Dinner Tonight: Crispy tofu tacos
The key step here is to drizzle the tofu with a combination of olive oil and tomato paste toward the end of roasting.
Dinner Tonight
July 1, 2026

Crispy Tofu Tacos

Crispy Tofu Tacos
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot.

Recipe by Alexa Weibel | Total time: 1 1/4 hours

There are plenty of crispy tofu recipes, but few truly deliver on the promise, since tofu has a tendency to steam because of its high moisture content. But time can do the trick in the oven, creating brittle edges and a chewy texture with little effort. Squeeze out as much excess liquid as you can from your block of tofu, grate it coarsely, season it fearlessly, then roast it until sizzling. The key step is to drizzle the tofu with a combination of olive oil and tomato paste toward the end of cooking, which crisps the edges and lends a deep umami flavor, so much so that this tofu could almost be mistaken for seasoned ground beef. A swipe of avocado mayo, loosened with lime juice and electrified with zest, adds richness and tang, and quite literally holds the tacos together. Choose your mayonnaise and tortillas wisely and the whole dish is vegan.

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