Smoky Spicy Tofu Burger
If you haven’t tried a smoked tofu burger, then this simple recipe will make you a convert!
prep time 15 mins
total time 25 mins
serves 2
There are lots of vegan and vegetarian burger recipes out there that require blending ingredients and making hamburger patties, and leaving them to set in the fridge. This can result in an absolutely delicious homemade burger, but it can also take extra time. One of my go-to recipes when I don’t have as much time (but am craving a burger) is to simply use smoked tofu! It’s as simple as marinating it and frying it to create a protein-packed and flavourful burger filling.
For the burger you’ll need:
1 pack of firm smoked tofu
2 tsp BBQ sauce
2 tsp harissa paste (you can use 1 tsp of harissa powder)
½ a red onion
2 tbsp of vegan mayonnaise
1 tsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp garlic powder
Pinch of chilli (optional)
2 gherkins sliced
2 slices of vegan cheddar cheese
2 tomatoes
Iceberg lettuce
2 burger buns
Before you begin, make sure to squeeze out any extra liquid from your tofu. I am using a block of Tofoo smoked tofu, but use any smoked tofu you can get your hands on (if you can’t get it, normal tofu will still work). I also piereced the tofu with a fork to help it absorb the marinade. Slice your block into four pieces.
Mix up your marinade and coat all four pieces evenly and leave to set in the fridge while you prep the toppings. If you’re doing it ahead of time, you can also marinate them for longer.
Then the tofu is ready to fry in a hot pan with some oil. It really is as easy as that!
Now you can layer your burgers up inside a toasted bun with lettuce, vegan cheese (I like to add a slice of this when the burger is still in the pan to help it melt), sliced tomato, red onion, gherkin and a simple burger sauce (a mix of vegan mayo and ketchup and, optionally, mustard).
Though we have made four tofu burger slices, I layered up two burger buns with two slices each, for a double burger. I think this makes it more of a filling meal per person as the one slice may not be enough. However, if you are eating this as a part of a BBQ for example, or with some other side dishes, then one slice per burger would work really well.
INGREDIENTS
1 pack of firm smoked tofu
2 tsp BBQ sauce
2 tsps harissa paste (can use 1 tsp of harissa powder)
½ a red onion, sliced
2 tbsp of vegan mayonnaise
1 tsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp garlic powder
Pinch of chilli (optional)
2 gherkins sliced
Vegan cheese slices
2 tomatoes, sliced
Iceberg lettuce
Burger buns
METHOD
Squeeze as much of liquid out of the tofu block, slice into 4 burgers, and pierce all over with a fork to help the marinade to penetrate.
Place the tofu in a container, and cover the slices with the BBQ sauce and harissa, making sure all sides are equally covered. Refrigerate for 15-30 mins to absorb the flavours.
Meanwhile, to make the burger sauce, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, garlic granules, and pinch of chilli to a bowl and mix to combine.
When marinated, fry the tofu burgers on a medium to high heat each side, until golden brown. I also like to add the vegan cheese slices for 1 minute on top of each burger in the pan to melt.
You can either make four smaller burgers with all four slices, or I usually make two double burgers. Add a layer of the sauce to both halves of the bun, then layer all the remaining ingredients including the tofu slices as you like, to create the perfect smoky and spicy burger!
notes
You can reduce the heat of this recipe by reducing the amount of harissa used, though I definitely recommend as it really creates a lot of the flavour.
Try this served with my ultimate homemade chips.
