This mouthwatering recipe combines succulent grilled tofu with a creamy peanut satay sauce, delivering a tantalizing experience for your taste buds. Whether you’re a vegetarian or a meat lover looking for a plant-based delight, these skewers are sure to satisfy your cravings. With the perfect blend of savory and spicy notes, this dish offers a harmonious balance that will leave you wanting more.
So, get ready to ignite your grill or preheat your oven, as we dive into the world of flavors and textures that await you with this extraordinary recipe! If you are looking for other delicious plant-based items to BBQ, you can check out my full vegan grilling recipe collection here.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Experience the delightful combination of flavors in this Grilled Tofu Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce recipe. Tofu takes the spotlight as a protein-rich base that absorbs the marinade’s flavors and grills to perfection.
The marinade, featuring soy sauce, maple syrup (or your preferred sweetener), natural peanut butter, rice vinegar, water, garlic powder, and red Thai curry paste, adds a delightful hint of spice. As these ingredients come together, they infuse the tofu with a harmonious blend of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors.
In the peanut satay sauce, full-fat coconut milk serves as a creamy and luscious base. While all-natural peanut butter adds richness and a nutty taste. Red Thai curry paste, soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and optional sriracha contribute to the sauce’s complex flavor profile. If desired, you can adjust the sauce’s consistency by adding water. This will ensure it is thick and creamy yet still runny enough to drizzle over the skewers.
While the recipe includes specific ingredients, feel free to explore substitutions based on your preferences and dietary needs. For example, you can swap tofu for tempeh or seitan for a different texture or protein source. If you have gluten restrictions, tamari or coconut aminos can replace soy sauce. Similarly, agave nectar, honey, or brown sugar can be used in place of maple syrup or your sweetener of choice.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and tailor the recipe to your liking while still enjoying the fantastic flavors of these grilled tofu satay skewers with peanut sauce!
Helpful Tools
- Grill or Grill Pan: A grill is ideal for achieving those beautiful grill marks and imparting a smoky flavor to the tofu. If you don’t have access to an outdoor grill, a grill pan can be a suitable alternative for stovetop cooking.
- Wooden Skewers: These are essential for threading the marinated tofu cubes and creating skewers. Soak the wooden skewers in water for about 30 minutes before using to prevent them from burning on the grill.
- Tofu Press: Pressing tofu helps remove excess moisture. Allowing it to absorb the marinade better and ensuring a firmer texture when grilling. A tofu press is a handy tool designed specifically for this purpose. You can also use a weighted plate or a stack of paper towels to press the tofu.
- Mixing Bowls: Having a variety of mixing bowls in different sizes makes it easier to prepare the marinade, peanut sauce, and any additional dressings or garnishes. They are also useful for tossing the tofu in the marinade and ensuring even coating.
- Whisk or Fork: These utensils come in handy for mixing the ingredients of the peanut satay sauce. Ensuring a smooth and well-blended consistency.
- Basting Brush: If you prefer to brush the tofu skewers with additional marinade while grilling. A basting brush can be helpful for evenly distributing the sauce.
How to Make Grilled Tofu Satay Skewers
To begin, press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Then, cut it into 1″ cubes.
In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, maple syrup (or preferred sweetener), natural peanut butter, rice vinegar, water, garlic powder, and red Thai curry paste to make the marinade.
Thoroughly coat the tofu cubes in the marinade, allowing them to sit for at least 10 minutes or marinate overnight for enhanced flavor.
Thread the marinated tofu onto wooden skewers, leaving space between each cube.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375-450 degrees Fahrenheit) or preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grill the tofu skewers, turning occasionally, until grill marks appear on each side (approximately 4-5 minutes per side).
If using the oven, place the skewers on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them halfway through.
While the tofu is cooking, prepare the peanut satay sauce. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together full-fat coconut milk, all-natural peanut butter, red Thai curry paste, soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and optional sriracha.
Adjust the sauce’s consistency with water if needed, aiming for a thick and creamy texture that can be drizzled over the skewers.
Serve the grilled tofu satay skewers on a bed of rice, garnishing with green onions, fresh cilantro or mint, and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Tips & Tricks
- Use extra firm tofu: Opt for extra firm tofu as it holds its shape better during grilling. Pressing the tofu beforehand will help remove excess moisture, resulting in a firmer texture.
- Marinate overnight: For maximum flavor infusion, marinate the tofu overnight. This allows the tofu to soak up the marinade and intensify the taste.
- Soak wooden skewers: To prevent the skewers from burning, soak wooden skewers in water for about 30 minutes before threading the tofu cubes. This helps prevent them from catching fire on the grill.
- Preheat the grill or grill pan: Ensure that your grill or grill pan is preheated to the appropriate temperature before cooking the skewers. This ensures even cooking and helps achieve those desired grill marks.
- Baste with marinade: If you want to enhance the flavor of the tofu, baste the skewers with the leftover marinade while grilling. This adds an extra layer of taste and moisture to the tofu.
- Adjust peanut satay sauce consistency: The peanut satay sauce should have a thick and creamy consistency but still be runny enough to drizzle over the skewers. If it becomes too thick, add water gradually to reach the desired consistency.
- Experiment with garnishes: While cilantro, green onions, and fresh lime are suggested garnishes, feel free to experiment with other toppings such as crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, or sliced chili peppers to add additional texture and flavor to your dish.
- Serve with complementary sides: Grilled tofu satay skewers pair well with steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles. Consider serving them alongside a refreshing cucumber salad or a side of stir-fried vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal.
FAQ: Grilled Tofu with Peanut Sauce
While the recipe calls for extra firm tofu, you can experiment with other types of tofu such as firm or silken tofu. Just keep in mind that the texture and grilling results may vary.
Absolutely! To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure that you use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari instead of regular soy sauce. Also, double-check the ingredients of the red Thai curry paste and any other optional additions for gluten content.
Yes! You can marinate the tofu ahead of time and let it sit overnight for more flavor. You can also prepare the peanut satay sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator until needed. Assemble and grill the skewers when ready to serve.
Definitely! If you don’t have access to a grill or prefer an oven-baked option, you can bake the tofu skewers in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even cooking.
While freezing grilled tofu can affect its texture, you can freeze any leftover tofu skewers without the peanut sauce. Thaw and reheat them in the oven or on a stovetop grill pan before serving, and prepare the peanut sauce fresh.
Absolutely! The spiciness of the dish can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of red Thai curry paste or omitting it altogether if you prefer a milder flavor. Feel free to customize the spiciness to suit your taste preferences.
The skewers pair well with a variety of side dishes. Consider serving them with steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles. Complement the meal with stir-fried vegetables, a refreshing salad, or pickled cucumber for a well-rounded dining experience.
Grilled Tofu Skewers with Peanut Satay Sauce
Ingredients
Tofu Marinade
- 1 brick extra firm tofu, 400 grams
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or sweetener of choice
- 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp water
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1-3 tsp red Thai curry paste (adjust to your spice level preference)
Peanut Satay Sauce
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk
- ⅓ cup all natural peanut butter
- 1-2 tsp red Thai curry paste
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 tbsp sriracha (optional)
- water to adjust consistency (if needed)
Garnishes
- green onions, fresh cilantro or mint
- fresh lime wedges
Instructions
- Press the tofu to remove any excess moisture, and cut into 1" cubes.
- Mix the marinade by adding the soy sauce, maple syrup, peanut butter, rice vinegar, water, garlic and thai curry paste in a bowl.
- Thoroughly coat tofu in the marinade and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. If you are meal prepping or preparing ahead, allow the tofu to soak overnight for explosive flavour!
- Skewer the marinated tofu leaving a little space between each cube. This makes about 6 wooden skewers.
- Grill on medium high heat which is 375-450 degrees. Grill each side for 4-5 minutes or until grill marks appear.
- These can also be baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- While the tofu is cooking, mix together the peanut satay sauce. Add all satay sauce ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk together. Adjust the consistency with water if needed. It should be thick and creamy, but still be runny enough to drizzle on the skewers.
- Serve on a bed of rice and garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
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Conclusion
Grilled Tofu Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce offers a delectable combination of flavors and textures. The tofu absorbs the savory, sweet, and spicy marinade, grilling to perfection with enticing grill marks. The creamy and nutty peanut satay sauce adds a rich and indulgent element to the dish. With the right tools and techniques, you can easily recreate this recipe in your own kitchen.
Whether served as a main course or appetizer, these skewers are sure to impress with their vibrant flavors. So gather your ingredients, fire up the grill, and embark on a culinary journey with this delightful recipe. Enjoy the explosion of tastes in every bite!
So delicious and such a great bbq idea thank you!
Thanks Monica! Hope you enjoyed your BBQ 😊
This recipe was really nice! I was looking for something like this to bbq as my family does meat skewers so I was very happy with how it turned out
Hi Hailey thanks to much for the review I also love this for my BBQs with my family.
Amazing loved this recipe!
Thanks so much!
Loved these tofu satays!! I grilled mine in a pan, as o currently don’t have a BBQ. But worked out well
Thank you! I’m glad you loved the tofu satays. Grilling them in a pan is a great alternative when you don’t have a BBQ. Happy cooking!