Smoked Tofu (Nordic Ware Smoker)
Learn how to smoke tofu! Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just like plant foods, you need this citrus-marinated smoked tofu in your life!
Ingredients
For the marinade (I used the adapted mojo marinade here):
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- ¾ teaspoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Other ingredient:
- 15.5 ounces extra firm tofu, drained (439 grams; non-silken)
Instructions
- Mix all of your marinade ingredients together. Set this mixture aside while you prep the tofu.
- Drain your tofu block, and press any additional moisture out. One way to do this is to place the tofu between two plates, and putting a weight (such as a heavy can) on the top plate.
- After pressing, slice the tofu into four pieces. Place the tofu in the marinade. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours.
- After marinating, lift the tofu out of the marinade and pat the surface of the tofu slices dry with paper towels. Let the tofu rest in a single layer in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours. This drying step will help the smoke flavor adhere to the tofu.
- Set up your full-size Nordic Ware smoker with 2-3 tablespoons of shredded wood chips that are meant for smoking food. I used the hickory chips that came with the smoker.
- Put the drip pan and smoking tray in the smoker. Put the tofu slices down in a single layer on the smoking tray.
- Put the lid on the smoker. Ensure the thermometer is attached properly and the lid vent is closed. Turn your stovetop vent fan on.
- Put the smoker on a stovetop burner and turn the heat to medium-low. Allow the smoker's thermometer to come to 190°F (88°C).
- Once the temperature comes to 190°F (88°C), turn the stovetop to low, and set a timer to smoke the tofu for 20-25 minutes. I chose to smoke the tofu for 25 minutes. Make sure that the smoker stays in the 190°F-210°F (88°C-99°C) range for the entire smoking period. You may need to adjust the stovetop's heat or open the vent on the lid. Keep a close eye on things!
- If the heat on the smoker is rising too rapidly, you can always quickly lift the lid and peek at your tofu. This is an easy way to help bring the temperature back down.
- After the timed smoking period, turn off the stovetop and remove the tofu from the smoker. Extinguish the spent wood chips by soaking them in water.
- If you'd like your tofu to have nice grill lines, heat a stovetop grill on medium to medium-high heat. Grill your tofu for approximately 3 minutes per side.
- Refrigerate the tofu and serve it chilled in your favorite dishes. Enjoy!
Notes
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). The calorie count on this recipe does not include the marinade since most of it is not eaten. Tofu is a lean protein option that may be a great fit if you have a fat loss goal. On the other hand, it is also possible to create calorie-dense recipes with this tofu. (Psst… if this is what you’re looking for, don’t miss my next post for a super high energy vegan burrito bowl!)
Tofu fits many of the most popular special diets, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb. Some brands also provide a decent source of non-dairy calcium. If you have a Nordic Ware smoker and are looking to try something new, why not give this recipe a go? I bet it’s going to win you over!
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcal
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