Servings
Font
Back
0 from 15 votes

Savory Tofu Pancakes

Savory Tofu Pancakes are an unexpected and delicious way to use high-protein tofu! Packed with umami and savory flavors, they make a great appetizer, or enjoy them as a main course alongside rice or noodles and a side salad.Inspired by and adapted from Mark Bittman's tofu pancakes recipe in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.Yield: 7-8 small pancakes

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
22 mins
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 205 kcal
Course: Main Course , Breakfast , Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces super firm tofu, patted dry see Notes
  • ⅓ cup chopped shallot or onion
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 2 Tablespoons tamari or soy sauce if not GF
  • 1 Tablespoon Tahini or peanut butter
  • ¾ cup water
  • ⅓ cup gluten-free all purpose flour I use King Arthur Measure for Measure
  • black pepper to taste
  • half sheet nori seaweed cut into 2 x ½-inch strips, optional
For the Spicy Ketchup:
  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha or other chili garlic sauce
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over low/medium-low heat. 
  2. Crumble the tofu into the bowl of a food processor, and add the shallot, garlic, tamari, tahini, and ½ cup of water (Note: if using extra-firm tofu, ¼-⅓ cup water should be enough). Process until smooth. You want a very thin, watery looking batter at this stage. Add the remaining ¼ cup water, and blend again.
  3. Transfer the tofu mixture to a large bowl, and whisk in the flour and black pepper. It should be thicker than regular pancake batter, but still pourable. If it looks too thick, whisk in another 1-2 tablespoon water.
  4. Scoop up ⅓ cup batter, and pour onto the hot surface. Use the side of the measuring cup or a spoon to gently spread it out into a thin pancake. If too thick the centers won't cook properly. Arrange several strips of nori on top of each pancake. Cook undisturbed until the edges are golden and set and the centers look barely creamy. This may take 6-7 minutes (these cook more slowly than regular pancakes). If the bottoms are browning too quickly reduce the heat. It's important that the first side cooks long enough, or the tofu will be too soft when you try to flip them. Tip: As you start to slide a spatula underneath, if the edges fold in on themselves, it's too soon to flip. Adjust the heat as needed.
  5. Flip and cook until the other sides are golden and the pancakes are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Note that these are softer and more fragile than regular pancakes because of the amount of tofu. Transfer to a plate.
  6. Make the spicy ketchup by stirring all ingredients together in a small bowl. Serve with the warm tofu pancakes.

Notes

  • Tofu: I've had the best results with super-firm tofu, but extra-firm also works. Since it contains a lot more water than super firm, achieving the proper consistency in the batter is a bit trickier. Only add ¼ cup water to the food processor. When pouring it into the mixing bowl and adding the GF flour, you can decide whether it needs more.
  • Variations:
  • Store leftover tofu pancakes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and reheat in the microwave, oven, or on the stove. 
  • With Herbs: Omit the nori and add fresh herbs like chives, parsley, dill, etc.
  • With Herbs: Omit the nori and add fresh herbs like chives, parsley, dill, etc.
  • Cheesy: Swap the nori for some vegan cheddar shreds, throw in some scallions, and serve with plant-based sour cream in place of the ketchup.
  • Cheesy: Swap the nori for some vegan cheddar shreds, throw in some scallions, and serve with plant-based sour cream in place of the ketchup.
  • With Chorizo: Replace the nori with some crumbled Vegan Chorizo for a Mexican-inspired twist. Serve with Vegan Queso Fresco, sour cream or guacamole.
  • With Chorizo: Replace the nori with some crumbled Vegan Chorizo for a Mexican-inspired twist. Serve with Vegan Queso Fresco, sour cream or guacamole.

Nutrition Information

Calories 205kcal (10%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 15g (30%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Fiber 2g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 205

% Daily Value*

Calories 205kcal 10%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 15g 30%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Fiber 2g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.