Take advantage of what’s left of summer cookouts with these mouthwatering Summer BBQ Tofu Vegetable Kebabs. Keep that plant-based eating going by enjoying these with friends on the weekend or for a quick add-on to your veggie meal. We love these because they’re super simple with zero sacrifice to flavor. Pop them on the grill and you may not miss those meat kebabs as much.
Vegetables are plentiful throughout the summer- one of the reasons this is our favorite season. Kebabs are fun because you can truly use whatever hardy vegetables you have around. We love zucchini, peppers, and juicy red onions to create a dynamic flavor. Pair that with some delicious BBQ tofu for a flavor boost. As many of you may know, tofu is made from curdled soy milk that the water has been removed from. It can be fairly bland so it is great for marinating and flexible for whatever flavors you want to add. Tofu can have a meat like texture that makes it a perfect sub for BBQ meat. It is a great source of protein and provides a healthy dose of calcium and manganese.
This recipe comes with a homemade BBQ sauce. Many store-bought BBQs have a lot of added sugar and other unrecognizable ingredients. Making your own BBQ allows you to really know exactly what you’re putting into your bod. And keeps that dreaded amount of added sugar down. We added cayenne pepper for some spice, and so depending on how spicy you like things, you can decide home much of the cayenne you want in there.
Let’s walk through the quick and easy steps for these kebabs! To make our simple BBQ sauce, add the sauce ingredients to a small sauce pan, and cook them over low heat for 5 minutes. Set aside. Make sure to drain the liquid from the tofu. This way the tofu can absorb more of the BBQ flavors. Next, add all of the kebab ingredients into a bowl. Pour the BBQ sauce into the bowl, and using a spoon (or your hands) coat all of the vegetables and tofu evenly. Let it marinate for 20 minutes, and then start threading the tofu and vegetables onto the skewers.
I recommend adding a firm vegetable, like zucchini to the most bottom layer, so the kebab remains in tact. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to prevent the sticks from burning. You should have 5-6 skewers layered and ready to be grilled. We recommend putting these on a sheet of aluminum paper for easier clean up and to prevent sticking. You can either cook on an electric home grill like we did for 5-10 minutes, or until deep brown. If using an outside grill, cook for 7-10 minutes, or until deep brown. That’s it! Enjoy with your friends and fam!
How many of you love kebabs as much as we do? Which veggies do you like with yours? Try these Summer BBQ Veggie Tofu Kebabs out and let us know what you think of them in the comments below! xo
- 1/2 block firm tofu, pressed and sliced into 1" large chunks
- 1/2 small green zucchini, cut into 1" large chunks
- 1/2 small yellow zucchini, cut into 1" large chunks
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1" large chunks
- 1 medium portabella mushroom, cut into 1" large chunks
- 1/2 medium red onion, quartered and cut into 1" chunks
- 1/3 cup ketchup (Trader Joe’s has a great minimally processed option)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- To make our simple BBQ sauce, add the sauce ingredients to a small sauce pan, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Set aside
- Next, add all of the kebab ingredients into a bowl
- Pour the BBQ sauce into the bowl, and using a spoon (or your hands) coat all of the vegetables and tofu evenly
- Let sit for 20 minutes, and then start threading the tofu and vegetables onto the skewers
- I recommend adding a firm vegetable, like zucchini to the most bottom layer, so the kebab remains in tact
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20 minutes to prevent the sticks from burning
- You should have 5-6 skewers layered and ready to be grilled
- We recommend putting these on a sheet of aluminum paper for easier clean up and to prevent sticking
- You can either cook on an electric home grill like we did for 5-10 minutes, or until deep brown
- If using an outside grill, cook for 7-10 minutes, or until deep brown
- Enjoy with friends!
