This tasty, Tofu Pad thai recipe can be vegetarian, vegan and almost gluten free if you can eat rice noodles.
Chef’s Secrets
It’s important to patiently drain the liquid out of your firm tofu to get a good result. Learn how to make that pad thai marinade and impress your family and friends with this easy tofu, pad thai recipe.

TOFU PAD THAI easy when you know how
Ingredients
- 1 Firm tofu block
- 1/2 packet of Thai rice noodles (medium thickness)
- For the TOFU MARINADE
- 2 dessertspoons of dark soya sauce
- 1 tsp fresh chopped garlic
- 1 tsp fresh chopped ginger
- a little of your fave chilli oil to taste
- 1 dessertspoon of oyster sauce, you can use vegetarian oyster sauce
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder, helps with the golden colour and a natural ingredient
For the PAD THAI MARINADE
Use roughly 1 dessertspoons of each of the below, except for the chili oil, I use less than 1 dessert spoon of sugar too. Dilute your tamarind paste with a little water if you don’t want a very sour taste.
SWEET – brown sugar
SOUR – tamarind paste
SALTY – fish sauce (little salty in grapeseed oil and water/light soya if vegetarian)
SPICY- Your favourite chilli oil
How to make it
Make the tofu marinade and set aside to pour over your tofu once you’re prepared it as below
It’s important to press all the liquid out of the tofu block for at least 3 to 4 hours before you marinade it!
Open your tofu block and set it between 2 flat plates or trays, then weight the top tray down with a tin or something that’s not too heavy. Drain away the liquid from time to time through the day if you have time.
firm tofu block weight between 2 trays drain the liquid away over time
Once all the liquid has drained, cut your tofu, first in half, then half again etc till you get even set of little pieces
Add marinade ingredients to tofu, set aside for 30 mins, then air fry or grill till golden brown
More AIR FRYER RECIPES
Make Pad Thai marinade with ingredients above and set aside
Place noodles in room temp water till soft, then drain with cold clean water

Heat a wok, fry garlic n ginger, add softened noodles, then add in Pad Thai marinade, stir for about 3 to 4 minutes, then TURN OFF HEAT!
Add your cooked tofu
GARNISH with spring onions, coriander, lemon wedge and crushed peanuts if you like and some fresh coriander.
