An easy to make grilled recipe that needs tofu and an eight ingredient marinade; this Tandoori Tofu Tikka is a great appetizer or a side to serve with naan or parathas.
Plus, the same recipe works for a grill, in the oven or with an air fryer.
This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GrillingWithMazola
Grilling season is upon us and we are ready to make some delicious recipes for family. Kicking off the season with a delicious platter of Vegan Tofu Tikka.
This easy recipe calls for a super easy marinade with ONLY eight ingredients. An important ingredient here is Mazola® Corn Oil. A clinical study showed Mazola® Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, visit MAZOLA.com.
The most commonly asked question when I talk about grilling is whether there are enough Vegetarian or Vegan recipes to make on the grill.
The answer is yes; there are plenty of recipes that are perfect for a Vegetarian diet or even if you are looking for a completely plant based grilling experience.
Various recipes like balsamic mushroom, grilled corn, Chipotle Eggplant, potatoes or balsamic glazed vegetables work really well. Moreover; tofu, paneer, pineapple, tempeh and cheese are great for grilling too.
Jump to:
What is Tofu Tikka
Tofu is an excellent ingredient to incorporate in grilling. The super firm variety holds up well when marinated and grilled.
This Indian style tofu dish is made using tofu and a mix of spices. The tofu pieces are marinated, grilled and served with some sliced onions, cilantro chutney and ketchup.
While this dish is a great appetizer it works well to convert it to a meal too. Place the tikka with chutney and onions on a naan or with some lemon rice to make it a delicious meal.
Why this recipe works
- This tofu tikka recipe is Vegan and gluten-free.
- The recipe takes under 30 minutes from start to finish.
- The marinated tofu and peppers can be grilled right away. They do not have to stand for a long time before grilling.
- The recipe is fairly healthy and high in protein.
- We can also marinade everything and keep it refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- This is a great recipe to make for any party, get together or simply for dinner.
- Enjoy as is or jazz up with naan, chutney and sliced onions.
- The same recipe is super versatile and will work for the air fryer, oven or open grill.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Super Firm Tofu: Tofu is needed for the recipe and the super firm one is the only one that works perfectly. Any other variety will crumble or not hold it's shape through grilling. I would suggest pressing the super firm tofu on some kitchen towels for a while before using. That way all the moisture is eliminated.
- Peppers: To add some crunch to the recipe I have added some red and green peppers.
- Onions, broccoli, corn on the cob or cauliflower can be added too.
- Mazola® Corn Oil: For the marinade we use Mazola® Corn Oil. It creates marinades that make great-tasting food because it has a neutral taste that lets the flavor of your dish stand out. Mazola® Corn Oil is an all-purpose cooking oil that is a heart-healthy* choice for your family. Variety of uses include baking, grilling, sautéing, stir-frying or mixing up a marinade or dressing. To learn more about this claim, visit MAZOLA.com.
- Vegan Yogurt: An ingredient used in the marinade to get a great coating on the tofu and to absorb the spices. Any yogurt works well. I have used Greek yogurt alternate and it works well. If the yogurt you use is thin, drain it in a muslin cloth before using. Vegan yogurt can be replaced with some sour cream or regular dairy based yogurt if making a non-vegan version.
- Spices: The spices used in the recipe includes Tandoori Masala, turmeric powder, garam masala and red chili powder. Moreover, some salt and garlic powder are added too.
- If you cannot find tandoori masala, add some more garam masala and make the recipe. The tofu will not have the same color as the one here but will have a more brownish color.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
How to make this recipe
1- In a bowl add ½ cup Vegan (plant based) yogurt. Then add these:
- 2 tbsp tandoori masala
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp salt
2- Mix it all well.
3 Add 3 tbsp corn oil to the mix.
4- Then add 7 oz tofu, 1 red pepper and 1 green peppers in the marinade and coat evenly.
5- Heat the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes until the sides begin to char.
6- Remove and serve with sliced onion, cilantro chutney and ketchup.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Use super firm tofu to avoid crumbling. Press it between paper towels before using to remove extra moisture.
- The tofu tikka can be grilled as is or can be added to skewers and grilled.
- Greek yogurt substitute works best for the recipe. If using regular yogurt, drain in a muslin cloth before using.
- The recipe doesn't need a lot of marinating time. Start grilling immediately after marinating.
- However, refrigerate the marinated tofu overnight before grilling. It is a great make ahead recipe too.
- Moreover, fresh vegetables like onions, corn, broccoli and cauliflower work well with tofu and peppers to make the dish vegetable heavy.
- The tikkas often get dry after grilling. If that happens, brush some oil during or after grilling.
Recipe FAQs
The recipe works well on an outdoor grill, indoor grill, oven or air fryer; all these methods give similar results.
The recipe works well with assorted vegetables. However, if Vegan is not a requirement; paneer works too.
We use tofu, plant based yogurt sand some oil in the marinade. Thus, the recipe is rich in protein and can be considered pretty healthy.
Tofu tikka is great with sliced onions and cilantro chutney as an appetizer. Add it to a salad bowl to perk up the protein in the bowl. Plus, dunk in rich makhani sauce to make a main dish or add rice and make a biryani using it.
Pairings
We can serve these Tofu Tikka with so many sides. Here are some great ways to pair it up as an appetizer or meal.
More Grilling Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!
Vegan Tandoori Tofu Tikka
Ingredients
- 7 oz extra firm tofu
- ½ cup red pepper (cubed)
- ½ cup green pepper (cubed)
- ½ cup Vegan yogurt
- 2 tablespoon tandoori masala
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon corn oil
Instructions
- In a bowl add all the ingredients for the marinade. Mix well.½ cup Vegan yogurt, 2 tablespoon tandoori masala, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoon corn oil
- Dip tofu and peppers in the marinade and coat evenly7 oz extra firm tofu, ½ cup red pepper, ½ cup green pepper
- Heat the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes until the sides begin to char.
- Remove and serve with sliced onion, chutney and ketchup.
Notes
- Use super firm tofu to avoid crumbling. Press it between paper towels before using to remove extra moisture.
- The tofu tikka can be grilled as is or can be added to skewers and grilled.
- Greek yogurt substitute works best for the recipe. If using regular yogurt, drain in a muslin cloth before using.
- The recipe doesn't need a lot of marinating time. Start grilling immediately after marinating.
- However, the marinated tofu can also be refrigerated overnight before grilling.
- Use fresh vegetables if you like; peppers, onions, corn, broccoli and cauliflower works well with the tofu.
- The tikkas often get dry after grilling. If that happens, brush some oil during or after grilling.
Nutrition
DISCLAIMER: Corn Oil is a cholesterol-free food that contains 14g of total fat per serving. See nutrition information on the product label or at mazola.com for fat and saturated fat content.
DISCLAIMER *very limited and preliminary scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 tablespoon (16 grams) of Corn Oil daily may reduce the risk of heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in Corn Oil. FDA concludes that there is little scientific evidence supporting this claim. To achieve this possible benefit, Corn Oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product contains 14 grams of Corn Oil.
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