These grilled tofu kebabs are marinated in a flavorful Mediterranean/Moroccan spice blend and charred to perfection. Best served over a bed of creamy hummus with pita and a simple salad!
This is the ultimate summer meal in my book. It's laid back and easy, yet packed with flavor and makes great use of your grill. It's definitely the type of dish I would order at a restaurant!
I definitely don't use the grill nearly as much as I used to when I ate meat. But we're really trying to get a bit more creative with vegan grilling recipes this summer. There's so much you can do with different vegetables, fruits (grilled peaches are the BEST!) and yes, tofu!
Plain grilled tofu is fine, but not altogether that exciting. We brush on a super flavorful marinade of Moroccan/Mediterranean spices. It comes together in just a few minutes and it's super versatile. You can use it on grilled vegetables and other proteins, too!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the marinade:
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice: freshly squeezed is always best!
- Tomato paste
- Salt
- Dried oregano
- Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne
- Coconut sugar: a bit of sugar helps balance all of the flavors. You can sub with brown sugar if needed.
Yes, it's a lot of spices, but that's where you get all of the flavor!
All you have to do is whisk everything together into a smooth paste. Make extra and store it in the fridge for a week for using in a quick dinner.
How to grill tofu
Tofu can be a bit tricky to grill since it's so soft. We always use extra firm tofu for grilling. Anything less firm will fall right through the grates when you try to rotate the kebab.
It's important to remove as much moisture as possible from the tofu before grilling. Not only does this help keep the tofu together on the grill, but it also helps form a crispy, charred outer layer.
To do so, drain all of the liquid from the tofu, pat dry, then wrap in a clean towel or paper towel and set something heavy-ish on top (like a cookbook). Let sit for at least 30 minutes, preferably closer to an hour.
Then, slice the tofu into bite-sized cubes. Thread onto skewers, brush with marinade and you're good to go!
It's important to handle to tofu very carefully when it's on the grill. I use a small set of tongs, which allows me to easily maneuver the skewers without breaking the tofu. I've tried using a spatula, it just doesn't work that well.
Serving suggestions
We love serving these Mediterranean tofu kebabs over a bed of creamy homemade hummus. Roasted red pepper hummus is especially good! You could also serve with another dip, like baba ganoush.
It's also perfect with a quick and easy side salad. This Greek chickpea salad is packed with flavor and is always a huge hit at our house!
To round out the meal, add some pita or grilled bread on the side. If you're feeling up to it, try this vegan naan by A Couple Cooks. It looks amazing! This Instant Pot Rice Pilaf would be another great way to serve it.
More tofu recipes you'll love
If you make this grilled Mediterranean tofu, we’d love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations on Instagram – tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what you’ve been cooking.
Print📖 Recipe
Mediterranean Grilled Tofu
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These grilled tofu kebabs are marinated in a flavorful Mediterranean/Moroccan spice blend and charred to perfection. Best served over a bed of creamy hummus with pita and a simple salad!
Ingredients
- 1 package (14oz) extra firm tofu
- 1 tsp coconut sugar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp coriander
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- For serving: hummus, pita, salad
Instructions
- Drain excess water from tofu. Pat dry and wrap in a clean towel or paper towel. Set something heavy on top, like a cookbook, and let sit for at least 30 minutes-1 hour.
- Heat grill to medium.
- Slice tofu into cubes.
- Whisk together all remaining ingredients until the spices are well incorporated into a paste.
- Transfer tofu to skewers and brush with marinade. Let sit for 15 minutes, then grill for 3-5 minutes on each side, until slightly charred. Optional: brush with more marinade while they're grilling, or reserve some for serving.
- Serve atop hummus with pita and a salad. Use any leftover marinade as a sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Tofu cooks quickly on the grill. Keep a close eye on the kebabs so they don't burn! Be careful when handling the kebabs as they are a bit fragile. I've found that small tongs work best.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 605
- Sugar: 4.4 g
- Sodium: 889.1 mg
- Fat: 54.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.6 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Claire T says
Truly some of the best tofu I've ever had. It's super flavourful and slightly addicting. We served it with tumeric rice, greek salad, and tzetziki. Delicious!
Lexi says
Love to hear that! Thanks so much!
Vicki says
I used the spices in ziploc bag and added cut up tofu and 1/3 cup cornstarch. Shook all together and fried in small amount of oil. Came out crispy and put them in pitas with white sauce for gyros! Outstanding! This is the best spice marinade!!
Stephanie says
The marinade was so flavorful and so easy to make!
Brent Harrison says
Awesome! Thanks for the review!