More

    Spicy Sofritas Tofu

    THIS, my friends.

    This is tofu. This is sofritas. This is like homemade Chipotle sofritas at its finest.

    Sofritas in a skillet with a wooden spoon

    The truth is that I am sort of 75% there on tofu, like most people, I think? but I am 200% there on sofritas tofu – like the stuff you get at Chipotle, and as of now, the stuff that you make at home.

    It’s to the point where Ineedthemeveryday.

    There is no burrito, rice bowl, taco, quesadilla, breakfast skillet, or nacho platter that does not benefit in some way from a heap of spicy, saucy sofritas.

    In This Post: Everything You Need For Spicy Sofritas

    Prefer To Watch Instead Of Read?





    Sofritas being scooped out of a pan with a wooden spoon

    First Of All, What Is Sofritas?

    Thanks to popularization from Chipotle, I think many people now associate the term sofritas specifically with spicy shredded or ground tofu in a peppery, tomatoey sauce. At Chipotle, sofritas = tofu.

    But more generally, according to our lady of the internet, Wiki: “sofrito, sofregit, soffritto, or refogado is a sauce used as a base in Latin American, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cooking. Preparations may vary, but it typically consists of aromatic ingredients cut into small pieces and sauteed or braised in cooking oil.”

    Okay So… What’s In Sofritas?

    Okay, good question.

    • First and foremost, in this case, TOFU! Main ingredient.
    • Chipotle peppers.
    • Roasted poblanos.
    • Garlic.
    • Salsa (shortcut ingredient to get us some onions, tomatoes, and rockstar flavor)
    • Cilantro

    All the big flavor players get pureed into a sucker punch sauce and poured all over your crumbled, browned tofu, and the whole thing gets gently simmered into flavorful yumminess.

    SO MUCH YUM.

    Spicy Sofritas Veggie Bowls - make these vegan/vegetarian bowls at home! SO good!

    Ways To Eat Sofritas

    The sofritas is the showstopper, but don’t stop there.

    • Bowls: with pinto beans, fresh guac, rice, and if you’re feeling fancy, maybe some tomatoes and corn, and sautéed peppers? YUM.
    • Tacos! with more of the same.
    • Burritos, like so.
    • Vegan Crunchwraps. YES I SAID VEGAN CRUNCHWRAPS.
    • In a tortilla casserole because what else?
    • Just chips? Also, Cotija cheese because it’s so deliciously salty and I can’t not crumble that stuff on ev-er-y-thing.

    This combination is everything my heart ever wanted in the homemade vegetarian Mexican food department.

    Sofritas in a skillet with a wooden spoon

    Spicy Sofirtas Tofu: Frequently Asked Questions

    Should I remove the skin off my poblano peppers?

    I did not remove the skins of my poblanos, but you can do it either way. If you are in a pinch for time, try subbing one or two small cans of diced green chiles for the poblano.

    Can I use frozen tofu?

    Recently I tried this with frozen and thawed tofu, and it was excellent! The tofu sheds its water more easily after a freeze / thaw, resulting in a dry and crumbly texture that helped it soak up the sauce (I actually doubled the sauce for this version which was perfect).

    What can I sub for chipotle peppers in adobo sauce?

    1/2 teaspoon of chipotle powder should work!

    Print

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    A wooden spoon in a pan with crispy tofu sofritas.

    Spicy Sofritas Tofu



    • Author:
      Pinch of Yum

    • Total Time:
      1 hour 15 minutes

    • Yield:
      6 1x

    Description

    Spicy Sofritas Tofu, like homemade Chipotle! Think spicy peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro in a flavorful simmer sauce for your tofu!


    Ingredients


    Units


    Scale

    • 1 poblano pepper
    • 13 individual chipotle peppers canned in adobo sauce (1 for mild/medium, 3 for very spicy)
    • 2 tablespoons of the adobo sauce
    • 23 cloves garlic
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder or smoked paprika
    • 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 14ounce package extra firm tofu


    Instructions


    1. Roast your poblano: Hold the poblano over the flame on a gas range until it’s hot and blistery. Alternatively: turn your oven to the broil setting, coat the poblano with oil, place on a baking sheet, and roast for 15 minutes at a time until it’s soft and blistered. 
    2. Make a sofritas sauce: Place poblano, chipotles, garlic, spices, and salsa in a small blender or food processor (EXCEPT tofu). Pulse until a mostly smooth paste forms.
    3. Make the sofritas tofu: Slice the tofu and press with a clean towel to remove as much excess moisture as you can (the drier the tofu, the better it soaks up the sauce). Heat a drizzle of oil over medium high heat. Scramble the tofu into small bits with a spatula or wooden spoon. You can do beans or no beans – this is a choose your own adventure here. Add the sofritas sauce with 1/2 cup water. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce is richly colored and thickened slightly. Add more water as necessary, and season to taste with the salt and lime juice.
    4. Serve: Serve in tacos, burritos, and mega rice bowls!

    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Sauté
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Keywords: sofritas, vegetarian Mexican recipe, vegetarian recipe, vegetarian tacos, tofu recipe





    Recipe Card powered by Tasty Recipes logo

    Other Favorite Vegetarian Mexican-Inspired Goodness:


    One More Thing!

    This recipe is part of our best sugar free recipes page. Check it out!

    Related Posts

    Dulce De Leche Tiramisu

    Creamy dulce de leche layered with espresso-soaked ladyfingers in one delightful slice! This Dulce De Leche Tiramisu is my new favorite dessert.

    Brussels Sprouts with Gochujang Butter

    Shredded roasty brussels sprouts flecked with toasted walnuts and bites of plumped dried cranberries, and blanketed with a luscious sheen of gochujang garlic butter sauce.

    Incredible Arancini

    This is the best arancini! Creamy risotto packed with melty mozzarella cheese, and fried to golden stuffed perfection.

    Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado Cucumber Salsa

    Bang Bang Salmon! Creamy, sweet, savory, and punchy. Served with some steamy rice and an avocado cucumber salsa. Weeknight perfection!

    Scallion Pancake with Eggs

    A frozen scallion pancake, loaded with eggs, spinach, avocado and chili crisp! A five minute meal perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce

    Creamy, silky, homemade Alfredo sauce! Perfectly smooth, wonderfully garlicky, and paired with twirly pasta.

    Sticky Gochujang Tofu with Herbs and Peanuts

    Crispy golden tofu bathed in a 5-ingredient peanut gochujang sauce that is spicy, sweet, tangy, and so delicious.

    Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Green Sauce

    Just 20 minutes to get these chicken tacos on the table! Juicy, flavorful, and absolutely mindless in the best way.