Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!


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We love tofu cutlets. Love ‘em! They replace chicken in SO many of our recipes. They’re so easy and so versatile that we make them all the time. So much so we even have a whole blog post about how much we love them and all the different ways we make them: The Tofu Freezer Trick.

But this past summer when we were making our Avocado Tequila Lime Pasta on our Live Summer Series, I realized we desperately needed a version reminiscent of some of our favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. We needed a style of cutlet not only for things like that pasta, but also nachos, tacos, quesadillas, salads, etc.

Enter: Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets.

Using the other tofu cutlet recipes as a framework, it was easy enough to come up with this version. And it is AWESOME…if I do say so myself. (But it really is!)

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What is a tofu cutlet?

Before we begin, if this is your first time landing on one of our tofu cutlet posts, hi, hello and welcome! You may be wondering: WTF even IS a tofu cutlet? 

Well, it’s kind of like a chicken cutlet but made with tofu. And before you wrinkle your nose, this is not just any tofu. This is tofu prepared using our beloved “Tofu Freezer Trick”. 

You see, when you freeze packaged tofu in the water it comes in, ice shards penetrate the tofu both making it more porous and changing the texture to give it an even firmer, meatier feel. As the tofu thaws, those “tears” and texture remain making it a perfect sub for marinated chicken!

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

Tequila Lime Marinated Tofu Ingredients:

You only need a few ingredients to make these amazing marinated tofu cutlets!

(Reminder: The full recipe with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.)

  • Extra Firm Tofu – You want to buy the stuff packaged in water. Make sure you use extra firm and definitely DON’T use silken tofu
  • Avocado Oil or Sunflower Oil – These are lighter more neutral oils. 
  • Taco Seasoning – You can easily use the stuff from a packet, just make sure the ingredients are vegan as some brands contain milk and/or milk derivatives, and some even contain dehydrated chicken fat! You can also just as easily make your own. Our homemade chili seasoning is a great sub for taco mix seasoning.
  • Vegan Chicken-Style Bouillon – We always use our homemade vegan bouillon. It’s 7 ingredients, super simple to make, and it saves a bunch of money in the long run.
  • Lime Zest + Juice – For a zesty zip of citrus kick that makes you want to lick your lips!
  • Tequila – Optional but awesome. The alcohol cooks out and you’re left with just a subtle suggestion of flavor. Honestly though, it adds serious depth.
  • Coconut Sugar – For a touch of sweet to round out the recipe and balance all the flavors.
These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

Tofu Cutlet Substitution Tips

For the oil: Use any neutral flavored oil, but avoid using olive oil or unrefined coconut oil because they are heavier and would alter the taste. 

To make them oil-free: You can sub water for the oil if you are oil-free, but remember this will affect the texture of the tofu because you will be adding liquid to it. You may want to adjust the cooking time to remedy this and cook them a little longer.

For the taco seasoning: If you don’t have a packet of seasoning, you can make your own with a few spices you probably have in your cabinet. Our homemade chili seasoning makes a great taco seasoning mix! You may just want to add a pinch or two of oregano.

For the bouillon powder: We use our homemade vegan bouillon and HIGHLY recommend using it yourself. Of course, you can also use store-bought if you want. If you’re using a bouillon paste, we recommend you use ½ Tbsp instead of the full Tbsp of bouillon powder.

For the lime: We would not recommend skipping this since it’s such a key ingredient to this recipe. HOWEVER, if all you have on hand is an orange (or even orange juice), I think that may work in a pinch. The citrus flavor will be a tad sweeter, but I still think it would be quite nice with the balance of flavors. Lemon doesn’t seem to have the right fit here and may even overpower your flavors.

For the tequila: The alcohol cooks out of this recipe (aka these tofu cutlets won’t get you drunk), but feel free to skip it or replace it with more lime juice! If you still want that alcohol taste but don’t have hard liquor on hand, you can also use a dry white wine – ESPECIALLY something with high acidity like a Verdejo (which has notes of lime peel!). I’ve tried this recipe with this wine alternative and it turned out great.

For the coconut sugar: You want a touch of sweetness to balance all the flavors together. If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can sub light brown sugar or even a touch of agave nectar.

How to Make Tequila Lime Tofu

These tofu cutlets are SO easy to make and perfect for meal prep. Here’s what you need to do:

In this post, we'll share how we prepare and cook tofu to taste and FEEL just like chicken! The "Tofu Freezer Trick" is a life-changing method that is a staple in our vegan kitchen. Tofu is frozen and thawed creating a porous meaty texture that will blow your mind. Then, we soak it in a flavorful tofu marinade and slow bake it in the oven until the tofu is crispy on the outside and tender (NOT squishy) on the inside. Use this easy tofu trick to make everything from healthy tofu nuggets, crispy tofu sandwiches, stir fry tofu, and the BEST tofu chicken for salads. We've included 6 of our favorite tofu recipes that use this method to get you started!

Step 1: Prepare the tofu.

It’s time for the Tofu Freezer Trick! This is the step that gives our Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets their deliciously meaty texture, so you definitely don’t want to skip it.

First, you’ll want to freeze your tofu. Place the whole container (do not open it) in the freezer overnight. In the morning, remove it from the freezer and set it in a shallow dish on your counter to thaw. This will take several hours. 

When the tofu is thawed, squeeze it gently over the sink and press it with a tofu press or on paper towels for at least 15 minutes to remove any excess liquid.

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

Step 2: Marinate the tofu.

Use a fork or small whisk to mix all the marinade ingredients in a large measuring cup. Then, slice the tofu into 8 equal “cutlets.” 

Pour a little marinade on the bottom of a shallow container and place the cutlets on top. Then, pour the rest of the marinade over them, making sure each cutlet is coated. Cover and place them in your fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best results.

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

Step 3: Bake the tofu.

Preheat your oven to 350F and grab a large baking sheet. Place the cutlets on this baking sheet and bake them at 350F for 40 minutes, flipping them halfway through. 

Depending on the thickness / brand of tofu you’re using, you may want to flip again and cook them another 10 – 15 minutes until they are browned and meaty. We end up cooking ours an extra 10 minutes most of the time.

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

How to Serve Tequila Lime Tofu Chicken

Let your cutlets cool slightly before slicing them up for all your Tequila Lime Tofu needs! They will also firm a bit more as they cool. 

Here are some fun ways we’ve enjoyed serving these tequila lime tofu cutlets:

  • In a taco salad with vegan queso, some fresh pico de gallo, and crunchy tortilla chips
  • In a Mexican-inspired dinner bowl with rice and beans, salsa, and guac
  • Sliced and spread atop of our avocado tequila lime pasta
  • Diced and thrown into ALL the tofu tacos! Soft tacos, crunchy tacos, jumbo tacos, mini tacos…

Tequila Lime Tofu Drink Pairing

The obvious pairing here? A big ‘ol margarita! You may think the tequila lime flavors in this dish may make a margarita seem like a little overkill, but we have tested this theory many times (for science, of course), and I’m here to tell you they are a perfect pair. 

That being said, if you’re looking for a great wine pairing for these tequila lime tofu cutlets, I would love to introduce you to one of my favorite Spanish white wines – Verdejo! This wine is notorious for containing notes of lime and a high acidity which makes a beautiful partner for these tofu cutlets. Bonus!: These wines are usually very inexpensive – Our favorite vegan-friendly version is this one.

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

How to Store Leftover Tofu Cutlets

This tofu recipe makes 8 cutlets but doubles easily if you need more! If you have leftovers, here are our best storage tips:

In the fridge: These tofu cutlets can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.

In the freezer: Cool completely and store leftover tofu cutlets in freezer-safe containers or freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months. Let defrost on the counter for 8 hours or in the fridge for 24 hours. Reheat them in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

Tofu Meal Prep Tip

Since these cutlets are such a staple in our kitchen, I will usually make a large batch at one time, separate the cutlets into several containers (usually with a couple different marinades) and freeze them in the marinade BEFORE baking. 

This makes it easy for me to defrost and pop a batch in the oven for quick meals each week, AND I’ve found it gives them an even better texture. Highly recommend this method!

These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

More Marinated Tofu Cutlet Recipes:

If you make these Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets, let us know what you think! 

You can rate the recipe and leave a comment below or tag us in your epic tofu creations on Instagram. If you’re not already hanging out with us over there, we are @theplantpowercouple with the “the’. 

Until next time, my fellow Titans of tofu!

Overhead shot of a chipotle lime tofu cutlet in a bowl on avocado penne pasta

Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets

Brittany Roche
These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!
5 from 3 votes
Servings 8 tofu cutlets

Ingredients
  

  • 1 16-oz block extra firm tofu
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil or sunflower oil*
  • 2 Tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp vegan chicken-style bouillon powder
  • 1 lime zested
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp tequila optional
  • 1/2 tsp coconut sugar

Instructions
 

  • PREP THE TOFU: First, you’ll want to freeze your tofu. Place the whole container (do not open it) in the freezer overnight. In the morning, remove it from the freezer and set it in a shallow dish on your counter to thaw. This will take several hours. When the tofu is thawed, squeeze it gently over the sink and press it with a tofu press or on paper towels for at least 15 minutes to remove any excess liquid.
  • MARINATE: Slice the tofu into 8 equal “cutlets.” Use a fork to mix all the marinade ingredients in a large measuring cup. Pour a little marinade on the bottom of a shallow container and Place the cutlets on top. Then, pour the rest of the marinade over them, making sure each cutlet is coated. Cover and place them in your fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best results.
  • BAKE: Preheat your oven to 350F and grab a large baking sheet. Place the cutlets on this baking sheet and bake them at 350F for 40 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Depending on the thickness / brand of tofu you’re using, you may want to flip and cook them another 10 - 15 minutes until they are browned and meaty. We end up cooking ours an extra 10 minutes most of the time.
  • SERVE: Finally, let your cutlets cool slightly before slicing them up for all your salads, tacos, nachos, and bowls. They will firm a bit as they cool. You can store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 1 week or freeze them for up to 8 weeks!

Notes

* FOR OIL FREE: You can sub water for the oil if you are oil-free, but remember this will affect the texture of the tofu because you will be adding liquid to it. You may want to adjust the cooking time to remedy this and cook them a little longer.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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These Tequila Lime Tofu Cutlets are perfect for tofu tacos, quesadillas, or Mexican-inspired dinner bowls and salads! They are easy to make with a quick tequila-infused chili lime marinade, and slow-baked until they are crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside! You’ll love to add this tofu recipe for your weekly meal prep. Oh and they are freezer-friendly too!

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6 Comments

  1. Thank you for your wonderful compassionate... cruelty-free recipes... This looks so delicious; looking forward to making it soon. Many thanks for all you do to help people know how easy it is to take and keep animals off the plate! All the best to you both, Carol

    5 stars

  2. Was looking for a way to help use up our bottle of tequila ! This recipe looked perfect! I started the freezing portion on Sunday. Then thawing and marinating on Monday. Cooking it on Tuesday...long process. Was delicious though. I was telling someone about it, today, saying I made Tequila Tofu Cutlets and how spicy and yummy they were and it occurred to me....I'd totally FORGOTTEN to put the Tequila in the marinade!!!! Aaaagh! 🤣

    5 stars

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