Essential Baked Tofu Cubes

Savoury, oven browned, and tender with crisped edges, Essential Baked Tofu Cubes make a versatile supporting cast member for a wide range of plant based eating.

While it is true that tofu is often disregarded as being too bland (mind you, not by me), this inherent lack of a specific character is what allows tofu to soak up the flavours of marinades, sauces, or whatever else it is being cooked with. With that said, as a plant based eater, I sometimes want a somewhat plain yet still tasty tofu to add nutrition and texture to a larger dish without overpowering the other ingredients. If you are a fan of rice bowls, noodle bowls, composed salads, or noodle soups, amongst many other possible plant based dishes, this recipe for Essential Baked Tofu Cubes is exactly what is called for.

Jump to:

• Baked tofu cubes are essential for a reason
• How to make Essential Baked Tofu Cubes
• What kind of tofu should you use?
• Ways to Eat Essential Baked Tofu Cubes
• A useful addition to your weekly meal prep
• Essential Baked Tofu Cubes

Baked tofu cubes are essential for a reason

What this recipe lacks in complexity is more than made up for in how useful these tofu cubes are. I consider these tasty little cubes a fundamental tofu recipe for plant based eaters and those looking to incorporate more plant based protein sources into their diet.

Made from just four ingredients, simple, and quick to make, I almost always have a batch of these tofu cubes hanging out in the fridge, ready to add to anything that might make good use of them, which is basically everything!

How to make Essential Baked Tofu Cubes

This simple recipes starts with a block of firm tofu briefly rinsed and then towel dried to remove excess moisture. Cut into ¾" or so cubes, the tofu is then briefly marinated with just the right amount of tamari, sesame oil, and vegetable oil for both flavour and crisping capability.

Once the oven is hot enough, the tofu cubes are simply spread out onto a baking sheet and roasted for 20 or so minutes. You only need to check on them once during the cooking time for a quick flip, meaning you have lots of time to whip up the rest of your meal.

While I used to make these cubes in a frying pan on the stove, I found the tofu often stuck to the pan if I wasn't careful, and required more tending during the cooking time. Baking them in the oven is hands off, and creates a deliciously plump and somewhat crispy texture that exceeds the results from using the stovetop.

What kind of tofu should you use?

When making these cubes, choose your favourite medium to firm style tofu, but avoid varieties that are too soft, such as silken or soft tofu, which are too delicate to withstand the preparation and cooking process.

My favourite type of tofu to use for this recipe is a local sprouted firm tofu - I find it still relatively tender, as opposed to some tofu brands that are extremely firm -  while not so delicate that it will lose structural integrity when I toss the tofu with the marinade or during its time baking in the oven.

Ways to Eat Essential Baked Tofu Cubes

Because their seasoning is mild, savoury, and neutral, these baked tofu cubes can end up on a salad plate, alongside Garden Fresh Furikake as part of a Japanese inspired rice bowl, added to a wrap or burrito, spooned on top of noodle or veggie stir fries, stirred into noodle soups or fried rice, and used in curries and stews calling for tofu, adding another layer of savoury flavour to the finished dish.

Any dish where you are adding your own sauce or condiment works so well with these cubes, because they are only enhanced by other flavours while contributing their own umami base layer of flavour at the same time.

I also love eating these tasty cubes with rice, steamed veggies, and sprouts, on top of brown rice or soba noodles, liberally garnished with a tahini based sauce, some crunchy seeds, and a lashing of hot sauce. Really, they can be eaten almost anywhere!

A useful addition to your weekly meal prep

Essential Baked Tofu Cubes are a great weekly meal prep ingredient, as you can make a batch or two in advance and store them in the fridge, eating them reheated, at room temperature, or even cold throughout the following week. I must have made this recipe myself hundreds of times over the years, either to eat right away or for meals later on. While they may not be fancy or especially glamorous in their own right, Essential Baked Tofu Cubes are just that, an absolutely necessary part of easy, healthy, tasty, plant based eating.