mix with chopped bell peppers and onions. You could easily choose any salad greens or vegetables that strike or fancy. Or you serve the tofu over a bed of quinoa with a vegetable side. Enjoy!
Grilled Lemon Basil Tofu Salad
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh basil
- 2 Tablespoons spicy dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey, maple syrup or agave if you’re vegan
- 1-2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, the juice of about 2 lemons
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound extra firm tofu, drained and pressed (I use Twin Oaks)
- salad greens and fresh veggies
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except tofu in a small bowl. Cut tofu crosswise into 6 slices. Place tofu slices into a container with the marinade and let sit for at least a hour.
- Prepare grill.
- Remove tofu slices from marinade, making sure to leave any access marinade in the container. Place tofu slices on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill for 3-5 minutes on each side.
- Serve tofu over a bed of greens and other veggies. Drizzle extra marinade over tofu to use as a dressing and serve.
Notes
- Adapted from Cooking Light Grilled Lemon-Basil Tofu Burgers. As I mention below, you can also bake the tofu in the oven at 400° for about 15 minutes.
- Nutrition Information is for tofu only, and does not include salad greens.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What tips do you have for growing gorgeous basil?! I bought a small, potted one that was quite full of leaves back in early June. I’ve been away, but my roommate has been watering it and making sure it gets sun. It kind of looks the same as it did when I left it. Do I need to re-pot it in a larger pot and keep it outside (pull it inside in the event of crazy, Virginia, summer storms)? I also have a starter pod — should I start it and then plant that in a larger pot? Any advice I’d greatly appreciate!
Yum! This looks so delicious and I love that it’s a vegan option. I’ll definitely be trying this!
Looks so yummy and I actually have a lot of basil in my fridge right now!!
I tried this recipe with salmon instead (I’m a salmon lover haha)… like I mentioned to you via twitter!!! OMG!!! amazing! 🙂 Next time I’ll try the original tofu recipe! thank you so much, super tasty and easy!
Made this today for dinner. Super easy and very tasty. Thanks!
Hooray. So glad you liked it, Tara. Happy Holidays. 🙂