Tandoori Tofu
This vegetarian builds firm or extra-firm tofu, plain yogurt and garam masala into a comforting meal you can have ready in about 65 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and grill / broiler. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Drain the tofu and press it between paper towels under a weighted plate for at least 20 minutes to remove excess moisture so it will absorb the marinade.
- Cut the pressed tofu into bite-sized cubes and place them in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, oil, garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, minced garlic, grated ginger, lemon juice and salt to form a thick tandoori marinade.
- Pour the marinade over the tofu and toss gently until every piece is evenly coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 220°C and line a baking tray with parchment, or thread the tofu onto skewers if grilling.
- Arrange the marinated tofu in a single layer with space between the pieces and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway, until the edges are charred and the coating has set.
- Rest the tofu for a few minutes, then serve hot with a squeeze of lemon, alongside rice, naan or a fresh salad.
You'll use: Oven · Grill / broiler · Whisk · Baking tray
Ingredient substitutions
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
Tips & common questions
How long does Tandoori Tofu take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of lemon?
Try lime. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Tandoori Tofu vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Tandoori Tofu is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Tandoori tofu with vegetables and noodles. IMG 0313.jpg by panuhorsmalahti, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.