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This Balsamic Tofu Sandwich is easy to make and super flavorful! Pile fresh greens, creamy garlic aioli and seasoned tofu on some hearty ciabatta bread and you have yourself a delicious vegan lunch or light dinner.
Is there anything better than a really good sandwich? This Balsamic Tofu Sandwich is definitely my new favorite, it’s got everything you could ever want in a sandwich. It’s warm, juicy, full of fresh flavors, and will melt in your mouth. I love everything about it – even the slight messiness of eating it.
Not only is this sandwich recipe super tasty, but it’s also easy to customize – choose your favorite bread, greens, add any extra veggies you’d like and then spread on whatever condiments you’re craving. You could even add cheese if you’d like!
Ingredients
This tofu sandwich is simple, but PACKED with flavor! Here is everything you’ll need:
- Tofu. Protein-rich, low in calories, and budget-friendly; tofu is a great plant-based substitute for chicken or turkey in this recipe. A firm or extra firm tofu is best here!
- Marinade. A simple mix of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, water, maple syrup, garlic, and salt gives this tofu so much delicious flavor!
- Bread. I love piling my seasoned tofu on hearty ciabatta rolls, but you can really use any bread you’d like.
- Garlic aioli. I’m obsessed with the taste of this homemade garlic aioli, but feel free to just use mayo or another spread that you have available.
- Greens. I used arugula for this sandwich, but any greens work.
How to make this recipe
Loaded with marinated baked tofu, fresh greens and a simple garlic aioli, this tofu sandwich is a masterpiece! Trust me even meat lovers will love this sandwich! Here’s how to make it:
You can find the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of this page, but let’s walk through all of the steps.
- Prep the tofu. Follow my instructions HERE for pressing the tofu, and then, cut it into thin pieces.
- Make the marinade. I like to whisk together my marinade directly in the dish/bag where I plan to marinate the tofu. A plastic baggie, stasher bag, or really any kind of shallow resealable container works well. Add all of the tofu marinade ingredients (minus the tofu) and whisk until fully combined.
- Marinate tofu. Add in your tofu pieces into the marinade and let it soak for 30 minutes or even overnight.
- Bake the tofu. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a large baking tray with cooking spray. Remove the tofu from the marinade and line it all up on the baking pan. Bake for 18-25 minutes, flipping halfway, or until browned on both sides all around the edges. The bake time will depend largely on the thickness of your tofu slices.
- Assemble the sandwiches. Divide the tofu, garlic aioli, and greens evenly among the 2 ciabatta rolls. Serve and ENJOY!
Serving suggestions
Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to what to serve with a tasty sandwich!
To me, there’s nothing better than a sandwich and cup of soup for lunch! This one would taste great with a cup of potato leek soup, or broccoli soup. Or have it with a fresh green salad for a healthy side!
You could also slice up some summer melons to serve as an attractive and easy side dish or serve with a side of crunchy chips or french fries.
Customize this sandwich
This simple tofu sandwich is really great just the way it is, but sometimes I like to add extra ingredients for even more flavor and texture. Plus, many of these ideas also add nutrients. Here are some sandwich add-ons to try:
- Add sliced pickles for extra crunch.
- I’m always a fan of avocado slices on my sandwich.
- Top with sliced red onion for fresh flavor.
- Adding sprouts or pea shoots is a great way to add color and texture.
- Add a slice of fresh juicy tomato. This is a must for me in the summer when tomatoes are in season!
How to store leftovers
Store any leftover tofu, greens, bread and aioli in separate airtight containers and place in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Rewarm tofu in a skillet on the stovetop or pop it in the microwave to reheat. Reheating tofu in the skillet will crisp it up the best.
More sandwich recipes to try
As usual, PLEASE let me know if you make this recipe and how you like it! You can come back here and leave a comment and/or tag me on instagram (@foodwithfeeling).
Balsamic Tofu Sandwich
Ingredients
- Tofu marinade:
- 14-16 ounce block of tofu
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
For the sandwiches:
- 2 ciabatta rolls, or similar, cut in half *
- 3 tablespoons of garlic aioli, or other mayonnaise sauce
- Handful of greens, I used arugula
Instructions
- Prep your tofu: Follow my instructions HERE for pressing tofu and cut it into thin pieces.
- Make the marinade: I like to whisk together my marinade directly in the dish/bag where I plan to marinate the tofu. A plastic baggie, stasher bag, or really any kind of shallow resealable container works well. Add all of the tofu marinade ingredients (minus the tofu) and whisk until fully combined.
- Add in your tofu pieces and let marinate for 30 minutes or even overnight.
- When you’re ready to bake the tofu, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a large baking tray with cooking spray. Remove the tofu from the marinade and line it all up on the baking tray. Bake for 18-25 minutes, flipping halfway, or until browned on both sides all around the edges. The bake time will depend largely on the thickness of your tofu slices.
- When you’re ready to assemble the sandwiches, divide the tofu, garlic aioli, and greens evenly among the 2 ciabatta rolls. Serve and ENJOY!
