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    You are here: Home / Entrees / Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    LAST UPDATED: July 18, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: July 17, 2021

    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    This grilled tofu is the flavor-packed vegan main dish your cookouts have been missing! Soaked in a zesty cumin-lime marinade and served with mango salsa, this scrumptious tofu will be a new summer favorite.

    Grilled Tofu, Mango Salsa and Fresh Greens on a Plate with Fork and Striped Napkin

    I have a love-hate relationship with vegan grilling.

    On the one hand, everything I grill turns out delicious. Like, so delicious that I kick myself for not grilling more often. The smoky flavor of grilled food just can't be beat! So I'm a big fan of grilling at home.

    On the other hand, most of my grilled meals don't actually come from home. And it's the worst feeling ever when you show up at someone's cookout only to see all the veggies cooking on a grill (presumably) covered in meat juice.

    I found the solution when I visited a restaurant a while back where they served grilled tofu that was cooked on a cedar plank. Best. Idea. Ever.

    Jump to:
    • Why Cedar Planks?
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make Grilled Tofu
    • Leftovers & Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Tofu Recipes
    • Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    Why Cedar Planks?

    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    For one thing, cedar planks give your grilled food a delicious woodsy flavor. That's why most people love them. But I especially love them because they provide a buffer between my food and the grill, which, unless it's my own grill, usually has some kind of meaty stuff on it.

    Also, in the case of tofu, I've been challenged in the past with my tofu sticking to the grill. Using a cedar plank solves that problem!

    What You'll Need

    • Soy sauce. Gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos can be substituted.
    • Lime juice. Use freshly squeezed for the best flavor.
    • Maple syrup. You can substitute another liquid sweetener like agave if you'd like.
    • Garlic.
    • Ground cumin.
    • Cayenne pepper. Skip this for a heat-free grilled tofu.
    • Tofu. Preferably use extra-firm or super firm.
    • Cedar plank. You can buy these at most supermarkets during grilling season. Look near when the charcoal is sold.
    • Canola oil. Or use another high-heat oil, such as peanut or corn oil.
    • Mango salsa. For topping your grilled tofu. Feel free to substitute another salsa or sauce.

    How to Make Grilled Tofu

    The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you'd like to skip right to the recipe!

    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa
    • Prep everything first. Press your tofu then slice it into 4 slabs, soak your cedar plank in some water (this minimizes burning), and mix your marinade ingredients together.
    • Place your tofu slabs in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them.
    • Let the tofu soak up the marinade for a while. Give it at least thirty minutes, but longer is fine. You can let it go for up to 24 hours, but be sure to cover and chill it if it will be longer than 2 hours.
    • When you're ready to grill, build a medium fire and remove your tofu slabs from the marinade. I like to brush mine with a bit of oil to help them brown, but you can skip that if you prefer. Arrange the tofu slabs on your plank and grill them until they shrink a bit and darken in color.
    Two Pieces of Grilled Tofu on a Plate with Greens

    Serve your grilled tofu with some mango salsa.

    Tip: This tofu pairs well with just about any kind of salsa, but especially ones with a bit of sweetness! You could also try guacamole or the raspberry chipotle sauce I used for these burrito bowls.

    Leftovers & Storage

    Grilled tofu is best served right away, but the leftovers are still pretty tasty. Store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I'm a big fan of putting the leftovers in a sandwich!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Must I use a cedar plank to make this recipe?

    Nope! I love them for all the reasons I mentioned above, but feel free to throw your tofu right on the grill if you prefer. Just make sure the grates are well-oiled. You won't get the same woodsy flavor, but your tofu will still be delicious!

    What's the best kind of tofu to use for grilled tofu?

    Extra-firm or super firm works best! Some brands of extra firm tofu are firmer than others. I really like SoyBoy and Trader Joe's brands for this recipe — both are pretty firm!

    Can this recipe be made gluten-free?

    Yup! Just substitute gluten-free tamari for the soy sauce.

    More Tofu Recipes

    • Baked BBQ Tofu
    • Sesame Ginger Marinated Tofu
    • Savory Lemon & Herb Baked Tofu
    • Sesame Sriracha Tofu
    • Tofu Bacon
    • Kung Pao Tofu

    Like this recipe? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make it!

    Plate of Grilled Tofu, Mango Salsa and Fresh Greens
    5 from 1 vote
    Print

    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa

    This grilled tofu is the flavor-packed vegan main dish your cookouts have been missing! Soaked in a zesty cumin-lime marinade and served with mango salsa, this scrumptious tofu will be a new summer favorite.

    Course Entree
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Marinating time 30 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Servings 4
    Calories 148 kcal
    Author Alissa Saenz

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • Pinch cayenne pepper
    • 1 (14 ounce or 400 gram) package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
    • 1 medium cedar plank (5 x 11 inches or larger)*
    • 2 teaspoons canola oil, or high heat oil of choice
    • Mango salsa, for serving
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Stir the soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl.

    2. Cut the block of tofu in half, thickness wise, to create two thin slabs. Next cut each slab in half, width-wise, to create 4 smaller slabs.

    3. Place the tofu slabs into a shallow dish and pour the soy sauce mixture over them.

    4. Allow the tofu to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

    5. While the tofu marinates, fill a shallow dish with water and submerge the cedar plank. Allow the plank to soak for at least 15 minutes.

    6. Heat an outdoor or indoor grill to medium-high.

    7. Remove the tofu from the marinade. Lightly brush the exterior with oil and arrange the tofu on the cedar plank.

    8. Place the cedar plank on the grill, away from direct heat.

    9. Cover and grill the tofu for about 20 minutes, brushing it with some of the excess marinade about halfway through. The tofu is finished grilling when browned with darkening around the edges.

    10. Top the tofu with mango salsa and serve.

    Recipe Notes

    If you prefer not to use a cedar plank, you can place your tofu directly on the grill. Skip step 5 of the recipe and generously oil your grill grates before placing the tofu on them.

    Nutrition Facts
    Grilled Tofu with Mango Salsa
    Amount Per Serving (1 tofu slice with 1 serving of mango salsa)
    Calories 148 Calories from Fat 61
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6.8g10%
    Saturated Fat 1.1g6%
    Sodium 913mg38%
    Potassium 320mg9%
    Carbohydrates 15.3g5%
    Fiber 2.1g8%
    Sugar 10.6g12%
    Protein 8.1g16%
    Calcium 17mg2%
    Iron 14mg78%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linda says

      July 22, 2019 at 4:15 pm

      HI Alissa,
      What a great idea to use the cedar plank!! I'm going to try that tonight!! Thanks so much, Linda from Vancouver

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        July 27, 2019 at 4:45 pm

        Thanks Linda! I hope you enjoy it!!

        Reply
    2. Kimberly says

      August 18, 2019 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      Very good I am a retired Chef the flavors goes very well together however I added sweet potatoes mush to the mango with a hit of berries. Vegan Life

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        August 18, 2019 at 9:50 pm

        Oh that sounds delicious! I'll have to give it a try. Glad you like the recipe - thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. Lisa says

      April 26, 2021 at 9:53 am

      Thanks! Trying this now. On the nutrition content, can you please add protein? Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        May 02, 2021 at 8:01 pm

        I hope you enjoyed it! I just added the protein - thanks for catching that!

        Reply
        • Betty says

          July 21, 2021 at 8:09 am

          You’re getting protein from the tofu

          Reply
    4. Lisa says

      July 13, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Serving size in nutrition facts says (1g). Is this correct?

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        July 18, 2021 at 6:20 pm

        Sorry about that! It's for 1 slab of tofu with a single serving (1/2 cup) of salsa.

        Reply
    5. Julia says

      July 18, 2021 at 1:34 pm

      This sounds amazing! I wonder if I can cedar plank in the oven? (I don’t have a bbq).

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        July 18, 2021 at 6:13 pm

        You can! I've never done it myself, but I'm sure there are tons of guides online. I'd go with an oven temperature of around 400°F and bake the tofu for around 30 to 40 minutes.

        Reply

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