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Sofritas
5 from 221 votes

Sofritas

Sofritas is a flavorful tofu-based dish featuring smoky poblano or green bell peppers, aromatics like onion and garlic, and a vibrant blend of spices including cumin, Mexican oregano, and ancho chile powder. The tofu is cooked with tomato paste, chipotle pepper in adobo, and finishes with lime juice for freshness. This preparation creates a textured, rich vegan option with a smoky and slightly spicy profile.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 216 kcal
Course: Side Dish, Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 1 poblano pepper kept whole, or green bell pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided, or avocado oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped, medium, yellow or red
  • 4 garlic chopped, cloves
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano or regular oregano
  • ½ teaspoon ancho chile powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt divided
  • black pepper freshly cracked, generous amount
  • 1 tofu 12 to 16-ounce block, super firm; also sold as high-protein tofu
  • 2 Roma tomato chopped
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo + 1/2 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • lime juice to finish

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Broil the poblano pepper or green bell pepper. You have two options; the gas flame gets you a smokier flavor. No need to peel or remove the seeds when done.a. Broiler: Arrange an oven rack 6 inches underneath the broiler flame. Lightly oil the whole poblano pepper. Add the pepper to a sheet pan and broil for 5 minutes, flip, and repeat. Allow to cool a bit, then remove the stem and seeds inside.b. Gas flame: Cut the stem off from the pepper. Turn a gas burner to high heat. Use metal tongs to arrange the pepper on top of the flame. Using tongs, turn the pepper occasionally, about every minute, until the skin on all sides is blackened and blistered, about 4 minutes total, but do not allow it to turn to white ash or catch fire.
  2. Cook the aromatics. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of oil in a medium nonstick frying pan over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until just starting to get some color. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chile powder, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook until they’ve softened, about 5 minutes. Clean out the pan.***
  3. While the onions are cooking, cut the tofu into 4 slabs. Squeeze out as much water as you can. Crumble tofu into small pieces, about the size of a blueberry. See the photo for reference.
  4. Transfer the onion-tomato mixture to a blender or food processor. Add the broiled poblano pepper, chipotle peppers in adobo, vinegar, and water. Blend until relatively smooth. Taste the sauce, adding any sweetener as needed or more vinegar or salt.
  5. Heat the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu and spread out in a single packed layer and season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Allow to cook 2 to 3 minutes undisturbed. Flip and continue cooking for a total of 12 minutes, stirring only every 2 to 3 minutes, until most of the tofu is browned.
  6. Pour in the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. It’ll start to thicken, so turn the heat to medium or medium-low and cook for another 5 minutes, or until flavors have developed and tofu is saucy. If it gets too thick, add a few splashes of water.
  7. Taste, adjusting seasonings as needed. If it’s a bit tangy, add a pinch of organic brown or cane sugar. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice.

Notes

  • If super firm tofu is not available, extra firm tofu can be used but should be crumbled into slightly larger pieces to avoid mushiness.
  • To improve tofu texture, coat crumbles in cornstarch and salt to create a crisp coating similar to Chipotle’s Sofritas.
  • Adjust the amount of adobo sauce to control heat level; ½ tablespoon results in a mild spice.
  • Cooking tofu separately from aromatics can save about 10 minutes in preparation.

Nutrition Information

Calories 216kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g (24%) Monounsaturated Fat 9g (45%) Sodium 546mg (23%) Potassium 485mg (10%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 771IU (15%) Vitamin C 33mg (37%) Calcium 188mg (19%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 216

% Daily Value*

Calories 216kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 15g 23%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Sodium 546mg 23%
Potassium 485mg 10%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 771IU 15%
Vitamin C 33mg 37%
Calcium 188mg 19%
Iron 4mg 22%

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