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Dinner

When Life Gives You Lemons: Tofu Piccata

Golden vegan tofu piccata cutlets in glossy lemon-caper sauce with parsley and fresh lemon slices

Golden tofu cutlets simmer in a bright lemon-caper sauce for a simple skillet dinner that feels special without making a fuss. Ready in about 35 minutes.

Grab this

  • 1 block (454 g) extra-firm tofu, drained and patted dry
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Lemon slices, for serving (optional)

Do this

  1. Cut the tofu crosswise into 8 even cutlets. Lay them on a clean towel, cover with another towel and press gently for 5 minutes.
  2. Season both sides of the tofu with the salt and pepper. Put the flour on a plate, then lightly coat each cutlet and shake off the excess.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half the tofu for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer to a plate, add the remaining oil and repeat with the rest.
  4. Lower the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the skillet and stir for 30 seconds.
  5. Pour in the vegetable broth, lemon juice, capers and maple syrup. Scrape up any browned bits and simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir the cornstarch mixture once more, then pour it into the sauce. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, until glossy and lightly thickened.
  7. Return the tofu to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Warm for 2 minutes, sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon slices if desired.

Easy swaps

  • For a gluten-free version, use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour; check that the vegetable broth and capers are certified gluten-free if needed.
  • For a soy allergy, replace the tofu with thick slices of cooked chickpea polenta and use the same flouring and browning method.
  • If you avoid capers, use 1 tablespoon finely chopped green olives; check labels because sodium levels vary.
  • This recipe contains soy and wheat as written. It is naturally free from dairy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts, but always check packaged-ingredient labels for cross-contact.

Estimated per serving

Nutrition at a glance

Calories
200
Fat
12g
Saturated fat
1.8g
Carbohydrates
12g
Fibre
1g
Sugars
1g
Protein
11g
Sodium
370mg

Tofu provides a useful amount of plant protein in a modest-calorie main; values are estimates and vary by brand and serving size.

Estimates vary with ingredient brands, substitutions and serving size.