Tofu Lettuce Wraps

Name: Tofu Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 14 ounces extra-firm tofu (pressed, cut into ¾-inch cubes); 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch (divided); ¼ cup tamari (or soy sauce); 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (vegan ); 1 teaspoon sriracha; 1 teaspoon maple syrup; 1 tablespoon neutral flavored cooking oil (or vegetable broth); 6 green onions (chopped); ¾- inch ginger; 1 small garlic clove; 1 cup cashews (or to taste (optional)); 1 head iceberg lettuce leaves (or romaine, separated); Sesame seeds (for garnish (optional))

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Vegan Tofu Lettuce Wraps are high in plant-based protein, packed with nutrients, and budget-friendly. Ready in just 15 minutes. A healthy and flavorful weeknight dinner. Oil-free and nut-free options.

Three Cashew Tofu Lettuce Wraps in a white bowl. — Tofu Lettuce Wraps are an enticing meal for kids and grown-ups alike. Omit cashews for nut-free.

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Lettuce leaves are a light and healthy alternative to grain-based wraps or rice. They're easy to use and versatile. I enjoy topping mine with this saucy, Asian-inspired crispy tofu with cashews.

For more saucy, Asian-inspired dishes, try my Sheet Pan Tofu & Broccoli Teriyaki, or this High-Protein Peanut Soba Noodles with Tofu recipe.

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👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients
🥬 Substitutions
📖 How to Make Tofu Lettuce Wraps
💡 Expert Tips
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
👩🏽‍🍳 Made this recipe?
Tofu Lettuce Wraps
💬 Comments

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

What you need:

Extra firm or super firm tofu
Cornstarch or arrowroot
Tamari or soy sauce
Vegan hoisin sauce
Sriracha (optional)
Maple syrup
Neutral cooking oil (optional)
Green onions
Ginger
Garlic
Cashews
Iceberg or romaine lettuce

See the recipe card for quantities.

🥬 Substitutions

Lettuce - Use any variety of lettuce with large leaves, and a mild flavor, to wrap your filling. Or instead of lettuce, you can serve this dish with rice, or a different grain of your choice
Tofu - Use extra firm or super firm tofu. Super firm tofu (Nasoya or Wildwood) is pre-pressed to remove excess liquid. This saves 20 minutes of prep time. Plus, it's higher in protein. Extra firm tofu also works well, but you have to press it beforehand.
Cashews - substitute peanuts for cashews or omit them for nut-free
Cornstarch - the cornstarch can be replaced with arrowroot or omitted entirely
Hoisin Sauce -This sauce can be pricey and is not always readily available. Use store-bought teriyaki sauce instead. (See FAQs for more substitutes.)

For more easy Asian-inspired dinners, like these Vegan Dumplings, visit my Vegan Asian Recipes page.

📖 How to Make Tofu Lettuce Wraps

This is a no-chop recipe! No knife is required -except for cutting the tofu. Grate the ginger and garlic instead of slicing and mincing. This adds even more flavor to the dish.

Step 1. Use kitchen shears to cut your green onions.

Cutting green onion with kitchen shears.

Step 2. For the tofu: Cut the block into ¾-inch cubes.

Step 3. Toss the cubes with cornstarch. Cornstarch adds a layer of starch to the tofu, which turns it crispy and golden brown upon pan-frying or baking. It coats the tofu, preventing it from becoming mushy from the sauce. (See FAQs below for cornstarch substitutes.)

Step 4. Prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, mix the tamari, hoisin sauce, sriracha, maple syrup, cornstarch, and water.

Brown liquid in a glass beaker with a whisk.

Step 5. Pan-fry the tofu in a large skillet until golden brown. Or bake for oil-free.

Tofu cubes pan-frying in a large nonstick skillet.

Step 6. Add the cut scallions to the skillet with the cooked tofu. Grate the ginger and garlic directly into the skillet, and cook for one minute.

Step 7. Add the desired amount of cashews before adding the sauce. (You can toast the cashews in a skillet beforehand to bring out even more of their natural flavor.) Cook for one minute more before adding the sauce.

Tofu, green onions, cashews, and sauce in a large skillet. — Add the sauce and cook until it starts to thicken.

Top the lettuce leaves with saucy tofu and cashews. You can also serve this dish with rice, quinoa, or a different grain to change things up.

Preparing Cashew Tofu Lettuce wraps for serving. — Add rice to your Cashew Tofu Lettuce Wraps for a more substantial meal.

💡 Expert Tips

Invest in a good quality microplane and a pair of kitchen shears. They will come in handy. I often use a microplane for grating garlic and ginger. (I make fresh ginger tea using this method.) Kitchen shears are useful for chopping certain foods.
Storage: Refrigerate any remaining saucy tofu and cashews in an airtight container for 3-4 days. These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
For reheating Tofu Lettuce Wraps, add a little water to loosen the sauce. Add tamari or coconut aminos to taste if the sauce becomes too diluted.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What is cornstarch?

Cornstarch is a white, chalky powder made from the endosperm found at the center of the corn kernel. It has several culinary uses due to its high starch content:
-As a thickening agent for soups, sauces, and stews.
-For crispy coatings instead of flour or breadcrumbs. Use for crispy tofu or veggies.

It can be omitted from the recipe entirely, but the tofu will be softer in texture.

What can I substitute for cornstarch?

-All-purpose flour: Use two tablespoons for every one tablespoon of cornstarch.
-Rice flour: Use two tablespoons for every one tablespoon of cornstarch.
-Arrowroot powder: Use the same quantity as cornstarch in the recipe.
-Potato starch: Use the same quantity as cornstarch in the recipe.
-Tapioca starch: Use two tablespoons for every one tablespoon of cornstarch.

What is a good substitute for Hoisin sauce?

Hoisin sauce is made from a combination of fermented soybeans, five spice powder, garlic, red chili peppers, and sugar. Most brands are naturally vegan.
It has a very distinct flavor which is hard to replicate exactly. However, these are some decent substitutes:
Barbecue sauce with a splash of rice vinegar
Black bean sauce with the addition of sugar, rice vinegar, five spice powder, soy sauce, and sriracha to taste
Soy sauce mixed with peanut butter, maple syrup, and rice vinegar to taste

👩🏽‍🍳 Made this recipe?

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