These Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls are packed with flavor and toppings. Pair with steamed sushi rice and your favorite stir-fried vegetables!

Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite dinners: Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls! I’m a huge fan of dishes that call for lots of toppings and garnishes. 

This Asian-inspired grilled tofu bowl is one of those types of meals. It starts with a base of sushi rice topped with your choice of stir-fried vegetables, and is topped with my favorite marinated and grilled tofu. 

Plus all the toppings! 

how to make asian grilled tofu

Tofu is one of my favorite proteins to cook in the kitchen, as evidenced by this Thai Red Curry Tofu and No Cook Spicy Tofu. It is incredibly affordable and the perfect canvas for all sorts of flavors! 

Since tofu is naturally bland, it is essential that it is aggressively seasoned. Traditional Asian food covers all of the major tastes and flavors – sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter, and umami.

grilled asian tofu marinade ingredients

This tofu marinade recipe incorporates many of these flavors.

You’ll need creamy (unsalted) peanut butter, lots of soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, garlic, fresh ginger, red pepper flakes, and toasted sesame oil. Since fresh cilantro is one of the garnishes, we’ll also throw in some cilantro stems as well. 

Before marinading the tofu, it is important to press it thoroughly to remove as much moisture as possible. Here is my favorite (waste-free!) guide on how to press tofu.

sliced tofu

After pressing the tofu, we’ll slice it into thin slices, place it on a small sheet pan, and add the marinade.

It is important that the tofu slices are fully coated on both sides with the marinade for best results. Allow the tofu to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 5 to 6 hours (or up to overnight) for best results. 

How to Make Marinated Tofu

Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls Components: 

  • steamed sushi rice
  • stir-fried vegetables (my favorite is onions, bell pepper, and red cabbage stir fried with garlic, ginger, scallions, and cilantro) 
  • grilled Asian tofu (see recipe below)

Tofu Bowl Toppings: 

  • soy sauce 
  • lime wedges 
  • crushed toasted and unsalted eeanuts (buy whole peanuts and pulse in food processor a few times)
  • thinly sliced green onion
  • cilantro leaves
  • sriracha hot sauce

Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls

Do not skimp on any toppings for this dish! 

Squeeze on lots of lime juice, add a handful of crushed peanuts, sliced green onion, cilantro, and a little drizzle of soy sauce. They really take this dish to the next level. 

Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls

Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls

5 stars (2 ratings)
These Grilled Asian Tofu Bowls are packed with flavor and toppings, and make for a delicious vegetarian meal any day of the week. Serve the grilled tofu with steamed sushi rice and your favorite stir-fried vegetable mixture. Top with lots of fresh lime juice, sliced green onion, cilantro leaves, crushed unsalted peanuts, and a drizzle of soy sauce.

Ingredients

Grilled Asian Tofu:

  • 2 (14-ounce) packages firm tofu, drained and pressed
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • ¼ cup creamy unsalted peanut butter
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1-inch chunk fresh ginger peeled and roughly chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
  • handful cilantro stems

Assembly:

  • steamed sushi rice
  • stir-fried vegetables
  • grilled Asian tofu slices see recipe above

Bowl Toppings:

  • lime wedges for squeezing
  • cilantro leaves
  • crushed unsalted (dry roasted) peanuts
  • thinly sliced green onion
  • soy sauce
  • sriracha hot sauce

Instructions 

  • Prepare Tofu Marinade: Drain and press the tofu blocks. Slice the tofu into ½-inch rectangular slices (each block should yield 7-8 slices). In a small food processor, combine the marinade ingredients and pulse until mostly smooth.
  • Pour half of the marinade onto a quarter-size sheet pan and spread out evenly to fill the pan. Top with the tofu slices, spacing them tightly together, and pour on the remaining marinade - brushing it evenly over the tops of the tofu slices. Ensure all of the tofu slices are evenly coated in the marinade mixture. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours (or overnight, if desired).
  • How to Cook: Heat a non-stick grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the tofu slices directly from the marinade and spread onto the grill pan (cook tofu in batches; do not crowd). Grill until golden brown, roughly 2 to 3 minutes per side.
  • Assemble and Serve: Serve grilled tofu on steamed sushi rice alongside your favorite stir-fried vegetable mixture. Garnish generously with toppings: fresh lime juice, cilantro leaves, crushed peanuts, sliced green onion, a drizzle of soy sauce, and sriracha hot sauce.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 294kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 1433mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g