Grilled Tofu Skewers – made with pineapple, onion, and pepper — is the ultimate vegan barbecue recipe! It's easy to customize them to your liking. Serve them at your summertime cookouts and 4th of July barbecues. These flavorful kebabs are great as a main dish or a side for your veggie burger. This easy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
Vegan Grilling
I don't know about you, but I don't like to stand over the stove in the summer. We have air conditioning, but even so, I don't like heating up the kitchen with the oven. I'd say that at least a third of my summertime dinners are cooked on the grill.
I once posted something about grilling on Facebook, and someone commented that she doesn't own a grill, because she's vegan. There's so much in the vegan world that can be thrown on the grill! Of course, there's the usual veggie burgers and not-dogs, but you can also grill just about any vegetables, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and even pizza. I've even been known to grill lettuce.
Tofu is especially delicious on the grill. It's best when it's pressed first, and then marinated for a while, so that it's loaded with flavor.
One of my favorite foods to grill is pineapple. There's something magical that happens when it meets the grill, and despite its sweet flavor, it mixes really well with a savory dinner. (Grilled peaches are pretty amazing too!) I like to grill rings and put them on my veggie burgers, grill them with strawberries for dessert, and thread them on to kebabs, like I do in this Grilled Tofu Skewers recipe.
Grilled Tofu Skewers
I like to host backyard barbecue potlucks in the summer, and these grilled tofu skewers are always a crowd pleaser. They're easy to make, and they're not filling, so my guests still have room to sample the other dishes. I usually make them ahead of time and leave in the fridge to marinate. They're ready to go on the grill when everyone arrives.
How to Make Grilled Tofu Skewers
This recipe is super easy to make!
You'll need 10 8-inch skewers. If you're using bamboo sticks for your skewers, it's best to soak them in water before hand, so they don't burn. Be careful with the sticks when removing them from the grill, as they'll be really hot.
If you're serving your skewers as an appetizer or snack, you can use shorter sticks.
- First you mix all of the marinade ingredients together.
- Then you thread the chunks of tofu, pineapple, pepper, and onion on your skewers.
- Next you pour the marinade over the the skewers and let them sit for a few hours.
- When you're ready to cook them, you preheat your grill. Once it's hot, you place your skewers in the grill and close the lid. Cook them on each side for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn the skewers with tongs so that they develop nice grill marks on each side. They'll cook quickly.
- Serve your kebabs and enjoy!
If you don't have a grill, you can use a grill pan on the stovetop, instead.
Customize your Grilled Tofu Skewers
You can easily customize these skewers to your liking!
- If you don't like bell peppers, you can swap them out for just about any veggie. Zucchini and summer squash work really well.
- Tempeh or seitan can be used instead of tofu.
- You can use strawberries or peaches if you're allergic to pineapple.
- If you're sensitive to heat, you can cut back on the sriracha, or remove it altogether.
Grilled Tofu Skewers with Pineapple, Onion, and Pepper
Ingredients
- 1 14-ounce package extra firm tofu pressed, drained, and cubed
- 2 cups pineapple chunks about an 1″ square
- 1 large red bell pepper diced
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- ½ cup tamari
- 2 tablespoon sriracha
- 2 tablespoon peanut oil
- 2 teaspoons agave
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- a pinch of red pepper flakes optional
- 10 8-inch metal or bamboo skewers
Instructions
- Mix all of the marinade ingredients together.
- Thread the tofu, pineapple, bell pepper and onion onto the skewers. Depending on their size, you will have somewhere between 4 and 8 kebabs.
- Place the kebabs in a baking dish and pour the marinade over them. Place the dish in the fridge and let marinate anywhere from 2 hours to overnight.
- Lightly oil the grill and turn the heat on. Once it’s hot, carefully place the kebabs on the grilling grate and close the grill’s lid. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning the kebabs once.
- Remove the kebabs from the grill, and enjoy! Be careful with the skewer – it will be hot!
Other grilled recipes you might enjoy include:
- Grilled Pesto Tart
- Eggplant Wraps with Spicy Tahini Slaw
- Grilled Temeph Salad with Peaches and Pistachios
- Lemon-Rosemary Grilled Tofu Sandwich
Dana
This was excellent and everyone loved it!
Dianne
I'm so happy to hear that!