Name: Vegan "Ground Beef" Tofu is Gluten Free
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups crumbled tofu ((from previous post)); 1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 Tablespoons water

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This is the vegetarian “ground beef” that you have been looking for. Just fry or bake Perfect Crumbled Tofu for vegan and gluten free “beef”.

Makes about 1 to 1¼ cups

Fried "Ground beef" tofu with sliced tofu and crumbled tofu.

“Ground Beef” tofu in green bowl with sliced tofu and crumbled tofu in blue bowl.

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How to Make Tofu Like Ground Beef:

Vegetarians are frequently looking for a substitute for ground beef in their meals. Hopefully this will meet that need. This recipe was developed as a replacement for fried ground beef or beef crumbles. It took some time to evolve and included some disappointing results before we came up with this final version.

If you would rather bake the tofu than fry it, you can scroll down to the bottom of the page where I have included instructions on how to bake the crumbled tofu.

How to Use “Ground Beef” Tofu:

Originally it was added to Spaghetti Sauce to give it a little texture and boost its protein content. What we use it in mostly now is Chili with Tofu, Goulash with Tofu, and lasagna. It will also be used in the next post for Chili with Tofu and Canned Beans. “Ground Beef” Tofu freezes very well so that any leftovers can be frozen and used later. It is difficult to tell the difference once it has been added to a recipe. The frozen tastes just like the freshly made. That’s why it is useful to make as much at one time as possible and freeze the extra.
If you have a copy of The Joy of an Empty Pot, you will find a recipe for “Goulash with Tofu” on page 91. This one-pan goulash has been very popular whenever served at a potluck.

How to Cook Tofu Like Ground Beef.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups Crumbled Tofu from
previous post
1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons water

Ingredients for “Ground Beef” tofu”: crumbled tofu and olive oil.

Instructions:

Place a frying pan over medium-low heat or heat a skillet to 275º. Spread the 1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil over the bottom of the pan and add all of the 1-1/2 cups Crumbled Tofu. Spread the tofu out to an even thickness in the pan and sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt over the top.
Cover the pan and increase the heat to medium-high or 325º.
Placing the cover on the pan also helps to keep the tofu from becoming too crisp. Cook undisturbed for 5 minutes.
Remove the lid and stir the tofu with a spatula making sure that you break up any large pieces. Scrape and loosen any tofu that may be sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cover the tofu and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
1 - Crumbled tofu in pan with olive oil and salt.
2 - Placing lid on crumbled tofu while it cooks.
3 - Allow tofu to cook gently for 5 minutes.
4 - Remove lid, stir, and break up large pieces.
Then remove the cover.
Stir, and break up any large pieces again. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes.
Continue this process for a total of about 30 minutes. By this time the tofu should be done.
Turn off heat. Stir in 2 Tablespoons water. Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes before using. This last step helps to keep the tofu from becoming too dry.
5 - Remove cover. Tofu is beginning to turn crisp and brown.
6 - Stir and break up any large pieces again. Cover and cook another 5 minutes.
7 - Continue this process for about 30 minutes. The tofu should be done.
8 - Turn off heat. Stir in 2 Tbs. water. Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes.

Fried “Ground Beef” tofu in a green bowl.

This is just the right amount for the Vegetarian Chili with “Ground Beef” Tofu recipe in the following post. If you were to double this recipe, you could freeze the extra “Ground Beef” Tofu for later.

How to Bake “Ground Beef” Tofu

I know that some readers will want to know if they can bake the crumbled tofu instead of frying it, so I gave it a try. I was quite surprised to find out that it worked very well. The flavor is slightly different without the oil but it still has a meaty texture.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups Perfect Crumbled Tofu from the previous post.
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Gently mix the 1/2 teaspoon salt into the 1-1/2 cups crumbled tofu. Spread the crumbled tofu out in an even layer on a baking sheet. Please notice that you will not need to use parchment paper or nonstick spray. Virtually none of the tofu will stick to the pan. I used a Nordic Ware® Bakers Quarter Sheet pan. They are thicker than your regular cookie sheet so that they do not buckle when they are put into a hot oven. They also make a Bakers Half Sheet pan.
Place the tofu in a preheated 350º oven. Let it bake undisturbed for 10 minutes. Then scrape and stir the tofu with a spatula so that some of the tofu that was on the bottom is brought up to the top. Spread out evenly again when done.
Let bake again for 10 more minutes. Then flip and stir the tofu again. Continue to bake and stir every 10 minutes.
I usually bake the tofu for a total of 35 minutes. You can bake it for anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how brown you would like your “ground beef.” Do not bake it for more than 40 minutes because it will become too dry and crunchy.

Crumbled tofu spread out on cookie sheet

1 - Spread crumbled tofu out on a baking sheet. Place in preheated 350º oven

Bake crumbled tofu on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Then scrape and stir with spatula.

2 - Let it bake undisturbed for 10 minutes. Then scrape and stir the tofu with a spatula.

Bake again for 10 minute. Turn crumbled tofu on a cookie sheet

3 - Let bake again for 10 more minutes. Flip and stir the tofu again.

Continue to bake and stir every 10 minutes. Ground beef tofu on a cookie sheet

4 - Continue to bake and stir every 10 minutes. Tofu should be done after 30 to 35 minutes.

So there you have it; vegetarian “ground beef” tofu. I have used this to prepare chili and goulash for several potluck gatherings. Many of the guests who did not know that they were vegetarian dishes thought that it was real beef. Good luck and enjoy.

Ground beef tofu on baking sheet when done baking.

Baked “Ground Beef” tofu on a cookie sheet.

If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like to learn How to Freeze Tofu and how to make Tofu Fish Sticks – Fried or Baked.

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