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Blackened Tofu Tacos with Caramelized BBQ Onions are packed with delicious flavor and exciting textures! Gluten-free. Nutfreeย 

overhead shot of vegan blackened tofu tacos drizzled with vegan sour cream
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Taco Tuesday just got a lot better! These Blackened Tofu Tacos are the BOMB! Thanks to a generous coating of spices like paprika or cumin, the tofu gets a nice golden crust thatโ€™s packed with smoky flavor. Pair that with some crunchy veg, vegan sour cream and sweet and spicy caramelized bbq onions and youโ€™ve got a real good taco on your hands.

overhead shot of blackened tofu tacos drizzled with sour cream and topped with caramelized onions

Iโ€™m telling you, if youโ€™ve never tried blackened tofu, forget everything you thought you know about tofu and give these blackened tofu tacos a try! Feel free to play with the spices to suit your personal preferences, such as adding some cayenne pepper if you want some heat!

You can serve these as burritos or too a seasonal salad with the blackened tofu and bbq onions. So much texture and flavor and works well in any format

tortilla topped with blackened tofu, caramelized onion and sour cream

More Vegan Taco Recipes:

Blackened Tofu Tacos with BBQ Onions

5 from 12 votes
By: Vegan Richa
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Blackened Tofu Tacos with Caramelized BBQ Onions are packed with delicious flavor and exciting textures! Gluten-free Nutfree
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Ingredients 
 

For the tofu:

  • 14 ounces firm or extra firm tofu pressed for at least 15 minutes and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce or use tamari for gluten-free
  • 1 teaspoon oil

For the blackening spice:

  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or chili powder blend
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

For the BBQ onion topping:

  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 1/2 cup of onion
  • A good pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

For the rest of the tacos:

  • lime juice as needed
  • 2 cups of chopped lettuce or cabbage as needed
  • vegan ranch or vegan sour cream as needed
  • tortillas as needed, Glutenfree as desired

Instructions 

  • Press and cube the tofu if you haven't already. Then add to a bowl. Add the soy sauce and 1 teaspoon oil and toss well to coat.
  • In another small shallow bowl, mix all the spices then sprinkle the spices over the tofu and toss well to coat.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.Add 2 teaspoons of oil and let the oil heat up then add in your spiced tofu.
  • Cook for 7-10 minutes or until the tofu is golden, is crispy on most of the edges.
  • You might want to be careful with the end of cooking so as to not burn the spices.
  • Make the BBQ onions: Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook until the onion is golden. 7-8 mins. Stir occasionally.
  • Then add in your BBQ sauce and hot sauce and toss well to coat then take off heat.
  • To assemble tacos, warm your tortillas on a gas stove or a pan then layer a layer of lettuce. Add a good helping of the tofu.
  • Squeeze some lime juice over the tofu then top it with the BBQ onions, more lettuce, and vegan ranch, or sour cream as needed.
  • Repeat for all your tacos and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • Nutrition does not include tortillas
  • You can also make this into a wrap. Add in some slaw, bbq onion, and some rice and roll it up into a burrito.
  • You can also turn this into a sandwich by cutting the tofu into larger slabs then blackening it. Then adding to a sandwich layer along with the lettuce, ranch, BBQ onion, and lime juice.
  • To make these Soyfree , omit the soy sauce and use my chickpea flour tofu or use cooked chickpeasย 

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 457mg, Potassium: 156mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 806IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 155mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Ingredients: 

  • firm or extra firm tofu is used in this recipe. Make sure to press it for at least 15 minutes
  • the tofu gets marinated in soy sauce and oil
  • for the blackening spice, we blend smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and cumin with thyme, chili powder, salt and pepper
  • for the BBQ onion topping, we sautee onion with BBQ and hot sauce
  • chopped lettuce or cabbage as needed
  • vegan ranch or vegan sour cream as needed

Tips & Variations: 

  • It’s important to press the tofu: this can be done using a few dish towels and some heavy books or an actual tofu press. Once pressed, youโ€™ll cut it into cubes. You can do this step up to a few days in advance to save time.
  • You can also make this into a wrap. Add in some slaw, bbq onion, and some rice and roll it up into a burrito.
  • You can also turn this into a tofu sandwich by cutting the tofu into larger slabs then blackening it. Then adding to a sandwich layer along with the lettuce, ranch, BBQ onion, and lime juice.
  • Use tamari instead of soy sauce for gluten-free
  • These also taste fantastic with homemade lime crema
ingredients needed for making vegan blackened tofu tacos

How to make Vegan Tofu Tacos: 

a bowl of pressed tofu tossed in marinade

Press and cube the tofu if you haven’t already. Then add to a bowl.

Add the soy sauce and 1 teaspoon oil and toss well to coat.

tofu cubes tossed with spices in a glass bowl

In another small shallow bowl, mix all the spices then sprinkle the spices over the tofu and toss well to coat.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

tofu cubes covered in spices in a black skillet

Add 2 teaspoons of oil and let the oil heat up then add in your spiced tofu.

Cook for 7-10 minutes or until the tofu is golden, is crispy on most of the edges. You want to be careful with the end of cooking so as to not burn the spices.

caramelized bbq onions in a frying pan

Make the BBQ onions:. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.

Add the onion and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook until the onion is golden. 7-8 mins. Stir occasionally.

Then add in your BBQ sauce and hot sauce and toss well to coat then take off heat.

To assemble tacos, warm your tortillas on a gas stove or a pan then layer a layer of lettuce.

tacos with blackened tofu

Add a good helping of the tofu. Squeeze some lime juice over the tofu then top it with the BBQ onions, more lettuce, and vegan ranch, or sour cream as needed.

Repeat for all your tacos and serve immediately.

a hand holding a vegan blackened tofu taco drizzled with sour cream and filled with caramelized onions

About Richa

Hi, I'm Richa! I create flavorful plant based recipes that are inspired by my Indian upbringing, including many gluten-free, soy-free, and oil-free options.

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5 from 12 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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24 Comments

  1. Colleen says:

    5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe. I drizzled vegan ranch and it was delish! This will be a staple in my house. Leftovers heated up great.

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Yay! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

  2. Sapna says:

    5 stars
    This was very delicious and quick to make.

    1. Vegan Richa Support says:

      Yay!!