Author: Marry Me Tofu is so creamy and flavorful, that it might inspire a proposal! This easy delicious recipe takes just 30 minutes to whip up. Serve this vegan tofu recipe over pasta, rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes or with crusty bread for a meal that will win everyone's heart. 💞
FEATURED COMMENT:
Five stars are not enough. It's a 10! This recipe is in my regular rotation and I look forward to it. The only complaint is there are no leftovers! - Marg ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Inspired by the trending Marry Me Chicken recipe I decided to make a vegan version of this dish using tofu. If you're new to cooking tofu, check out my Tofu 101 guide for all the basics on pressing, seasoning, and getting that perfect texture. Tofu is torn into pieces (which gives it a chicken-like texture), then lightly floured and then pan-fried to make it crispy and golden. Then a simple garlic cream sauce is made complimented with sun-dried tomatoes and basil. This creamy dish is so delicious that making it for your partner might just lead to a surprise proposal!
But it's not just for lovebirds. This tofu recipe is a real crowd-pleaser and perfect for a family dinner. You won't believe how easy it is to whip up with just a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes of your time. So, whether you're in the mood for a romantic dinner or a cozy family meal, get ready to fall in love with Marry Me Tofu!
Ingredients in Marry Me Tofu:
Tofu: I like to use extra-firm tofu for the best texture. Drain the tofu, but there is no need to press it. Pressing the tofu removes excess water, but in this case we want to keep the moisture so the tofu is tender and juicy once it's cooked. I like to tear the tofu into bite-sized pieces which gives texture much more similar to chicken, and the rough texture grips the sauce better.
Flour: I use all-purpose flour but if you are gluten-free you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or cornstarch.
Vegan Cooking Cream: these days, many stores carry vegan heavy cream options made from ingredients such as oats, cashews, or coconut which are great for cooking and using in this recipe. If you want a homemade option, try my recipe for hemp cream or cashew cream (omit any sweeteners or flavorings). Another option is full-fat coconut milk (the kind in the can), but note the sauce will have a coconut taste. You can also use your favorite plain plant-based milk, just make sure it is one that is high in fat so that it doesn't split.
Nutritional yeast: nutritional yeast has a cheesy flavor so I like to add it to the sauce. If you prefer you could substitute it for equal amounts vegan parmesan or omit it completely.
Sun-dried tomatoes: add a ton of rich tomato-y flavor. If you are not a fan you could try substituting them for roasted red peppers.
Spices and seasonings: Fresh basil, crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper make the sauce rich and full of flavor.
How to Make Marry Me Tofu:
Add the tofu, flour, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl and gently toss to evenly coat the tofu in the flour mixture.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the tofu pieces discarding any extra flour. Fry the tofu for a few minutes per side until golden brown all over. Remove the tofu from the pan and set aside on a plate.
Return the pan to the stove and reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and cook for about 60 seconds until it just starts to brown. Pour in the vegetable broth and use your spoon to scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan while stirring. Add the vegan cooking cream, nutritional yeast, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and salt. Mix well, bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes.
Return to the tofu to the pan with the sauce and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes. Heat through and cook a few minutes more.
Garnish with the basil and serve hot over pasta, rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes or with crusty bread.
Marry Me Tofu is...
- creamy, flavorful, and delicious
- easy to make
- so delicious it might inspire a proposal
More tofu recipes that will make hearts melt:
- Easy Peanut Tofu
- The Best Air Fryer Tofu
- Easy Sticky Teriyaki Tofu
- Tofish & Chips
- Baked Tofu Bites
- Tofu Bolognese
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Marry Me Tofu
Servings:
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Ingredients
For the tofu:
- 1 block (350g/ 12.3oz) extra-firm tofu, drained, and torn into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, (gluten-free if preferred)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Marry Me Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup vegan heavy cream, (see notes for options)
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, (reduce or omit if you don't like spice)
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon salt, (or to taste)
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained if in oil and chopped
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Add the tofu, flour, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl and gently toss to evenly coat the tofu in the flour mixture.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the tofu pieces discarding any extra flour. Fry the tofu for a few minutes per side until golden brown all over. Remove the tofu from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Return the pan to the stove and reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and cook for about 60 seconds until it just starts to brown. Pour in the vegetable broth and use your spoon to scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan while stirring. Add the vegan cooking cream, nutritional yeast, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and salt. Mix well, bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes.
- Return to the tofu to the pan with the sauce and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes. Heat through and cook a few minutes more.
- Garnish with the basil and serve hot over pasta, rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes or with crusty bread.
Andrea says
This is a delicious dish! I doubled the recipe,with the exception of I only used one block of tofu instead of two. I did need to add a cornstarch slurry to thicken it up a bit. Tossed it with penne pasta and yumm! Thanks for this great recipe!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Terrific!
Katie says
Total banger. I made it exactly per instructions, except I also added some frozen spinach at the end - turned everything green lol but SO good. Thank you so much,Sam,happy new year!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Haha, perfect! Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Jen says
Love love love this recipe. I’m so glad I found you Sam. Thank you for all you do to make eating vegan easy.
Paula says
This was fantastic! Used my air fryer for the tofu but still did the flour and black pepper. For the cream I used a vegan yogurt and added it after I took it off the heat. My husband said, “make that again please !” Served over brown rice.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Great, thanks for sharing your experience!
MARY ELLEN Urquhart says
I made this for dinner tonight. It was awesome. My husband & son ate it up. I used oatmilk instead of the vegan culinary cream and the sauce was perfect.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for the review 🙂
Julie says
So yum, and another big hit w/ the fam! So easy and so flavorful! Made your cashew cream, but used sunflower seeds. Will definitely make often!
Julie says
Ok, so for everyone who wondered ~ yes, you can add green chile to this and it's amazing! No one else wondered? Just me? Ok.
Laura says
Hi Sam, I think you meant proposal and not "propsal" in the heading.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Laura, I don't see the typo you are referring to!
Ashley says
It's in the main, framed image for the recipe.
Sam Turnbull says
Oh on the image itself! I see. Thanks for pointing that out, I have gone and fixed it now. 🙂
Debbie Haller says
This is amazing, sauce full of flavour, I added capers and used oat whipping cream from a can for cream. I combined the sauce with Rotini noodles and baked for about 15 minutes. Delicious! Your recipes never disappoint- Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it Debbie! Thanks for the review 🙂
Julie says
Ooooh! Capers! Great idea! Noted for future meal plan ~ thank you for sharing!
FullMoon says
I’ve made this twice now, and it’s my current favorite dish! I used 1 cup of unsweetened canned coconut milk instead of the culinary cream. I also like to be heavy handed with the red pepper flakes. Thank you for such a terrific, delicious recipe!!!
Brittany Erin Cyr says
I wonder if I didn't drain my tofu enough but it would not get crispy!! had to pop it in the oven on broil for 5ish minutes and still not overly browned. The taste was super good though - I'll definitely be keeping this recipe 🙂
Allison says
Made this last night and wow...so delicious and easy to make! I did use coconut milk because I had some left over from another recipe. I also used Thai basil as a garnish. Really love the sun-dried tomatoes in this dish. YUM!!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Yay, we're so glad you enjoyed making and eating this!
Irene Fernandez says
Delicious dinner for two! Nothing was leftover! I’ll make this again!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Wonderful!
Cath says
Can I actually marry this recipe? Delicious! Thank you!
Cath
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Hahaha! We love that you love it!
Sis T says
Hi Sam just wondering if I want to serve marry me tofu in a day or so should I keep the sauce separate from tofu until I serve or do think it will be ok to mix and the reheat on day of serving?
Thanks Sis T
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Sis T! It will be ok to mix and reheat. You may need to add a splash or water, vegetable broth, or culinary cream to thin it out a bit when reheating. Enjoy!
Steve says
This is an excellent, tasty, and easy dish to prepare for a weeknight dinner. My partner doesn't love tofu, but she sure liked this dish! Wow, so good!
I have a couple of your cookbooks and am actually reading them; I appreciate how your recipes help me expand my cooking abilities, vegan or otherwise, Sam. Thanks!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Fantastic! We're so glad you both enjoyed it. Happy cooking!
Amanda says
I air fried cherry tomatoes to add instead and it was still amazing! Would make again.
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful!
dp says
This was awesome! I made it with the cashew cream recipe. How have I been a vegan for over a decade and not known about your site?!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha, I don't know, but I am glad you found me now! So happy you enjoyed the Marry Me Tofu 🙂
Jane says
Decadent. Definitely a keeper.
Shirley says
OH My, This is so delish! I servered over rice and a garden salad on the side... Yum
Cathy Hazael says
This is fantastic Sam! I’ve been waiting a while to make it, but I won’t be waiting long to make it again. It’s a definite winner!!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Fantastic!
Sunny White says
Trying to figure out what went wrong. I followed directions exactly and it was tasty but didn't have hardly any of the sauce as shown in the picture. It was more coated tofu pieces.