🍋🧄 Vegan Lemon Garlic Tofu & Broccoli Skewers

Tender, crispy-edged tofu and charred broccoli coated in a bright lemon-garlic marinade. Perfect for grilling, baking, or air-frying.

Serves: 4
Prep: 20 minutes
Marinate: 30 minutes
Cook: 15–20 minutes
Total: ~1 hour

Ingredients

Tofu & vegetables

• 400 g (14 oz) extra-firm tofu, pressed
• 3 cups broccoli florets
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 small red onion, cut into chunks
• Wooden or metal skewers

🍋 Lemon-garlic marinade

• ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp chili flakes, optional

For serving

• Fresh parsley
• Lemon wedges
• Toasted sesame seeds, optional
• Vegan garlic sauce or tahini, optional

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the tofu: Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes, then cut it into approximately 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes.
2. Make the marinade: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, soy sauce, maple syrup, Dijon, oregano, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and chili flakes.
3. Marinate: Place tofu in a bowl and pour over about ⅔ of the marinade. Toss gently and let sit for 30 minutes. Reserve the remaining marinade for the vegetables and finishing.
4. Prepare the broccoli: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli for 2 minutes, then drain and rinse briefly with cold water. Pat dry. This helps the broccoli cook evenly without becoming too dry.
5. Assemble: Thread tofu, broccoli, bell pepper, and red onion onto the skewers, alternating the ingredients.

🔥 Grill Method

6. Heat the grill to medium-high and lightly oil the grates.
7. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, turning regularly, until the tofu is golden and the vegetables have attractive char marks.
8. Brush with the reserved marinade during the final few minutes of cooking.