Grilled tofu doesn't have to be an afterthought. Here I marinate slabs of firm tofu with lemon, garlic, olive oil, oregano, tamari, and maple syrup for a flavorful marinade that doubles as a sauce.
2tablespoons(30 ml) olive oil or neutral cooking oil such as sunflower oil
2tablespoons(30 ml) maple syrup
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
2large garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1teaspoonfine sea or kosher salt
½teaspoonground black pepper
½teaspoondried oregano
Oil for the grill
Instructions
In a bowl or measuring pitcher, combine the tamari, oil, maple syrup, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Whisk well to combine as much as possible – the oil will want to separate out.
Press the tofu strips gently with paper towels to remove excess water, then place in a shallow baking pan in a single layer and pour the marinade over the tofu. Let sit at least 30 minutes and preferably 1-2 hours (or cover and chill for up to 2 days).
When ready to cook, wipe the garlic off of the tofu (otherwise it will burn) and reserve the marinade. The tofu tends to stick to grills, so I have the best success searing it in a ceramic non-stick pan over medium-high heat until golden, then transferring it to the hot grill to add caramelization. You can also simply sear it the skillet until deep golden on both sides, 1-2 minutes per side.
Alternatively, make sure your grill or stovetop grill pan is very clean, and oil it well. If using a grill pan, heat the pan over medium-high heat until very hot. If using a grill, set it to medium heat. Place the tofu slices on the grill at an angle and cook until it holds deep grill marks, 1-2 minutes per side.
Remove the tofu to a platter and drizzle with some of the remaining marinade. Leftover marinade can be saved and reused if you like.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one of four servings.