Tofu is the base of this recipe, along with some delicious spices and a gorgeous sauce that will satisfy everyone. The plain nature of tofu lends itself perfectly to this heady mixture of ingredients for a highly satisfying burger. We've included a variety of toppings along with other serving ideas if you want them (see FAQs below).
These tasty tofu burgers are perfect for family dinners, barbecues, special occasions, or just to have on hand for yourself.
1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha (optional, if you like spice: add more if you want extra-spicy)
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 shallot or small red onion, finely minced
1 tablespoon lemongrass paste (or lemon zest)
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
Drizzle of olive oil
Ingredients for the toppings
One bun per person, toasted
Extra sriracha sauce
Mayonnaise
Sliced carrots
Sliced cucumber
Julienned bell peppers
Sliced red onion
Cherry tomatoes
Extra bits of fresh herbs (for garnish)
Ingredients for the toppings
Method
First, prepare your tofu by removing it from the package and draining the water. Press excess moisture out of the block of tofu using tofu press like this or wrap it in a towel and press weight on top of it. If you use the towel method, leave your tofu in a colander and let it drain for 15-20 minutes.
Once your tofu is ready, crumble it with your hands into a large bowl. (If you don't want to do this yourself, get a willing child to help you).
Add the remaining burger ingredients except for the olive oil to the bowl and mix well. Form into 4 burger patties.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat a bit of olive oil in a skillet and fry the burgers for a few minutes on both sides. You want to get the outside of each burger nice and brown.
Transfer the burgers to the oven and bake them for 20 to 30 minutes or till they're firm to the touch.
Note: If you wish, you can toss in some extra slices of sweet peppers and red onions into the pan with the burgers to cook them together.
Serve your burgers on the buns with the sriracha, mayonnaise, and slices of fresh veggies. Top with a sprinkling of fresh herbs, and enjoy!
The stove browns the tofu burgers nicely, and the oven firms them up. Because you're using tofu, the insides of these burgers are softer than meat burgers. This combo of cooking styles gives the very best results.
You are welcome to experiment with just using the stove or just the oven and see what works for you.
Why do you press the tofu?
Pressing tofu makes it more flavorful. If you think of tofu like a sponge, the less moisture it has inside, the easier it is for the tofu to soak up flavors from the spices and oil.
If you don't press your tofu before frying your burgers, you may notice lots of water in your skillet. Water in the skillet means your burgers won't brown - they'll steam instead, which isn't going to give you the crispy outside we're after in this recipe.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, you can easily use gluten-free buns and gluten-free flour.
What other sauces could I serve with these burgers?
Tofu burgers go well with a variety of dipping sauces, including:
Barbecue style
Sweet and sour
Creamy dill
Honey and mustard
Aioli
Lemon and ginger
What if I don't like spicy burgers?
If you prefer less spicy burgers, you could try this alternative recipe for the burgers. Follow the same method, using these ingredients for the burger mix with the tofu:
Rick Goldman's grandpa was a captain of a California coast cruise. This afforded Rick the luxury of traveling to exciting places along the Pacific Coast as a young boy. He got to try different, exotic foods on these journeys - something he really enjoys blogging about from his grandpa's beautiful garden home today.
