These vegan teriyaki tofu tacos are one of my favorite ways to turn a simple block of tofu into a dinner that actually feels exciting. Crispy, saucy tofu gets layered into warm flour tortillas with tangy sesame slaw, avocado, spring mix, green onions, and a quick sriracha aioli.
They come together in about 30 minutes and make two generous servings. The cool, crunchy slaw balances the sweet-savory tofu, and the spring mix helps keep the tortillas from getting soggy.
What You’ll Need
For the tacos:
- 8 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu
- 3/4 cup teriyaki or Asian-style sauce
- 4 flour tortillas
- 1 cup spring mix
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds, for serving
For the sesame slaw:
- 1/2 cup cabbage, julienned
- 1/2 cup carrots, julienned
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, to taste
- Agave or maple syrup, optional and to taste
For the sriracha aioli:
- Vegan mayonnaise, to taste
- Sriracha, to taste
- Lime juice, to taste
How to Make Teriyaki Tofu Tacos
- Press the tofu to remove excess water, then cut it into cubes.
- Marinate the tofu in the teriyaki sauce. Even a short marinating time adds flavor, but you can let it sit longer if you plan ahead.
- While the tofu marinates, toss the cabbage, carrots, cilantro, rice vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil, salt, and optional sweetener together to make the slaw.
- Cook the tofu in a lightly oiled pan over medium-high heat until crispy on most sides. You can also air-fry it if you prefer.
- Reduce the heat to low and add more teriyaki sauce, stirring until the tofu is evenly glazed.
- Mix the vegan mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice together to make the aioli.
- Warm the tortillas, then layer each one with spring mix, sesame slaw, teriyaki tofu, avocado, green onions, sesame seeds, and sriracha aioli.
What’s your favorite way to cook tofu? I’m curious to know who still uses the stove or oven and who has switched over to the air fryer. We could all use more tofu tips and tricks in our lives!
Vegan Teriyaki Tofu Tacos with Sesame Slaw
Ingredients
- 8 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu
- 3/4 cup teriyaki or Asian-style sauce
- 4 flour tortillas
- 1 cup spring mix
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/4 cup green onions sliced
- Sesame seeds for serving
- 1/2 cup cabbage julienned
- 1/2 cup carrots julienned
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Sea salt or pink Himalayan salt to taste
- Agave or maple syrup optional and to taste
- Vegan mayonnaise to taste
- Sriracha to taste
- Lime juice to taste
Instructions
- Strain and press your tofu to remove excess water, then cut into cubes.
- Marinate tofu in teriyaki sauce or a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, and spices.
- Julienne the cabbage and carrots and toss with rice wine vinegar, lime juice, sesame oil, salt, and optional sweetener. Add cilantro and set aside.
- Mix sriracha, vegan mayo, and lime juice together to make the sriracha aioli.
- Fry tofu cubes in avocado oil on medium-high heat until crispy on most sides. Alternatively cook in the air fryer at 375°F for 15 minutes shaking halfway through.
- Reduce heat to low and add more sauce to coat the tofu cubes.
- Build tacos with spring mix as the base, then slaw, crispy tofu, avocado, sriracha aioli, green onions, and sesame seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to press tofu before cooking?
Yes. Pressing tofu removes excess water, which allows it to get crispier when cooking. Wrap it in a clean towel and press it for 15–30 minutes, or use a tofu press if you have one.
Can I bake the tofu instead of frying it?
Absolutely. Bake it at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through. The air fryer is even faster: cook it at 375°F for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
What’s the best tortilla for these tacos?
Flour tortillas hold up well with juicy toppings like this slaw. Warm them in a dry pan for about 30 seconds per side before building your tacos.
Is sriracha aioli vegan?
It is when you make it with vegan mayonnaise. I like Follow Your Heart Original Vegenaise mixed with sriracha and a squeeze of lime juice.
What can I substitute for teriyaki sauce?
Soy sauce with a splash of sesame oil, a little agave or maple syrup, and some garlic and ginger works beautifully. Add chili oil if you want more heat.
More Easy Vegan Dinners
If you love bold sauces and crunchy vegetables, try my Vegan Bang Bang Cauliflower Tacos or these Teriyaki Tofu Rainbow Rolls with Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce.
You may also like this Spicy Vegan Ramen Noodle Bowl with Teriyaki Tofu.
