Vegan Tofu Bulgogi

Although tofu does not exactly have the texture of meat, this tofu bulgogi is delicious in its own way! It is another must-try tofu recipe that is smoky, savory, and packed with flavors. 

This vegan bulgogi is versatile and can be served in many ways. My favorite way is to serve it with kimchi fried rice and stir-fried vegetables like my snow peas stir-fry for a simple yet comforting meal. 

💚Why you will love this recipe 

• Bold in flavor, fragrant, and utterly delicious 
• Highly versatile and can be served as a main or side dish
• Relatively quick and easy to prepare 
• A vegan dish that is family-friendly and meat-eaters approved! 

🤔What is bulgogi 

Bulgogi is a popular Korean dish made from thinly sliced beef marinated in soy sauce-based marinate that is sweet, umami, and savory. The meat is then grilled or stir-fried before serving. This dish is commonly served with rice and Korean side dishes like kimchi, pickled radish, and other Korean banchan. 

We will use extra-firm tofu instead of beef to make this recipe vegan. I am going with tofu instead of meat substitutes, as tofu is much cheaper and easier to find. They also absorb marinade and seasonings well! 

🍎What you will need 

📃Ingredient notes and substitutions 

• Tofu - Make sure to use extra-firm or firm tofu that has been pressed beforehand. You can press it either using a tofu press or by hand. Check out this post, ‘How to press tofu,’ for more detailed instructions. 
• Grated apple - Traditionally, grated fruit is added to tenderize the beef. I choose to leave it in as it does provide a nice fruity flavor. You can use Asian pear in place. 
• Soy sauce - If you can find Korean soy sauce, I highly recommend using them! However, regular soy sauce works well too. 
• Sugar - I am using brown sugar, but other sweeteners like maple syrup and cane sugar can be used instead.

🔪How to make 

Marinating tofu - Place sliced tofu and all ingredients needed for the marinade in a container. Seal the container and gently toss until tofu slices are well coated. Marinade for at least 30 minutes. 

Cooking the tofu - Grease a non-stick grill pan or cast iron skillet and heat the pan over medium-high. Once heated, arrange the tofu in one layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until both sides are nicely charred. 

Serving tofu bulgogi - Serve your bulgogi with rice, vegetables, kimchi, or other things you like! 

✅Helpful tips 

• Marinating overnight - You can prep your tofu and marinate it the night before in the fridge. This allows the tofu to absorb more marinade, yielding more flavorful bulgogi. 
• Avoid adding the marinade to the pan while cooking - To ensure tofu caramelized nicely, drain them well before adding them to the pan. Excess moisture will hinder the browning of tofu. 
• Avoid overcrowding the pan - Arrange tofu in one layer without overlapping, and leave some gaps between tofu slices to ensure they cook properly. It also makes the flipping process much easier! 
• Storing leftovers - Leftover vegan bulgogi can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave, oven, or a pan. 

✨Variations and add-ins 

Make it spicy - Add some gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) or a spoonful of gochujang to the marinade.

Adding vegetables - You can marinate veggies like onion slices, julienned carrots, broccoli florets, and red pepper slices along with tofu. Cook them separately from the tofu as they require a shorter cooking time. 

Toppings - For additional texture and flavors, top your vegan bulgogi with toasted sesame seeds, chili flakes, and/or gochugaru! 

🍚How to serve 

As mentioned above, this tofu bulgogi is extremely versatile and can be served in many ways. Here are some of my favorite pairings - 

• Rice - Jasmine rice, short-grain rice (aka sticky rice), brown rice, cauliflower rice 
• Side dishes - Kimchi, Korean pickled radish, gochujang stir-fry vegetables, Korean beansprout banchan 
• Condiments - gochujang sauce, ssamjang, more soy sauce 
• Making tacos/lettuce wraps - Make vegan bulgogi tacos or lettuce wraps by pairing tofu with chopped veggies and BBQ sauce. 
• Bulgogi bowls - Pair tofu bulgogi with rice, stir-fried or raw vegetables (like cucumber and carrot), kimchi, and sesame seeds for a Korean-inspired rice dish. 

❔Commonly asked questions

🍽️More vegan tofu recipes

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