I keep a block of tofu in the fridge for nights when I want an easy vegetarian dinner recipes win. This dish brings tender tofu into a creamy sun dried tomato sauce with garlic and herbs. We get big comfort with little drama and the kitchen stays calm. My family calls it Marry Me because the first bite feels like a promise you will make again. I riff on ideas from 3 Ingredient Dinner Recipes and 4 Ingredient Recipes Dinner when time runs tight. Pan sear or use the air fryer for speed and a light crust so it fits Air fryer dinner recipes and Vegetarian dinner ideas in one neat move. The sauce leans on nuts or dairy to match Creamy tofu recipes and it clings to every bite. Serve with rice or pasta or a hunk of bread and watch plates come back clean. I wrote this for friends who cook with real life in mind. Short steps. Warm flavor. Easy cleanup. If you like a little heat add a pinch of chili. If you love herbs grab basil or thyme. You cook. You taste. You smile. That is the whole point.
Marry Me Tofu by Elena on Elena Cooks
I keep dinner calm with easy vegetarian dinner recipes in reach. I reach for tofu. I reach for a skillet. I reach for a creamy tomato sauce that clings and sings. This plate hits comfort and speed in one go. We eat well and we still have an evening.
We call it Marry Me Tofu. The name sticks after one bite. The sauce hugs each cube. We mop the pan with bread. We feel smart and a little smug. easy vegetarian dinner recipes sit on the table without fuss.
I write this as Elena from Elena Cooks. I test this on busy nights. I tweak heat and herbs. I keep steps short. I keep flavor high. The dish suits small kitchens and big appetites.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Marry Me Tofu Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Marry Me Tofu
- 4 How to Make Marry Me Tofu
- 5 Tips for Making Marry Me Tofu
- 6 Making Marry Me Tofu Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Marry Me Tofu
- 8 Try these Main Course next
- 9 Marry Me Tofu
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
Tofu turns golden and stays tender. The sauce stays creamy and bright. Dinner lands fast.
Pantry items carry the flavor. Sun dried tomato. Garlic. Herb blend. Lemon. A little heat.
The recipe fits easy vegetarian dinner recipes and quick nights. Cleanup stays light. Smiles show up.
2 Easy Marry Me Tofu Recipe
Weeknight cooks need simple vegetarian dinner recipes that still taste rich. This one does that job with tofu and a small list. The stove stays on medium. The sauce builds in minutes. We talk while it simmers. We all relax.
The texture charms. The sear gives a light crust. The inside stays soft. The cream softens the acid. The tomato gives depth. Basil lifts the finish. A dash of chili warms the back of the mouth.
I serve it with rice or a short pasta. A salad on the side rounds the plate. If I host friends I double the sauce. No one complains. The pan comes back clean. Quick vegetarian dinner recipes keep peace in the house.
3 Ingredients for Marry Me Tofu
Extra firm tofu Press well. Cubes keep shape and soak sauce. The bite stays pleasant and neat.
Olive oil A mild oil works. It helps the sear and carries the herbs. The pan needs only a thin coat.
Garlic and shallot Small chop. Soft heat. They turn sweet and round. They start the sauce on the right foot.
Italian herb blend Dry mix saves time. The flavor sits balanced. Thyme and oregano steer the pot.
Red pepper flakes A pinch wakes the sauce. Add more if you chase heat. Keep it friendly for kids.
Vegetable broth A short pour loosens fond. It lifts the garlic notes. It keeps the cream from dulling.
Heavy cream or cashew cream Pick dairy or plant. Both give body. The sauce turns glossy and smooth.
Sun dried tomatoes Chop small. They bring tang and chew. The oil adds rich flavor to each spoon.
Parmesan or nutritional yeast This adds savory snap. Parmesan gives salt and nut. Yeast keeps it vegan.
Lemon zest and juice Zest adds aroma. Juice adds pop. The finish tastes bright not heavy.
Salt and black pepper Season as you go. Taste and nudge. Small moves keep balance.
Fresh basil Tear by hand. Scatter before serving. The plate looks fresh. The flavor feels clean.
Cooked rice or pasta Serve under the tofu. It catches the sauce. No drop goes to waste.
4 How to Make Marry Me Tofu
Step one Press tofu then cut into small cubes. Pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Set near the stove.
Step two Heat half the oil in a wide skillet on medium. Sear tofu on two sides until light gold. Move to a warm plate.
Step three Add the rest of the oil. Cook garlic and shallot until soft. Stir in herb blend and pepper flakes.
Step four Pour in broth. Simmer for a short minute. Stir in cream and sun dried tomatoes. Let the sauce thicken.
Step five Return tofu to the pan. Add parmesan or yeast. Fold with care so cubes stay neat. The sauce should coat.
Step six Finish with lemon zest and juice. Taste. Adjust salt and pepper. Rest the pan off heat for a minute. Scatter basil. Serve warm.
5 Tips for Making Marry Me Tofu
Press the tofu longer than you think. Extra water steals sear. A dry cube browns and holds sauce. Your patience pays back with better texture.
Cut even cubes for even cooking. Small cubes cook quick. Large cubes feel meaty. Pick a size and keep it steady. The pan will thank you.
Keep heat on medium. The garlic stays gentle. The cream will not split. Stir with a soft hand. Creamy tofu recipes thrive under calm heat.
6 Making Marry Me Tofu Ahead of Time
I prep parts. I press tofu in the morning. I chop garlic and shallot and stash them. Dinner then moves fast at night. Less work means more time at the table.
Cook the sauce base a day early. Stop before the cream. Chill it. Reheat and add cream when you plan to serve. The flavor sits deep and mellow.
Air fryer dinner recipes fans can crisp tofu in the basket. Store it separate. Warm it and drop it into the hot sauce at the end. The bite stays light and crisp.
7 Storing Leftover Marry Me Tofu
Pack leftovers in a tight container. The fridge keeps it fresh for three days. The sauce may thicken as it cools.
Reheat low and slow with a splash of water. Stir until the sauce loosens and shines again. Taste and add a pinch of salt if it needs lift.
For lunch I spoon it over warm rice. For dinner I toss with short pasta. Vegetarian dinner ideas start to stack once this sits ready.
8 Try these Main Course next
9 Marry Me Tofu
Marry Me Tofu for easy vegetarian dinner recipes
Ingredients
- 14 oz extra firm tofu drained and pressed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small shallot minced
- 1 tsp Italian herb blend
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 2 cup heavy cream or cashew cream
- 1 3 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes in oil drained
- 1 4 cup grated parmesan or nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh basil for serving
- Cooked rice or pasta for serving optional
Instructions
- Pat tofu dry then cut into bite size cubes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Warm half the olive oil in a large skillet on medium. Sear tofu on two sides until golden then set aside.
- Add the rest of the oil. Cook garlic and shallot until soft. Stir in herb blend and red pepper flakes.
- Pour in vegetable broth and simmer for two minutes. Stir in cream and sun dried tomatoes. Let the sauce thicken until it coats a spoon.
- Return tofu to the pan. Add parmesan or nutritional yeast and stir gently so the cubes keep their shape.
- Finish with lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Rest the pan off the heat for one minute so flavors settle. Scatter basil. Serve over rice or pasta.
10 Nutrition
Serving size one of four. Calories around three sixty. Protein near twenty. Carbs near eighteen. Fat near twenty two. Sodium near five forty. Values shift with dairy or plant swaps. The meal fits easy vegetarian dinner recipes plans and weeknight balance.
Three helpful terms appear here. Simple vegetarian dinner recipes for busy nights. Quick vegetarian dinner recipes for families. Weeknight vegetarian dinner recipes for calm plates. These fit how we cook and eat.
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