Sazon Grilled Tofu Skewers
These grilled tofu skewers are marinated with a sazon seasoning blend and a squeeze of fresh citrusy lime then grilled to perfection. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and high in plant based protein.
Heat up your grill, griddle or grill pan because we are making some delicious tofu. I have the perfect marinade for you, using very simple ingredients including sazon, lime, and tamari. We’ll let the tofu soak it up and then pop it on the grill to cook it up and enjoy.
Easy to enjoy as a high protein vegan option at your next gathering. It also works great for meal prep. Just prepare your skewers and pair with a grain or starch as desired or over your favorite salad.
Key Ingredients
- Sazon: A delicious Latin spice blend you can either make yourself with the recipe below or that you can buy from your local store.
- Tofu: We are opting for extra firm tofu, but you can use super firm tofu if you don’t have time to press your tofu.
- Tamari: Provides umami flavor to the tofu and gluten free options available as well.
- Lime Juice: Helps to balance out the spices from the sazon and amplify their flavors.
- Maple Syrup: To help with reducing some of the sharpness in this recipe.
- Skewers: Technically not a food ingredient, but very important for these skewers!
What is Sazón?
Sazón is a seasoning blend that is used a lot in Spanish and Mexican cooking. Typically the main ingredients include coriander, cumin, ground annatto and oregano. This spice can be found in the international section or in the spice section of your grocery store. It has definitely gained in popularity especially in places that have a higher population of Latinos.
To make your own, you can combine equal parts of the following seasonings to keep on hand for some of my favorite recipes like this Latin Style Lentil Soup or my Moro con Coco.
INGREDIENTS
Just add a tablespoon of each of the following ingredients:
- Salt
- Ground coriander
- Dry oregano
- Ground cumin
- Ground annatto seeds or turmeric (if using turmeric, note that the color will be slightly off as annatto is a brilliant red color)
- Garlic powder
Prepare your sazón by combining these spices together in a jar. Make sure to mix well to evenly distribute all ingredients together.
How to make this Grilled Tofu Recipe
Press your tofu well. I like to use some of the suggested methods from my Tofu 101 Guide. In the very least with pressing your tofu, make sure you try to gently squeeze out any water that might be in the tofu if you do not have time to press it OR use super firm tofu instead.
Make your marinade and whisk well, then add tofu to it and allow to sit and soak up some flavor for at least an hour.
Thread your tofu and vegetables on to each of your skewers. Once grill pan is heated, add your tofu to it and grill until grill marks appear on the surface of your tofu, then carefully flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
Tips for Making the Perfect Grilled Tofu Skewers
- Don’t cut your tofu too thin. I cut each block of tofu into thick chunks to make sure it could thread onto the skewers easily.
- To prevent your skewers from burning, make sure to soak in some water for at least 10 to 30 minutes to help prevent them from burning as they cook with the tofu.
- While I used asparagus and onion chunks to add to the skewers, feel free to use the vegetables you prefer most.
- To make this dish gluten-free make sure you are using a gluten free soy sauce or tamari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Feel free to cut your tofu into different shapes to grill as desired. You can also bake your tofu instead of grilling too. Set your oven to 400F and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges appear browned.
You want to make sure that you are using extra firm or super firm tofu for this recipe. If your tofu is too soft, it will likely have a difficult time grilling and might stick a lot to the grilling surface. Pressing your tofu also helps to make sure it absorbs the flavor of the marinade so it grills perfectly.
I highly recommend marinating your tofu if you are new to tofu or have not enjoyed tofu in the past. Tofu is like a sponge. If you marinate it, your tofu will be able to soak up some of that great flavor, so the flavor shouldn’t just be on the outside of the tofu.
What to Pair Your Grilled Tofu Skewers With
One you marinade and grill up a bunch of tofu and veggies with these delicious seasonings, it really is perfect to pair with so many things. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Paired with some flavored rice or quinoa.
- Topped over a delicious salad with the perfect peanut dressing.
- Add to your favorite nourish bowl.
- Or enjoy with some tostones.
- Paired with the perfect dip.
More Recipes to Enjoy this Summer
Sazon Grilled Tofu Skewers
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These grilled tofu skewers are marinated with a sazon seasoning blend and a squeeze of fresh citrusy lime then grilled to perfection. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and high in plant based protein.
Ingredients
- 2 blocks (450g each) extra firm tofu
- 1/4 cup tamari
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or preferred liquid sweetener
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp sazon
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 medium red onion, cut into large chunks
- 2 cups thick asparagus pieces or other vegetable of choice
Instructions
- To prepare your tofu, drain it of it’s liquid from the container it comes in. Make sure to press excess water out of your tofu and then press the tofu itself for at least an hour.
- In a bowl or ziplock bag, add your soy sauce, lime, syrup, oil, sazon and garlic and give a gentle mix.
- Once tofu is pressed and drained, cut your tofu into chunks and place in the marinade. Give the tofu a good shake or stir and allow to sit in the marinade for at least 1 hour.
- Grab your skewers and start to thread your tofu, onion and asparagus on to it until your skewer is full, then repeat with remaining skewers until all your ingredients are used up. Feel free to customize your skewers as desired.
- Place your skewers on a preheated griddle or grill pan and allow to cook for about 4 minutes until grill marks appear. Then flip to cook on the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. Repeat with remaining skewers.
- Once cooked, remove from heat and place on a cooling rack. Enjoy as is or pair with some of the suggested sides.
Notes
Don’t cut your tofu too thin. I cut each block of tofu into thick chunks to make sure it could thread onto the skewers easily.
To prevent your skewers from burning, make sure to soak in some water for at least 10 to 30 minutes to help prevent them from burning as they cook with the tofu.
While I used asparagus and onion chunks to add to the skewers, feel free to use the vegetables you prefer most.
Did You Try This Recipe?
Then let me know what you thought in the comments below! Share your creations by tagging me on Instagram with the hashtag #plantbasedrdeats
★ Catherine
