You guys- I think I found my new favorite glaze! Slightly addicting maple tahini sauce served over tofu with a side of garlic green beans. It’s an easy tofu recipe that’s perfect for both meat and non-meat eaters!
I eat tofu at least once a week, and have slowly been converting my husband into a tofu lover, too. I usually pair it with a stir fry, but this time was craving something a little different. I threw together a super simple maple tahini sauce, and I’m kind of obsessed!
I love cooking with tahini because its so versatile. You can use it in sweet recipes, like these chocolate chunk tahini oatmeal bars, or in savory recipes like this one! The tahini creates a thick, creamy glaze that pairs so well with tofu, but would even taste delicious on fish or veggies!
What you’ll need for the Maple Tahini Glaze
- Tahini, aka as pure ground sesame seeds. I grew up eating tahini sauce with veggies, salads, and proteins. It’s rich in heart-healthy fats and B vitamins, and even has some protein!
- Pure maple syrup
- Coconut aminos- you can sub low sodium soy sauce here, but I love the sweetness coconut aminos provides. You’ll notice me use it in a ton of my recipes!
- Salt, garlic powder, and an optional pinch of red pepper flakes
You likely have all of these ingredients in your pantry. Pair this easy tofu recipe with a side of rice, like my favorite homemade sushi rice, for that perfect balance of protein, veggie and starch.
Other ways to enjoy the maple tahini sauce
This sweet and savory tahini sauce would pair well with so many other things aside from tofu:
- Use it as a marinade for salmon
- Serve it over roasted cauliflower
- Use it as a sauce for a chicken + veggie stir fry
- Pour it over grilled eggplant as a fun appetizer
There are so many fun ways to incorporate this sauce, and I know you guys are going to love it!
Maple Tahini Tofu with Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 package extra firm tofu, 16 oz
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
Garlic String Beans
- 12 oz fresh green beans, about 2 1/2 cups. I love using Haricots Verts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Maple Tahini Sauce
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
- 1-2 tbsp of water if needed, to thin
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375 F.
- Slice the tofu into 5 thick strips, then cut diagonally to form triangles.
- Marinate the pieces in 2 tbsp of coconut aminos and 1 tbsp of maple syrup for about 15 minutes.
- Pan-fried tofu instructions: Once marinated, heat a large skillet with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Cook the tofu on low/medium heat until all sides are brown, for about 7-10 minutes total. Flip each piece every 1 1/2-2 minutes to brown all sides. I did this in two rounds to avoid overcrowding the pan. Baked tofu instructions: Layer the tofu on a parchment lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 45-50 minutes, and flip halfway through. Add in the green beans for the last 25 minutes.
- While that cooks, toss together the green beans and seasoning.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes, flipping half way through. You can set the tray under the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes.
- For the sauce, whisk together all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
- Once the tofu and green beans are cooked, transfer to a serving plate and serve with the sauce and a side of rice.
- Store any leftover sauce in the fridge for up to a week. If it thickens, add a little water or coconut aminos to thin it out.
Delicious! So so super simple and filling- the green beans are the perfect balance with the maple tahini sauce on the tofu
So happy to hear that, Eliana!
This is delicious! I make this for lunch on a regular basis and it’s always a hit. I love that this recipe is so versatile – sometimes I’ll add the tofu to other sides Gal shared (i.e. the brocolli, carrots) or use this sauce for marination. 10/10 recommend.