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This is a vegan Filipino Rodic’s tapa made using extra firm tofu – yes extra firm tofu, that’s air fried until crisp before being marinated and cooked in a sweet-savoury sauce and served with garlic rice, tofu scramble, and of course some vinegar. This is a very hearty Filipino meal you can have for breakfast or any time of the day.
FILIPINO TAPA
Filipino Tapa is traditionally made by curing beef with salt and letting it dry and cooking it until crisp.
It’s usually paired with seasoned vinegar and a side of fried garlic rice and a fried egg for what we like to call Tapsilog.
Tapsilog is a very famous Filipino dish. Tapa (‘tap’), usually cured meat, is served with sinangag (‘si’) or garlic rice and an egg (‘itlog’ = log).
WHAT IS RODIC’S TAPA?
Rodic’s Tapa is known for its sweet and savoury beef pieces that they shred into smaller pieces. It’s served with garlic rice or sinangag and a fried egg, which when put together makes Tapsilog – tapa (Filipino cured beef), sinangang (fried garlic rice), and an egg or itlog. Tap-si-log from the words (tap)a, (si)nangag, and it(log).
This vegan Rodic’s-style tapa is made using extra firm tofu that’s shredded then baked or air-fried it to draw out excess water to create an almost dried-meat texture.
Rodic’s Diner is an iconic eatery that first opened its doors in 1949 in the University of the Philippines, Diliman which is why it’s almost always associated with UP— which also happens to be my alma matter. Their most iconic and popular dish is beef tapa, which is a Filipino style cured meat.
I’ve seen Rodic’s first in the Shopping Center by Area 2 before it found its new home by Balagtas St beside the Alumni Center on campus. Aside from that, they now have multiple branches across Metro Manila.
WHAT KIND OF TOFU IS BEST TO USE FOR THIS RECIPE?
Using extra firm tofu or tokwa is key for this recipe. Firm might work too but can easily crumble. Silken or soft tofu will most definitely not work since it won’t be able to hold up when shredded.
SHREDDED TOFU FOR THIS RODIC’S TAPA
Shredding tofu and baking or air-frying it to draw out excess moisture creates a unique texture that almost resembles ground meat.
I first stumbled upon this shredded tofu technique on Tiktok and don’t recall exactly whose video i saw but was really intrigued and decided to give it a try. I love how the tofu comes out almost like minced meat, texture-wise, since baking or air frying it really draws out extra moisture from the tofu.
I cooked mine until golden brown and crisp on the edges while some pieces are still white and soft so when you add everything together, you get a really nice mix of textures.
INGREDIENTS FOR THIS TAPA RECIPE
You can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below!
TOFU
- 17.5 oz extra firm tofu or tokwa
MARINADE/SAUCE
- 2.5 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 4 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1/3 cup vegetable broth
VINEGAR, FOR SERVING
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 small red onion diced
- 1-2 tsp sugar adjust to taste
- 1 red chili sliced (optional)
TOFU SCRAMBLE
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 9 oz extra firm tofu tokwa pressed and drained
- 1 1/2 tsp nutritional yeast optional
- 1/2 tsp black salt or sub for regular adjust to taste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Ground black pepper
- Sprinkle of liquid aminos or soy sauce, to taste
FOR COOKING
- 2-3 tbsp neutral oil see notes
TO SERVE
- Fried Garlic Rice (Sinangag) , recipe here
- Tofu Scramble or fried egg (if vegetarian)
- Vinegar for dipping
PREPARATION AND COOKING
SHREDDED TOFU FOR THE TAPA
- Remove the 17.5oz/500g block tofu from the water or packaging and drain from any excess water. Pat dry with a towel.
- Using a cheese grater, carefully grate the tofu into shreds.
- Meanwhile, preheat your air-fryer or oven to 350F/180C.
- On a lined baking tray or air fryer basket (I used parchment paper to line mine), place the shredded tofu and try to spread it out as thin as possible.
- For air-frying, air-fry for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown – do not overcook since it can easily harden and become too dry.
- You can flip the tofu halfway through cooking. It’s also okay not to get even browning and even have the tofu still white, since this can add to the different textures of the overall tofu dish.
- If baking, you may need to bake the tofu for 25-30 minutes or longer.
MARINADE
- While the tofu is cooking, prepare the marinade by mixing everything together. Feel free to adjust to your taste.
VINEGAR FOR DIPPING
- For the vinegar, mix the onions and vinegar together. Mix in some sugar to counter the acidity. Add red chili, if using. Alloe to soak for 10-15 minutes. The vinegar will turn pink from the onions.
- This is best prepared in advance and can be stored for days.
TOFU SCRAMBLE & GARLIC RICE
- You can cook the garlic rice and tofu scramble the same pan as the tapa. I like to cook the garlic rice, then the tofu scramble, before the tapa.
- Heat a large wok or pan over medium. Once hot, add in the tofu and crumble using a fork. Mix in the spices and coat the tofu. Season with some liquid aminos or soy sauce. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until cooked. Set aside so you can use the same pan for the tapa.
TAPA
- Heat the wok or pan over medium high heat, add in the oil. Once hot, add in the marinated tofu shreds. Sauté over medium heat for 2-3 minutes and allow the marinade to reduce until the sugars start to caramelise and coat the tofu shreds.
- Once cooked through and the sauce has reduced, turn off the heat.
SERVE AND ENJOY
- You can serve this with the garlic rice, tofu scramble, vinegar, and sliced tomatoes. Enjoy while hot.
MORE FILIPINO RECIPES YOU MIGHT LOVE
- Mushroom Tocino
- Adobo
- Tokwa’t Baboy
- Filipino Kaldereta or ‘Meat’ Stew
- Fried Garlic Rice
- Lumpiang Gulay or Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls
- Filipino “Pork” Barbecue
- Tofu and Mushroom Salpicao
- Bola-Bola (Filipino Meatballs)
- Lumpiang Shanghai
- Ensaladang Talong (Filipino Style Eggplant Salad)
- Filipino Spaghetti
- Burger Steaks and Gravy
Rodic’s Tapa (Vegan Filipino Recipe)
Ingredients
Tofu for Tapa
- 17.5 oz extra firm tofu or tokwa
Marinade/Sauce
- 2.5 tbsp sugar , adjust to taste
- 1.5 – 2 tbsp soy sauce , adjust to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp minced garlic (optional for colour but highly recommended – see notes)
- 4 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1/3 cup vegetable broth (see notes)
Vinegar, For Serving
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 small red onion diced
- 1-2 tsp sugar adjust to taste
- 1 red chili sliced (optional)
Tofu Scramble
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 9 oz extra firm tofu tokwa pressed and drained
- 1 1/2 tsp nutritional yeast optional
- 1/2 tsp black salt or sub for regular adjust to taste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Ground black pepper
- Sprinkle of liquid aminos or soy sauce, to taste
Tapa, For Cooking
- 2-3 tbsp neutral oil see notes
To Serve
- Fried Garlic Rice (Sinangag) , recipe here
- Tofu Scramble or fried egg (if vegetarian)
- Vinegar for dipping
Instructions
SHREDDED TOFU FOR TAPA
- For the Tapa, Remove the 500g/17.50z block of tofu from the water or packaging and drain from any excess water. Pat dry with a towel.
- Using a cheese grater, carefully grate the tofu into shreds.
- Meanwhile, preheat your air-fryer or oven to 350F/180C.
- On a lined baking tray or air fryer basket (I used parchment paper to line mine), place the shredded tofu and try to spread it out as thin as possible.
- For air-frying, air-fry for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown – do not overcook since it can easily harden and become too dry.
- You can flip the tofu halfway through cooking. It’s also okay not to get even browning and even have the tofu still white, since this can add to the different textures of the overall tofu dish.
- If baking, you may need to bake the tofu for 25-30 minutes or longer.
MARINADE FOR TAPA
- While the tofu is cooking, prepare the marinade by mixing everything together. Feel free to adjust to your taste.
- Marinate the tofu in the marinated after baking/air-frying. Set aside for 10-15 minutes. You can also leave this overnight in the refrigerator.
VINEGAR FOR DIPPING
- For the vinegar, mix the onions and vinegar together. Mix in some sugar to counter the acidity. Add red chili, if using. Allow to soak for 10-15 minutes. The vinegar will turn pink from the onions.
- This is best prepared in advance and can be stored for days.
TOFU SCRAMBLE & GARLIC RICE
- You can cook the garlic rice and tofu scramble the same pan as the tapa. I like to cook the garlic rice, then the tofu scramble, before the tapa.
- Heat a large wok or pan over medium. Once hot, add in the 9oz/250g tofu and crumble using a fork. Mix in the spices and coat the tofu. Season with some liquid aminos or soy sauce. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until cooked. Set aside so you can use the same pan for the tapa.
COOKING TAPA
- To cook the tapa: Heat the wok or pan over medium high heat, add in the oil. Once hot, add in the marinated tofu shreds for the tapa.Sauté over medium heat for 2-3 minutes and allow the marinade to reduce until the sugars start to caramelise and coat the tofu shreds.
- Once cooked through and the sauce has reduced, turn off the heat.
- Serve the tapa with the garlic rice, tofu scramble, vinegar, and sliced tomatoes. Enjoy while hot.
- I like to enjoy this by scooping some of the vinegar with onions over the tapa, getting a scoop of the vinegar-ed tapa and and having it with the garlic rice and tofu scramble.
WATCH Video
Notes
OIL
- I add a generous amount of oil since traditional tapa made of beef has lots of oils from the fat. Using oil for this vegan tofu version ensures it’s not too dry.
TO REHEAT
- For leftover tapa, this can tend to dry up in the refrigerator. To reheat, you can heat a pan and add 1/2 to 1 tbsp oil.
- Once hot, add the leftover tapa and then cook over medium heat until hot and read to enjoy.
DARK SOY SAUCE
- This is what gives the tapa the distinct brown color so if you have access to dark soy sauce or dark mushroom soy sauce, I really recommend you do so. It’s also not salty like regular soy sauce, so a little goes a long way to get it a nice brown color.
VEGETABLE BROTH
- Depending on the vegetable broth used, you may need to use more or less soy sauce. If your vegetable broth is well-seasoned then you can lessen the soy sauce.
- I used 1/2 a vegetable bouillon/cube from Edward & Sons, then diluted it in hot water.
This Post Has 8 Comments
Recipe looks great! Just a question…the marinade ingredient lists sugar twice (2.5 tbsp sugar AND 1/2 tbsp sugar). Is this correct? Just wondering as marinade ingredients per the recipe are all combined, so there doesn’t seem to be a reason for dividing the sugar. Please clarify & update the recipe if required, Thanks 😊
Hi Karin, thanks so much for pointing that out! Totally overlooked it. My bad 😅 I’ve revised it to list just the 2.5 tbsp sugar.
I love Filipino food and this vegan Rodic’s Tapa recipe sounds absolutely delicious! I appreciate the use of extra firm tofu to mimic the texture of meat and the combination of sweet and savory flavors in the marinade. I can’t wait to try this recipe out for myself.
Hope you like it!! ◡̈
This was delicious and special. My non-vegan family ate it up and went for more. Thanks!
So so happy to hear this! hehe thanks Jo!
This was delicious! Thank you!!
Thanks as well Kelsey! ◡̈