This vegan sofritas recipe is spicy, savory, and EASY. Layers of herbs and spices infuse the braised tofu to perfection.
There's a reason I'm posting this vegan sofritas recipe today. Other than the fact that these are the BOMB. And we finally re-created/perfected a homemade version of Chipotle's sofritas.
We're going back to Mexico! I mean, not right now. Not even next week, but soon! We're visiting Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita for our 5th anniversary. 😳😳😳 5 years. This August. Wait, what? It's been 5 years already?
There's nothing quite like the feeling I get when we book travel. Researching new destinations. Deciding where to go. Finding flights. Figuring out where to stay. The anticipation. It never gets old to me. From the time we decide where we're going to the moment I step off the plane, I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve.
This will be our 4th time visiting Mexico, but our 1st time going to the west coast (Puerto Vallarta area). And our first time seeing the Pacific Ocean at all. It's going to be so incredibly different from the Mexico we've seen so far. The food will be different, the beaches and scenery will be different, the people will be different, the vibe will be different.
That's why I thought this sofritas recipe fit the mood today. The dish itself isn't necessarily "Mexican" in its origins, but it is considered a Spanish and Latin American dish. And just like Mexico, it's different anywhere you go.
So, what exactly is sofritas?
To be honest, the whole dish is technically all about the sauce, aka "sofrito" which is created by braising the ingredients over heat with oil. The ingredients vary by country and region, but the sauce generally includes tomatoes, garlic, onion, paprika, and peppers. For our version, we used chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to create a smoky-savory flavor party. See below for reference. 😍
This is the kind of sauce that makes you feel like you've been professionally trained in the culinary arts of Latin American food magic. But you don't need all of that. All you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.
And then? You can make your own vegan burrito bowls at home. You can re-invent taco night. You can shock tastebuds and blow minds.
If you make this recipe, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram – #thefitchen. Aaaaand, if you have any recommendations for Puerto Vallarta, I'm all ears!
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Spicy Vegan Sofritas
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This copycat recipe for Chipotle's vegan sofritas is SO easy. We make it for taco night all the time! Serves 4-6 people.
Ingredients
Sofrito Sauce
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 roma tomato
- ½ bunch fresh cilantro
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño
- 2 chipotle peppers (canned, in adobo sauce)
- 3 Tablespoons adobo sauce
- ½ lime, juice of
Tofu
- 1 - 14 oz. package of tofu, extra firm
- olive oil
Instructions
Sofrito Sauce
- Add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a blender and blend until well-combined. It should still have some chunkiness to its consistency, but mostly smooth. See the above photo for reference.
Tofu
- Drain tofu. Remove as much excess liquid as possible by pressing between paper towels. Do this several times to ensure that it's as dry as possible.
- Cut the tofu into cubes – about ½" squares.
- In a large skillet, heat oil to medium and add the tofu. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The tofu should start to brown and some pieces should get crispy. At this point, pour in the sauce and use your spatula to "chop" the tofu into smaller pieces. This will help it absorb the sofrito sauce better.
- Decrease heat to a simmer and cook until the consistency thickens and the tofu is well-saturated.
- Serve over rice with toppings – like a burrito bowl! Or, fill tortillas with the mixture and top with your favorite things!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main
Nutrition
- Calories: 68
- Sugar: 2.6 g
- Sodium: 296.7 mg
- Fat: 2.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.4 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 6.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 g
Easy and delicious. A go to recipe!
★★★★★
Yay! I'm so glad you liked these sofritas – I agree, so easy!
This was amazing! I had some trouble breaking up the tofu after adding the sauce. So, I picked up the chunks and tossed them in the same blender I used for the sauce. A few pulses, and it came out perfectly! Also added a bit of salt to balance out the spice from the peppers and adobo sauce.
★★★★★
Good thinking on using a blender! Your tofu must be extra firm – mine seems to break up fine with a spatula. Good note for anyone who has issues with that! Glad you enjoyed. :)
I had made this, as it looked delicious, didn't have too many ingredients, and was pretty straightforward! However, for next time, I think I will saute the sauce for a bit first (before adding it to the cooked tofu) since the final result yielded a bit of the raw onion smell/taste. Or maybe will saute the onion and garlic before mixing it with the other ingredients in the blender.
Your recipes look great, and have noted to try some in the near future! :)
This sounds so good! How does it save? Can I feeeze this or does it have to be eaten the night of?
Hi Hannah! This dish is SO good. It saves great in the fridge for up to a week – some liquid does accumulate in the bottom of the storage container, but I find that it's helpful for reheating on the stovetop. I would guess that it's freezer-friendly – I just haven't tried it yet! I'd recommend freezing, then thawing in the fridge, then reheating. Let me know if you try it!
This looks absolutely delicious! I am having friends over for a mexican meal and I am eating more plant based these days. Maybe I can sell them on the sofritas? Either way I know I'll be digging in! Thanks for such a fabulous recipe!