Tofu Burger (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

A tofu burger with two patties, brown sauce, lettuce and tomato in a burger bun on a grey plate against a blue background

Tofu Burger (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

This Vegan Tofu Burger is healthy and delicious! Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, it's a great alternative to black bean burgers. The simple no-fail recipe is easy to make and the patty can be pan-fried or grilled on the BBQ. I've also included a recipe for how to make a classic sweet, salty, tangy, sticky burger sauce inspired by the Japanese fast-food restaurant Mos Burger. I like to eat this burger with rice, in a bun, or with sweet potatoes!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Japanese

Keyword japanese burger, vegan tofu burger

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings burgers

Calories 443kcal

Author Rhian Williams

Ingredients

For the tofu burgers:

400 g (14 oz) firm tofu
100 g (3.5 oz) breadcrumbs (gluten-free if necessary)
Salt + pepper to taste
2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) oil (vegetable, rapeseed or olive)

For the sauce:

1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) oil (vegetable, rapeseed or olive)
1 (1 ) onion , sliced
Splash (Splash ) red wine (ensure vegan/gluten-free if necessary - can be omitted)
230 ml (1 cup) tinned tomatoes
3 tablespoons (3 tablespoons) date syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten-free)
1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) apple cider vinegar (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
Salt + pepper to taste

To serve:

Salad lettuce, tomato etc
Burger buns (gluten-free if necessary)

Instructions

For the tofu burgers:

Break up the tofu with your hands (or chop into smaller pieces) and place in a food processor
Whizz until smooth
Place the tofu in a bowl with the breadcrumbs and salt + pepper
Use your hands to form the mixture into small, flat patties, which you can lay out on a plate - makes around 6 burgers
Heat up the oil in a frying pan and place the tofu patties in the pan once hot
Cook on a medium heat for 10-15 minutes, flipping over halfway through, until golden brown and crispy on both sides - be careful not to over cook

For the sauce:

It's easiest to make this sauce while you're also cooking the burgers
Heat up oil in a pan
Add the onion and cook for around 5 minutes, until softened
Add the red wine and cook for a minute until all the wine has evaporated
Add the tomatoes, date syrup, tamari, vinegar and salt + pepper
Bring to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 10-15 minutes
Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary (more date syrup for sweetness, more vinegar for sourness, more salt + pepper etc)

To serve*:

Place the burgers in burger buns. Add salad and plenty of sauce

Notes

*It's also delicious with some spicy miso mayonnaise.

Can you grill these burgers?

Yes - you can cook them on a grill or on the BBQ. Cook for around 5-10 minutes on each side, being careful not to burn them. The length of cooking time will depend on the strength of the heat.

Nutrition