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  • jeecauy jeecauy
  • - November 26, 2020
  • - 11:38 am

Black Pepper Tofu “Chicken” Steaks

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Really “meaty” Vegan Black Pepper Tofu “Chicken” Steaks–tofu coated in a peppery, slightly sweet, and really savoury sauce served over rice and a side of sautéed vegetables.

black pepper tofu steaks with rice

HOW TO ENJOY THESE BLACK PEPPER TOFU STEAKS

These pieces of tofu really go well over salads, in wraps, sandwiches, or even as is. I personally love these with steamed rice and some stir-fried vegetables on the side for a really satisfying and filling meal.

black pepper tofu steaks with rice

PREPARING THE TOFU “CHICKEN” STEAKS

What’s the secret to “meaty” tofu? Freezing!

Before being frozen

Freezing tofu creates this amazing meaty texture because tofu itself has little pockets of water in between so when they’re frozen, these pockets expand, creating a coarser and almost meat-like texture when thawed.

frozen and thawed tofu
After freezing

SHOULD I SLICE THE TOFU FIRST BEFORE FREEZING?

For me, the answer is yes.

Though I’ve tried freezing a whole block and slicing it after thawing, I find that it’s much harder to do so because the coarseness of the tofu can pose some problems and easily crumble when sliced after freezing.

So I would recommend slicing the tofu BEFORE freezing. This way you will also have thinner slabs of tofu to work with that you can easily just squeeze out the liquid from.

I used 2 blocks of extra firm tofu for this recipe and simply sliced each one into half, to create around 3/4 to 1” thick slabs of tofu.

frozen and thawed tofu for black pepper tofu steaks with rice

I placed them on a tray and frozen them overnight (though you can totally freeze these for longer and just defrost them when you’re ready to cook!)

AFTER FREEZING THE TOFU

I thawed my tofu slabs at room temperature before squeezing out the liquid. I simply placed the slabs in between my palms and carefully press. Be careful because the tofu can easily crumble at this point!

BLACK PEPPER SAUCE

I then prepare the sauce which is (of course) peppery, savoury, sweet, and with a kick of spice.

As I always note in my recipes, you can adjust the measurements according to your desired spice and sweetness levels.

black pepper sauce

COOKING THE TOFU STEAKS

This is a really simple recipe and all you have to do is pan-fry the slabs of tofu with some oil in a pan until golden brown throughout.

If you’re looking to use less oil, you can even opt to bake the air-fry these slabs of tofu before cooking it in the sauce later on.

The sauce will thicken as it cools and beautifully coat the slabs of tofu!

HALVING THE SLABS, OPTIONAL

I also opted to slice the slabs in half to create triangles. Again, it’s totally up to you! You can even cut them into strips if you really want all the edges to be coated in the sauce.

THE VEGETABLES

Okay so these veggies are totally optional. I just really like to prepare some veggies on the side with my tofu and also find that it’s a great way to cook them down in the same pan with a little water to deglaze the pan and get in the remaining sauce.

I just used some sliced bell peppers and onion.

You can really opt to use any vegetables of your choice.

ENJOY YOUR BLACK PEPPER TOFU STEAKS!

So here’s the final outcome–served the tofu with some rice and the veggies for a super hearty meal.

black pepper tofu steaks with rice

OTHER WAYS TO ENJOY THIS BLACK PEPPER TOFU

The tofu is super versatile and also pairs well as topping for your salad, in wraps, fresh spring rolls, or even on pizza! They’re like “chicken” strips and are packed full of flavour.

black pepper tofu steaks with rice

FIND THE RECIPE FOR THESE TOFU BELOW. Enjoy! 🙂

You can also check out my other vegan tofu recipes here or down below:

  • Tofu “Chicken” Teriyaki
  • Korean Spicy Braised Tofu
  • Fried ‘Chicken’ and Gravy
  • Hakka-Style Stuffed Tofu
  • Korean Spicy Braised Tofu
  • Tofu Katsu
  • Cold Silken Tofu with Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Tofu Sisig
  • Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu
  • Nori-Wrapped Tofu in Spicy Sauce
  • Maple Hoisin Tofu
  • Orange Tofu

Black Pepper Tofu “Chicken” Steaks

4.95 from 17 votes
Really “meaty” tofu coated in a peppery, slightly sweet, and really savoury sauce served over rice and a side of sautéed vegetables. These pieces of tofu really go well over salads, in wraps, sandwiches, or even as is!
Print Recipe Pin this Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Tofu Freezing Time 1 d
Total Time 1 d 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 3 people
Calories 163 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Tofu

  • 1 lb extra firm tofu frozen overnight and thawed (I used 2 blocks)
  • Neutral oil for pan-frying

Black Pepper Sauce

  • 3 tbsp soy sauce or more to taste
  • 1/4 cup room temperature water
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup sub with other liquid sweetener or sugar
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp sriracha or other hot sauce, adjust according to desired spice
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

Vegetables (totally up to you!)

  • 1 small red bell pepper sliced (optional)
  • 1 small green bell pepper sliced (optional)
  • 1 small onion sliced (optional)

For Serving

  • Steamed rice for serving

Instructions
 

Preparing the Tofu

  • Slice your block or blocks of tofu into 3/4 to 1-inch thick slabs. Place them on a tray and then leave to freeze at least overnight to harden. No need to press the tofu or squeeze out the liquid before freezing (because you’ll want the water inside the tofu to crystallise and create the amazing texture!)
    Do note: certain brands and suppliers hold up really well and have a meatier texture while some are more on the spongier side. So it’s also a matter of trial and error and finding which tofu works best.
  • After freezing the tofu, leave it to thaw in room temperature until the ice has melted.
  • When soft, carefully squeeze out the water from the tofu. I did this by carefully placing a slab of tofu between my palms and flattening it to squeeze out the liquid. The tofu will be very delicate at this point so be careful not to over squeeze it since it can easily break apart. Squeeze out the liquid from the remaining tofu. Set the tofu aside.

Sauce

  • Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Feel free to adjust the seasonings depending on your desired taste. Set aside.

Cooking the Tofu

  • Heat a large non-stick pan or skillet over high heat. Add some oil to the pan. Once hot, place the slabs of tofu.
  • Leave the tofu to cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
  • Lower the heat to medium. Give the sauce a good mix again since the starch tends to sit at the bottom and then add in the sauce to the tofu.
  • Once the sauce bubbles, lower the heat and mix well since the sauce will slowly thicken. Leave the tofu to cook in the sauce.
  • It’ll absorb the sauce and the sauce will slowly thicken as it cooks down. Be careful not to cook the tofu in too high heat because the sugars from sauce can easily burn. Scoop up some sauce from the base of the pan to pour over the tofu so all sides can be evenly coated.
  • Flip over the tofu as needed and leave to cook until sauce has been absorbed by the tofu and has thickened into a glaze. Turn off the heat and then slice the tofu into half, if desired. I just cut them up with kitchen scissors!

Deglazing the Pan & Cooking Veggies

  • I prepared some sliced bell peppers and onion to cook down in the sauce. I used the same pan as the tofu and simple added a bit of water to deglaze the pan then before adding some sliced onion and bell pepper.
  • I simply sautéed the vegetables until tender and served it along with the tofu.

Serving the Tofu

  • I served the tofu with rice and the vegetables for a really hearty meal. You can store the leftover tofu in the fridge to use for other meals and slice them into strips to top on salads, or add into wraps. Enjoy!
    black pepper tofu steaks with rice

WATCH Video

NUTRITIONAL INFO

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1162mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a rating or comment and share a photo on Instagram, and tag me @thefoodietakesflight or use #thefoodietakesflight 🙂

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This Post Has 30 Comments

  1. Mat 9 Dec 2020 Reply

    5 stars
    Made this last night and really enjoyed it! It was quiet easy to make, and the tofu had great flavour and consistency. I appreciated that there was enough sauce to cook the vegetables after the tofu was done. I didn’t have peppers on hand but used onion, mushrooms, carrots, and green beans. The sauce definitely has a spicy kick, so as the recipe suggests, be sure to adjust the sriracha and pepper according to the people at your table.

    1. jeecauy 10 Dec 2020 Reply

      Hi Mat, so happy you liked it! Thanks so much for leaving a review, I really appreciate it! ◡̈

  2. Bhavna 24 Dec 2020 Reply

    5 stars
    Love your content!! Keep it up and Happy 23rd birthday ??

    1. Jeeca 26 Dec 2020 Reply

      Thank you so much! ❤️

  3. Africa Smith 3 Feb 2021 Reply

    Thank you for this

  4. Maddie 9 Feb 2021 Reply

    5 stars
    This dish is very easy to prepare and SUPER delicious. Tastes like something I might order at a restaurant but not know how to make (until now!). It is quite spicy for my Canadian standards; some of my friends would likely need to use about half the amount of sriracha listed in the recipe, but luckily I love spicy food, and you did make a note to adjust according to individual preferences. Excited to try more of your recipes!! Thank you!

    1. Jeeca 10 Feb 2021 Reply

      Hi Maddie! Thanks so much for your feedback, really appreciate it!! And happy you enjoyed these 🙂

  5. Lydia 15 Mar 2021 Reply

    Hi, can i just leave out the sriracha sauce if i don’t want it spicy? 🙂 Or would i need to sub something else in? Thanks

    1. Jeeca 16 Mar 2021 Reply

      Hy Lydia! yes you can 🙂

    2. Jeeca 16 Mar 2021 Reply

      Hi Lydia! Yes you can leave out the sriracha 🙂

  6. Jana 7 Jul 2021 Reply

    5 stars
    Delish! Very spicy too! I didn’t use oil so mine wasn’t as lovely as your glazed tofu, but still very tasty!!

  7. Katherine 1 Sep 2021 Reply

    5 stars
    This is really good, and easy. I scored the top of one side of the tofu (criss cross) as an experiment – recommend trying this, it makes it look soooo appetizing. I’ll totally do this from now on if going for a ‘steak’ style. I found that this recipe was enough for two batches…. I spooned it over the pieces as I flipped them…. This immediately joins my make again file – thank you Jeeca, can’t wait to try your other recipes

    1. Jeeca 2 Sep 2021 Reply

      This is such a great idea!! Will def need to try next time ◡̈ thank you katherine!!

  8. Emily D 11 Nov 2021 Reply

    5 stars
    Made this last night! I really liked the texture of the tofu – it was very easy to make and squeezing the tofu was fun.
    The sauce had great subtle spice/heat – did not need any extra seasoning! I served it with brown rice and red bell pepper and mushrooms. Will definitely make this again!

    1. Jeeca 12 Nov 2021 Reply

      Thanks so much Emily! Happy you liked it ◡̈

  9. Leah 22 Dec 2021 Reply

    5 stars
    I made this tonight and it was sooooo good! My family is sensitive to spicy so I used 1 tsp black pepper and subbed the hot sauce with a pinch of cayenne pepper. It was smoky, peppery (not bitey), slightly sweet, savory, and delicious. I will definitely be making this again!

    1. Jeeca 26 Dec 2021 Reply

      Hi Leah, glad you liked it!! 🙂

  10. Olivia 18 Mar 2022 Reply

    Does this reheat well? Looking for tofu recipes that I can take to work for lunch!

    1. Lam Duong 16 Jul 2022 Reply

      Yes, it does

  11. Menaka 4 Jul 2022 Reply

    4 stars
    Made it last night- so easy and packed with flavour! Thank you 😊

    1. Jeeca 5 Jul 2022 Reply

      Thank you Menaka! ◡̈

  12. Lam Duong 16 Jul 2022 Reply

    5 stars
    I had this whole recipe with purple rice mixed with legumes for today’s lunch and it was SUPER DELICIOUS. I made this recipe oil-free by air-frying my tofu. For vegetables, I used a large red bell pepper and a box of cress to clean my fridge. I will definitely have this recipe more.

  13. MiLani 25 Oct 2022 Reply

    Can I ask, why do I need to freeze it and then thaw it? If I skip that step, how would that impact the recipe. I want to make this for dinner tonight and wont have time to freeze the tofu, at least not completely. Maybe 2 hours in the freezer before I need to start cooking. Thanks!!

    1. Jeeca 26 Oct 2022 Reply

      Hi Milani! Freezing creates a ‘meatier’ texture since the water inside the tofu expands as it freezes so it creates these layers within the tofu. You can skip freezing it but will just have the regular tofu texture. If you don’t mind then it won’t be a problem at all ◡̈

  14. Ruth 10 Nov 2022 Reply

    Hi, I made these last night. They turned out so well and my entire family liked them, even the meat eaters. Your pictures were really helpful in making this dish.

    1. Jeeca 11 Nov 2022 Reply

      Thanks so much Ruth! Glad you all enjoyed these ◡̈

  15. Jessie 21 Jan 2023 Reply

    5 stars
    JEECA!! OMG! You may have saved my marriage. Lol I’m a lone vegan in a family of very stubborn omnivores, and I have to do all the cooking. And today, for the first time in my vegan life, my husband approved of a tofu dish. I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head with the freezing technique. We used broccoli and mushrooms for the vegetables, but definitely looking forward to making it again with some other things. This is going into regular rotation with us. Checking out your other recipes, for sure. Thanks so much for sharing this gem of a dish!

    1. Jeeca 22 Jan 2023 Reply

      Oh wow SO SO HAPPY to hear this!! Thanks so much Jessie, and hope you enjoy the other recipes!! ◡̈

  16. Maddie 1 Feb 2023 Reply

    Can this be made without oil?

    1. Jeeca 2 Feb 2023 Reply

      Hi Maddie! Yes you can opt to pan fry the tofu with no oil. It’ll be best if you use a non-stick pan to be sure the tofu doesn’t stick. ◡̈

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Noodles The Foodie Takes Flight

Hello there!

I’m Jeeca, a food content creator and recipe developer passionate about creating easy yet tasty and flavour-packed vegan recipes. I share a lot of Asian recipes inspired by my travels and those I grew up enjoying.

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