Tofu is a truly versatile ingredient, light on flavor but in the best way. It soaks up whatever flavors you cleverly pair it with, from spicy to salty to sweet to tart. Treat it as a wonderfully textured blank canvas, grilling, frying, and baking firm tofu as a stand-in for meat or puréeing silken tofu as a stand-in for dairy or eggs. In our favorite tofu recipes, however, this wonderful block of soy isn’t simply a stand-in—it’s a star. Try these dishes that feature tofu as a headline ingredient.
1. Japanese-Style Fried Tofu
One way to add serious flavor to tofu is by using a marinade. A sweet, tart, salty, and spicy mixture absorbs into the little squares over a day or two before they’re crisped in a pan.