One-pan Seared Tofu with Jammy Tomatoes and Basil options crispy tofu nestled in a easy and summery cherry tomato sauce. An ideal Italian-inspired appetizer to share with associates or a lightweight essential dish for date evening! Vegan and Gluten-Free.

This Italian-Impressed Pan-Seared Tomato Tofu turns contemporary summer time tomatoes right into a vibrant and jammy consolation meals. Crispy pan-fried tofu is nestled in a easy sauce constituted of cherry tomatoes, contemporary basil, balsamic vinegar, and on a regular basis seasonings. It’s a unbelievable dish you may throw collectively on a summer time night, then scoop up with crusty bread or serve over pasta!

Components for Tomato Tofu

A block of tofu, summer time produce, and a handful of Italian-inspired elements are all you want for this appetizer or mild essential dish:

• Medium Agency Tofu: it’s the most effective as a result of the surface crisps up properly whereas the within stays smooth. In the event you’d choose a meatier or firmer texture, use additional agency tofu as an alternative.
• Recent Basil: nothing compares to contemporary basil leaves right here. Dried basil simply doesn’t have the identical herbaceous, peppery pop! In the event you occur to be operating low on basil, be happy to mix the basil you do have with contemporary parsley.
• Cherry Tomatoes: they blister and break down in a scorching pan, finally turning right into a candy, jammy tomato sauce. It’s also possible to make the sauce with bigger tomatoes, however I’d advocate slicing them into 1/2″ items and giving them extra time to interrupt down.

The right way to Sear Tofu with Tomatoes and Basil

Serving Strategies

My favourite technique to serve fried tofu with tomato sauce is as a summer time appetizer. I’ll break off a bit of tofu, plop it on a thick slice of this No-Knead Complete Wheat Bread, after which high it with extra contemporary basil and an additional glug of olive oil. YUM.

It’s unbelievable for mild dinners, too. If I’m serving it for greater than a few individuals, I’ll fry slabs of tofu as an alternative of the entire block and organize them on a serving platter with the tomato sauce and basil. That means, everybody can spoon the tofu and tomatoes over a bowl of cooked pasta noodles with this Summer time Panzanella Salad and these 15-Minute Garlic Inexperienced Beans on the aspect. Oh, and also you’ll all the time discover a bottle of white wine chilling in my fridge after I’m making it this manner. 😉

In the event you’re in search of extra vegan summer time recipes made with tomatoes and basil, you’ll additionally love this Spicy Tomato Basil Pasta, this Triple Tomato Basil Orzo Salad, and these Grilled Pesto Tofu Sliders!

The right way to Retailer Fried Tofu and Tomatoes

I choose to eat the seared tofu and tomatoes whereas they’re nonetheless heat. Once I do have leftovers, I’ll pack the tofu and sauce collectively in an hermetic container and retailer them within the fridge for as much as 5 days.

To reheat, add the leftovers to a skillet with a bit of oil or a splash of broth. Heat them up over medium-low warmth, stirring often, till the tofu is warmed by way of and the tomato sauce is jammy once more.

Freezing is just not really helpful.

Take pleasure in! In the event you make this recipe and resolve to share it on Fb or Instagram, don’t overlook to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I might additionally like it when you may go away a remark beneath with a recipe ranking! Thanks for the assist 😊

• 2 tablespoons olive oil*
• 1 block medium agency tofu
• 1-3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon pink chilli flakes optionally available; omit for no spice
• 1 sprig of basil plus extra for garnish
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 10 ounces cherry tomatoes reduce in half
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• Crusty bread for serving (optionally available; may also serve over noodles!)

• Prep: Take away the tofu from the packaging and use a clear kitchen towel or paper towels to firmly press either side of the tofu to take away any extra liquid. (Observe: You’ll be able to select to slice the tofu and pan-fry it that means, however I choose to do the entire block!)

• Sear the Tofu: Heat a medium nonstick* sauté pan and add the oil (see recipe notes for different pan sorts). As soon as the oil is shimmering, add the block of tofu (or sliced tofu) and fry it till one aspect is golden and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip the tofu (or tofu slices) and fry till crisp once more, one other 5 or so minutes. Take away the tofu from the pan and put aside on a clear paper towel.

• Aromatics: Add the garlic, pink chili flakes, basil, and tomato paste to the new oil. Sauté for 60 to 90 seconds, stirring continually, till the aromatics infuse the oil and it turns a lightweight pink colour.

• Jammy Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes and salt to the pan and blend nicely. Prepare dinner for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring often, till the tomatoes have damaged down and you’ve got a unfastened sauce. Add the balsamic vinegar and stir it into the sauce; style the sauce and add additional vinegar or salt, if wanted.

• Serve: Return the tofu to the pan and spoon a number of the sauce excessive (or, switch the whole lot to a serving plate!). Serve heat, topped with a beneficiant quantity of contemporary basil. I like to interrupt a bit of tofu off, plop it on the bread, then high with basil and an additional glug of olive oil.

• Tofu: I choose to make use of agency tofu for this recipe as an alternative of additional agency because it has a barely softer texture, however will nonetheless crisp up properly. You should use additional agency when you choose, although!
• Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes work excellently on this recipe as they’ve a sweeter taste and are very juicy, in order that they break down nicely to kind a sauce. It’s also possible to use a bigger tomato reduce into 1/2” items, however may have to regulate the cook dinner time to permit it to completely break down (and maybe add a small pinch of sugar to steadiness out the flavors).
• Pan Sort: If you’re not utilizing a nonstick pan, chances are you’ll want to make use of extra oil for this recipe. For forged iron and chrome steel pans be certain that there’s a skinny layer of oil masking all the floor of the pan, and preheat it nicely earlier than including any oil to forestall the tofu from sticking.

Energy: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 10gFats: 11gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gSodium: 339mgPotassium: 204mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 487IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 2mg