A large white pan of tofu and swiss chard curry with a serving spoon

First up, here's how to cook tofu...

How do you fry tofu?

Tofu always comes with a little of its liquid in the packaging, so its best to drain it thoroughly on kitchen paper before frying, to prevent it from spitting too much. You can then cut into whatever size pieces you like, or even keep whole. Heat 1cm of oil in a frying pan until hot, then fry the tofu on all sides until browned and crisp, around 30 seconds – 1 minute each side. Drain on kitchen paper, season and serve.

To make crispy tofu, cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until really caramelised.

Can you eat tofu raw?

Yes you can. Silken tofu is often served on top of dishes, as its name says it is prized for its soft texture and is sometimes served chilled. Normal tofu can be eaten raw, but is often fried to add extra texture and flavour to it.

How do you cook silken tofu?

This is often cubed and added to soups and stews, right at the very end. As it is quite fragile it is added at the end of cooking to warm through, with minimal stirring as you want to keep it whole in the final dish.

Easy tofu recipes

Crispy baked tofu

This versatile, protein-rich ingredient is given the crisp factor with our foolproof method.

Californian vegan tofu scramble

Check out this vegan breakfast recipe with smoked tofu, punchy chilli and pan fried courgette. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this easy recipe is a quick brunch idea.

Silken tofu

Make this creamy, silken tofu as a vegan side or starter – smother in soy sauce, gochujang and sesame seeds to soak up the flavour.

Tofu stir-fry

Try our easy veggie stir-fry with crispy tofu and crunchy broccoli. This simple recipe is packed with plenty of flavour, plus it's high in protein too.

Vegetarian ramen

Firm tofu, veg and tahini combine to make this warming veggie ramen that’s rich in umami flavours, making a nourishing dinner for two.

A teal blue background with two bowls of veg-packed ramen

Tofu katsu curry

A clever veggie version of a Japanese curry classic, made by coating slabs of tofu with breadcrumbs, baking them, and serving with a curried carrot, ginger and honey sauce.

Yellow curry with swiss chard and tofu

Chunks of tofu soak up the gingery, coconut broth in this easy vegan recipe.

Tofu fried rice

Check out our vegan fried rice with smoked tofu. Make this quick and easy recipe for a low-calorie midweek meal for two.

Mapo tofu

The people of Sichuan love chilli and the lip tingle of Sichuan peppercorns – exactly what this dish celebrates. Add plenty of chiu chow chilli oil to really make it sing.

Vegan stir-fry

This low-calorie cumin tofu stir-fry is inspired by the unique cuisine of Xi’an in central China. Expect bold and punchy flavours, especially from the cumin and chilli.

A white plate with a tofu stir-fry on it, topped with coriander

Kimchi-baked tofu

A traditional Korean food, kimchi (spicy, fermented cabbage and vegetables) adds flavour and health kudos to this tofu dish.

Vegan chocolate mousse

Silken tofu is the secret ingredient for this smooth and creamy (and totally vegan) chocolate mousse recipe.

Crunchy veg and smoked tofu salad with sesame dressing

Try our vibrant salad recipe with crispy golden tofu and crunchy vegetables. This easy dish is vegan friendly and low in calories. More vegetarian salad ideas here.

Smoked Tofu Salad Recipe with Sesame Dressing and Veg

Chilli tofu ramen

One of our favourite vegan tofu recipes. Our chilli tofu ramen is vegan and low calorie, and is packed full of fresh flavours. The chilli adds a heat to the marinated tofu. Try this easy bowl of ramen for a warming meal. Here are our top noodle soup recipes to try.

Cajun tofu tacos

Looking for an alternative to fish tacos? Try our cajun tofu tacos recipe which is vegan, low calorie, and only need 30 minutes cooking time. A great vegan party dish. We love tacos and have loads of easy recipes here.

Easy Tofu Recipes For Best Tofu And How To Cook Tofu

Hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice

A great vegan tofu recipe. Try this hoisin-glazed tofu with stir-fried brown rice. This dish jazzes up tofu and is under 500 calories.

The MBLT sandwich

Check out this impressive vegan sandwich recipe. This MBLT makes a super easy vegan alternative to the British BLT sandwich using shiitake mushroom 'bacon'. Plus, it's low in calories too.

Vegan Sandwich Recipe with Mushroom Bacon

Tofu miso soup

This gluten-free miso soup with crispy smoked tofu is a perfect low-calorie midweek meal. It's warming, cleansing and super easy to make. Make this tofu recipe for a hearty winter dish.

Shan warm chickpea tofu noodle soup

Looking for an alternative tofu recipe? Check out our shan ‘tofu’ noodle recipe which is made from chickpeas and is more like a very thick soup. This tofu noodle soup is a comforting dish.

Seared sesame tofu with noodle salad

A simple tofu recipe that's really indulgent. If you're looking for a Chinese takeaway alternative, try this seared sesame tofu with noodle salad. Red chilli livens up the tofu and the noodles make it a filling meal. A great vegetarian alternative.

Mapo tofu

Check out this easy vegan tofu recipe from the new Taiwanese restaurant XU in London's Chinatown. This super simple recipe is packed with flavour and takes no time at all to make.

Tofu Recipe from XU Taiwanese Restaurant

Banh mi with crispy tofu and pickled vegetables

An easy tofu recipe that is simple to make. Make this banh mi recipe which is a Vietnamese baguette. Our version is filled with tofu, coriander and freshly pickled veg. This easy tofu recipe is a great lunch idea. Create a Vietnamese banquet with our recipes here.