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Home » Recipes » Recipes

Published: Mar 28, 2021 · Updated: Aug 30, 2022

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

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Oven-baked marinated tofu skewers served with tangy, sweet, rich, creamy and extremely delicious peanut sauce.

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

You guys, this recipe was made out of necessity. As a vegetarian family, we cannot count with our hands how many times we have been disappointed in Asian-style restaurants because they would only have Chicken Satay on their menu. We used to always try asking if they could make it with tofu instead but with the same lovely peanut sauce. Their answer was always no, so we stopped asking and started making it at home instead!

What is Satay?

Satay is a South-East Asian dish that is made from seasoned, skewered and grilled protein, which will normally be meat. When we travelled around Asia we found some vegan options but it's not that common. What makes Satay dishes so special is the lovely peanut sauce they are commonly served with.

The peanut sauce has to be rich, creamy, a little bit sour, sweet and packed with Asian flavours such as ginger, soy sauce or lime juice.

This Recipe is:

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free. The only ingredient you need to change in order to make this recipe gluten-free is the soy sauce for tamari.
  • Family-friendly. Tofu Satay served with this amazing sauce is one of our toddler's favourite treat! He loves dipping the tofu pieces inside the sauce. Leave the sriracha out of the marinade for a non-spicy alternative.
  • Easy to prepare. The sauce can easily be made just by combining all the ingredients. The tofu needs to be left marinating for 20 minutes and then baked. Easy peasy!
  • High in protein. Tofu and peanut are both amazing protein sources. This appetizer or side dish is packed full of plant-based protein.
Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

How to prepare the Tofu

Type of Tofu

For our tofu satay, we use firm tofu. Softer tofu will break when you try to put it through the skewers.

Cut the tofu into 5-6 strips crosswise. The strips need to be thick enough to be able to place the stick after baking. Place them in the container where you are going to pour the marinade.

For our Tofu Satay, we marinate and bake the tofu. You can grill or fry the tofu as well but baking it saves you time and energy.

The marinade

The key to preparing a delicious Tofu Satay is the tofu marinade. This plant-based protein is quite bland in taste and needs a bit of seasoning or marinating before serving. Our marinade is really simple to make and it tastes delicious. You will need soy sauce, coconut milk, sriracha (can be substituted by Sambal Oelek or chilli flakes), maple syrup, garlic powder and ginger powder.

Using a baking brush or a spoon add the marinade on the tofu until all the tofu strips are completely coated. Leave marinating for at least 20 minutes in the fridge.

Baking

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

When the tofu has been marinating for at least 20 minutes it will be ready for cooking. Place the tofu on a baking tray and bake at 200ºC or 400Fº for 10-12 minutes, flip the tofu pieces and bake for further 10-12 minutes. We place a silicone baking mat on our tray before placing the tofu so it doesn't stick to the bottom. Using this mat saves you from using oil when baking to avoid sticking.

Final Step

Once your tofu is completely cooked, leave it to cool before skewering them on the satay sticks.

Homemade Peanut Sauce

As we already mentioned, our favourite part of this South-East Asian dish is the peanut sauce. When we lived in Berlin, we used to go to a Tibetan restaurant where they would serve the best peanut sauce with spring rolls. We could never get enough of that sauce, it was extremely delicious. We mastered that peanut sauce at home to enjoy with our dishes such as tofu satay, this Thai Noodle Salad, our Vegan Buddha Bowl or every time we make summer rolls.

Peanut dipping sauce

Ingredients

Peanut Butter. For the peanut sauce, you will need to use smooth or creamy peanut butter. You can as well, make your own peanut butter. All you need to do is add roasted (unsalted) peanuts into a food processor with a pinch of salt. Blend until you get a creamy consistency. It may take a little bit to reach that consistency and you may need to stop a few times to push the peanuts down the processor walls but it's definitely worth it. Have a look at this amazing recipe by Culinary Hill

Brown sugar. To give a bit of sweetness to the sauce you can use as well maple syrup or honey.

Soy sauce. Dark or light soy sauce will both work for your peanut sauce. If you are using light soy sauce, as it's saltier, adjust the amount. Use tamari for a gluten-free option.

Lime juice. The freshly squeezed lime juice will give your peanut dip that lovely tanginess.

Rice vinegar. Optional. We love adding a little bit of rice vinegar as it's umami-rich and adds a lovely punch to the sauce.

Warm water. Adding warm water to your dip will bring the sauce together. You can adjust this ingredient depending on your taste or the use you want to give to the peanut sauce to make it thicker or more liquid.

Method

Once you have your ingredients prepared, all you need to do is combine them all! Leave the water for the very end and adjust to taste.

Garnish the sauce with some crushed peanuts. We recommend using unsalted roasted peanuts.

Satay with peanut sauce

How to serve Tofu Satay

Place the tofu skewers on one side of the plate. Pour the peanut sauce into a small bowl, add some crushed peanuts on the top and place it in the same plate. Sprinkle some fresh coriander and squeeze a little bit of lime on the top of the tofu skewers. You can as well pour some of the peanut sauce already on the top but the presentation will be better if you keep the sauce in the bowl.

This dish is normally served as an appetizer. The peanut sauce is quite filling and it may be too much to be served as a main. Save any peanut sauce leftovers as you can use it the next days and make a delicious stir fry or Noddle Salad.

Our favourite way to serve this dish is with a lovely homemade Thai Curry whether is Massaman, Green, Red or Panang. You can as well serve it on the side of a delicious Pad Thai or the famous Indonesian fried rice Nasi Goreng.

If you want to add some extra flavour to this recipe have a look at this spice selection, you can get really good discounts using our code: justsixhungryfeet

tofu satay

FAQ and Tips

  • Can the tofu be fried or cooked in an air frier? Yes, you can cook the tofu by frying it or air frying it.
  • What can I use instead of rice vinegar? You can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or simply add more lime juice.
  • What can I do with the leftover marinade? Save the leftover marinade for a noodle salad or a stir fry. You can as well add it to the dipping sauce!
  • Can this be made ahead of time? Yes, you can make the tofu skewers ahead of time and serve at room temperature. Save the peanut sauce in the fridge and mix before serving.
Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce
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4.14 from 50 votes

Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

Delicious Vegan Tofu Satay served with a lovely Peanut Sauce
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Draining + Marinating Tofu50 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: asian, Thai
Keyword: Peanut Sauce, Satay, Tofu Satay
Servings: 12 Tofu Skewers
Calories: 59kcal

Ingredients

Tofu Satay

  • 400 g block of tofu firm
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ tablespoon maple syrup
  • ¼ cup coconut milk
  • ½ tablespoon sriracha
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ginger powder

Peanut Sauce

  • ⅓ cup peanut butter room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon ginger powder or freshly grated ginger
  • ⅓ cup warm water

Instructions

  • Drain any excess of water from the tofu by placing it in between two plates and adding something heavy like a can of tomatoes for example. Leave for at least 20 minutes.
  • While the tofu is draining, mix in a small bowl the ingredients for the marinade: Soy sauce, maple syrup, coconut milk, sriracha, garlic powder and ginger powder. Combine all the ingredients until you have a uniform mixture.
  • Preheat the oven to 200ºC or 400Fº
  • Once the tofu is ready, cut each block of tofu into 5-6 strips crosswise. They need to be thick enough to be able to place the stick after baking. Place them in the container where you are going to pour the marinade and using a baking brush or a spoon add the marinade on the tofu until all the tofu strips are completely coated. Leave marinating for at least 20 minutes in the fridge.
  • When the tofu has been marinating for at least 20 minutes, place it on a baking tray and bake at 200ºC or 400Fº for 10-12 minutes. Flip them and bake for further 10-12 minutes.
  • When your tofu is completely cooked, leave it to cool before skewering them on the satay sticks. Once they are on the stick, place them on a plate to serve.
  • To prepare the peanut sauce, add into a medium-size bowl peanut butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, ginger powder and the warm water. Mix well all the ingredients until everything is completely combined and the sauce looks homogeneous. If your sauce is too thick, add some extra water and if it looks too liquidy, add some more peanut sauce.
  • Transfer the peanut sauce into a small serving bowl and add crushed peanuts on the top. Add to the place together with the tofu skewers.
  • Sprinkle some fresh chopped coriander and sesame seeds on the top for better presentation.

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
If you tried our recipe, please leave a comment or tag us on Instagram @Sixhungryfeet. We are always happy to see your creations! 

If you liked this recipe you should try:

  • Tofu with Spicy Peanut Sauce
  • Tofu Stir fry with Cashews
  • Teriyaki Tofu

More Recipes

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  • 15 Chinese Tofu Recipes
  • Salt and Pepper Tofu

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Charlotte says

    September 16, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    Cannot wait to try this!!

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    October 10, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    Have you ever tried doing the tofu in the air fryer? Wondering if that will work.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 10, 2020 at 6:31 pm

      Hi Laura! Sorry we haven’t try but I imagine it would work good!

      Reply
  3. Judee says

    November 06, 2020 at 12:02 am

    5 stars
    I very seldom follow recipes as I am a creative cook and make it up as I go. But I have tried to make something like this and have not been happy with the outcome. I am going to follow your recipe exactly. It looks amazing!!!

    Reply
  4. Somer Parker says

    December 03, 2020 at 6:30 am

    5 stars
    Peanut sauce is amazing!!!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      December 03, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      Thank you Somer!

      Reply
  5. Priss Maduro says

    December 19, 2020 at 11:37 pm

    Hi. Could I fry them instead?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      December 20, 2020 at 8:31 am

      Hi Priss, yes sure, that will work too!

      Reply
      • GerMae says

        September 05, 2021 at 5:02 pm

        Is there something O can use if I don’t have rice vinegar?

        Reply
        • Laura says

          September 07, 2021 at 3:48 pm

          Hello! you can use apple cider vinegar, I hope that helps!

          Reply
  6. Ruth says

    March 29, 2021 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe tonight! It was very easy to follow and delicious. The marinade was perfect and really flavoured the Tofu. Many thanks

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 30, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you Ruth!

      Reply
  7. Laura says

    April 11, 2021 at 9:35 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. I have made it at least 3 times. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      April 12, 2021 at 7:59 am

      Thank you Laura!

      Reply
  8. CAROL says

    August 27, 2021 at 12:05 am

    So this makes 12 skewers. Is each skewer one serving? So, 258mg sodium per skewer... Two is 516mg sodium... 774mg sodium for 3.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      August 27, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      Hi Carol, if you think it would be too much (still lower than the recommended amount per day) you can buy low sodium soy sauce as this is the main ingredient containing high sodium levels. Thank you! https://amzn.to/3jlY1Gn

      Reply
  9. Yvonne says

    January 12, 2022 at 1:29 am

    I am making this for a friends get together soon. One of them has a peanut allergy so I need to come up with an alternative dip. Do you have any ideas?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      January 26, 2022 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Yvonne, some other great dips would be sweet and sour sauce or sriracha mayo.

      Reply
    • Mariah says

      March 11, 2022 at 3:33 am

      I used soynut butter (usually called wow butter in stores) in place of peanut butter😊

      Reply
  10. Shannon says

    February 10, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    5 stars
    This was just lovely and so easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing this with us. I crisped mine up in a nonstick skillet with a little bit of oil.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 12, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      Thank you Shannon!

      Reply
  11. Emmy says

    February 15, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    I found this to be incredibly bland. It also took about 4x as long to bake to the right texture. The peanut sauce was good though.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 16, 2022 at 10:14 am

      Sorry to hear that Emmy, for this recipe we use firm tofu, can you tell us which type of tofu did you use?

      Reply
  12. Numa Ali says

    March 16, 2022 at 6:01 am

    5 stars
    Tried this recipe today and loved it. Yummy and easy to make. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 18, 2022 at 1:16 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  13. Stephanie says

    March 28, 2022 at 11:59 pm

    Just wondering if you have any recommendations for using the marinade for another dish instead of discarding it.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 29, 2022 at 11:32 am

      Hi Stephanie, you can use it as a dressing for a noodle salad, or even to add to your stirfries.

      Reply
    • Saucy says

      June 27, 2022 at 9:46 pm

      Add it to the peanut sauce, then adjust seasonings to taste. (We always had coconut milk in our peanut sauce.)

      Reply
  14. Nicole says

    April 03, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    Is it the canned coconut milk?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      April 06, 2022 at 8:57 am

      Hi Nicole, yes, we use canned coconut milk.

      Reply
  15. Natalie says

    June 15, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    5 stars
    Tried it last night, really delicious! I left the tofu in the marinade all afternoon. Served it with some white rice and stir fry vegetables. Really great flavor and easy to follow instructions, thank you!!!

    Reply
  16. Julie says

    June 28, 2022 at 11:38 am

    Hi. Would this be good to make ahead and serve cool or room temperature at a party?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      June 28, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      Hi Julie. Tofu can be eaten warm or chilled so I am sure it will be perfect served later. Keep the sauce in the fridge 🙂

      Reply

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