I am always looking for easy recipes to make on the grill. Though veggie burgers are my first choice, I wanted to have a recipe that is quick and easy in my repertoire. In India, tikka kebabs are traditionally made with paneer. But I veganized the recipe by using tofu and other non-dairy ingredients. They are perfect to cook on an outdoor or indoor grille. Personally I like this version better because paneer tends to be a little heavy but tofu is light and delightful. These kebabs are spicy, smokey and perfect dish to make for the vegetarians and vegans at your next bbq.
Ingredients Needed
The main ingredient for this dish is obviously the Tofu. Extra-firm or super-firm work the best because they don’t crumble and fall apart. They keep their shape even after marinating and grilling.
You will need veggies for the skewers. Use any of your favorite vegetables. I used different colored peppers, mushrooms and onions here. See for more ideas under tips section.
For the marinade, you will need non-dairy yogurt. These days there are a wide variety of these available - I love coconut or almond yogurt.
For the ’tikka’ part of the recipe - a simple spice blend is made using ground cumin, garam masala, red chili powder, salt and pepper.
Finally you will need bamboo or metal skewers. If using wooden skewers, then make sure to soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to avoid burning on the grill.
Method
Start by making the marinade. Tofu and veggies need to be marinated ahead of time. So plan accordingly. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, oil, ground spices, lemon juice and salt. Mix well. Add the tofu and your veggies of choice. Mix gently to ensure that the tofu does not break. Cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes and for up to 2 hours. While the ingredients are marinating, soak the skewers for 20~30 minutes. When ready to cook, preheat the grill. Prepare the tofu kebabs for the grill by threading the marinated tofu and veggies on to the skewers. Heat the grill on medium heat. Lightly grease it with cooking spray. Cook until nice grill marks form on all sides. Serve hot.
Other flavor suggestions
In this recipe, I have used Indian spices to make the kebabs Indian tikka flavored. But they can be flavored any which way you like. You can go Chinese route and marinate tofu in soy sauce, sesame oil, may be a little sriracha sauce. Or go Thai by using peanut butter along with soy sauce/ tamari, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic. Another quick marinade idea would be to use your favorite homemade or store-bought barbecue sauce.
Tips
Use extra-firm or super-firm tofu for this recipe. These will stand up to marinating and grilling. Make sure to mix the tofu in the marinade very gently to avoid breaking the pieces.Any vegetable that is easy to grill can be used. Peppers, eggplant, zucchini, onion, mushrooms, cherry/ grape tomatoes etc. would be perfect. Grill the outdoor grill or grill pan well before placing the skewers. If you do not have a grill or a grill pan, then simply saute the marinated tofu and veggies in oil in a nonstick pan.
Serving Suggestions
These grilled veggie bbq marinated tofu kebabs can be served as appetizers at a barbecue. They are also great to serve as a light meal over rice or quinoa (or any other grain) pilaf.
Few more recipes to try
Here are a few more recipes to try for your next BBQ party:
Grilled potato salad Vegetarian Summer RollsTofu Broccoli SaladIndividual red, white & blue cheesecake
