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, weβd love for you to leave a comment and rating below! We also love to see your creations on Instagram β tag us at @crowded_kitchen so we can see what youβve been cooking.
Printπ Recipe
Mediterranean Grilled Tofu
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- 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
- ΒΎ tsp salt
- Β½ tsp paprika
- Β½ tsp garlic powder
- Β½ tsp onion powder
- Β½ tsp cumin
- Β½ tsp turmeric
- ΒΌ tsp coriander
- ΒΌ tsp cinnamon
- ΒΌ tsp cayenneΒ
- β 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.Β
- Heat grill to medium.
- Slice tofu into cubes.Β
- Whisk together all remaining ingredients until the spices are well incorporated into a paste.Β
- 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
Debbie says
Tried this tonight (with slight adaptation as I didnβt have any coriander or cayenne). Instead of grilling, I airfryed the tofu. It was delicious and the leftovers for tomorrowβs lunch are rapidly disappearing.
Brent Harrison says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed!
Denise says
Just fantastic. Made as written and my partner and I both loved it. I may do a larger batch of the dry spices so I can have this blend easily accessible!
Lexi says
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed!
rachel says
Would you recommend a grill pan or the broiler? Winter + snow = no outside grilling! Can't wait to try! Thanks!
Lexi says
A grill pan should work well!
Alison says
Absolutely deliciousβsuch a lovely mix of spices, acidity, and saltiness, with a bit of sweetness and heat! Will definitely make more marinade next time to use after grillingβit was so scrumptious I had to eat some right out of the bowl before I could start grillingβ¦
Itβs so wonderful, I wouldnβt want to mess it up, but I wonder if adding a little sumac, black pepper, or even clove would be tasty?
Lexi says
Thank you, Alison, I'm so glad you enjoyed! I definitely think sumac and black pepper could make a great addition. If adding cloves, I would be careful not to add too much as it can definitely overpower!
Renee says
Hi Lexi,
Planning a big lunch for friends, going to make these yummy skewers, could you make up the day/ night before?
x
Lexi says
Yes, definitely!
dylan says
the best tofu recipe EVER! i make this every other week - it never ceases to amaze me. so delicious. works on baked tofu, chicken and zucchini. but bbq is the best! π
Lexi says
So, so glad to hear that! Thank you so much for your rating and review, it means a lot!
Patty says
This recipe is great! Thanks for posting it!
Lexi says
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed!
Amaranthine says
Packed with phenomenal flavor! So delicious, its one of my favorite recipes and I've made this many times.
Lexi says
I'm so thrilled to hear that, thank you so much for your review!
Kim says
We usually get tofu kabobs from a nearby Mediterranean restaurant, but my family said this recipe was better! The marinade was great for chicken, too. Really good!!!
Lexi says
This is the best review ever! So glad you and your family enjoyed! Appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment π
Jen says
Wow! This is an excellent recipe and so simple. This may be my favorite way to grill tofu. Served it with grilled veggie kebabs and couscous for an amazing dinner!
Lexi says
Thank you so much, Jen! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed!
Helen says
This was delicious, especially the marinade! I just cooked the marinated tofu in my griddle pan on the hob without skewering them into kebabs. Had them with a Greek salad and flatbread with homemade hummus. It was a hit with me and my other half, will definitely make it again π
Lexi says
Oh yay, that is so great to hear! Thank you so much for your comment!
Casondra says
This was ridiculously good! Served with your original hummus (also a huge winner), a traditional Greek salad, pita bread and vegan tzatziki sauce. My teenage sons loved it so much I'll triple the recipe next time!
Nicole says
I donβt ever comment on recipes...but this was truly amazing! I cooked it in the air fryer and it was perfection. The taste was delicious and flavors unlike anything I have had before. Thanks!
Lin says
This sounds yummy & I think may be suitable to air fry. Any thoughts?
Lexi says
Hi! I don't own an airfryer so I'm not 100% sure, but I think it should work!
B says
This is my favorite tofu recipe. My husband wants to eat less meat so we eat tofu once a week or every two weeks. Thank you for this recipe! The sauce is yum!
Lexi says
Thank you so much, so glad to hear that! We have a few more great tofu recipes coming soon, so stay tuned π
Stella says
This is one of the best tofu I have ever made! You have to try it. And it's also super easy to make, seriously! Ivm looking forward to try a few more of the recipe on your blog. Keep it up!
Lexi says
So glad to hear you loved this recipe, Stella! It's one of my favorites! Thank you for your review.