Vegan Char Siu Tofu
Char siu is one of those dishes that feels almost impossible to recreate without the traditional pork, but extra-firm tofu turns out to be a genuinely brilliant stand-in. After a good press to remove excess moisture, the slabs soak up a deeply savory glaze built from hoisin, soy sauce, maple syrup, five-spice powder, and a handful of pantry staples that together nail that signature sweet-smoky complexity. Roasting at high heat on a wire rack lets the glaze caramelize and char at the edges, giving you that sticky, lacquered finish you'd expect from a Cantonese barbecue shop. A cornstarch-thickened portion of the glaze gets warmed separately and drizzled over at the end, so every bite is saucy and bold. Served over fluffy jasmine rice and scattered with green onion, this makes four satisfying portions that look as impressive as they taste. It's the kind of plant-based dinner that genuinely surprises people — no one is sitting at the table wishing for something else.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the tofu
- 2 blocks (14 oz each) extra-firm tofu
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (such as avocado or canola oil)
For the char siu glaze
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp five-spice powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp red food coloring (optional)
Can be omittedred food coloring
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp cornstarch
For serving
- 2 cups jasmine rice, cooked, for serving
- 2 stalks green onion, thinly sliced, for serving
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Press the tofu: wrap each block in a clean kitchen towel (or use a tofu press) and set a heavy skillet or cutting board on top. Press for at least 30 minutes, until the towels have absorbed a significant amount of moisture. Cut each block lengthwise into 4 thick slabs (8 slabs total).
- 2
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack on top. Brush the rack lightly with the neutral oil.
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