This Sofritas recipe makes flavorful vegan braised tofu that's perfect for tacos, enchiladas, burrito bowls and more. My one-pan recipe is an easier take on Chipotle Sofritas, is just as delicious (if not more), and comes together in less than 30 minutes.
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My family took some time to develop a taste for Tofu (especially hubby), but now it's a regular on our menu. We enjoy it in a variety of Indian and Asian recipes, like Kung Pao Tofu, Green Curry Tofu, and this crispy Air Fryer Tofu.
After I tried sofritas at Chipotle, it opened up a whole new world of flavors to me! The texture and flavor just blew me away and I knew that I had to recreate that magic at home.
Today I'm sharing my tasty adaptation with you. I hope you enjoy this simple and easier take on Chipotle Sofritas recipe!
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What is Sofritas?
Sofritas is a dish made with chopped (or scrambled) firm tofu braised in a sauce made with onion, bell pepper, tomato, garlic and chipotle chilies in adobo sauce.
Sofritas comes from the Spanish word "sofrito" which means "gently fried". It refers to a chunky sauce made with a combination of onions, peppers, tomato and garlic, often used as a base for stews.
Fun Fact: In 2014, Chipotle introduced 'Sofritas', an organic plant-based protein as part of their menu. By 2019, they had sold a record 14 million entrees with sofritas!
What do Chipotle Sofritas taste like? The star of this dish is Tofu, a soy-based protein, which adds an overall chunky texture. The sauce gets a smokey-earthy flavor from the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Sofritas look spicy, but it is warm-spicy, not hot-spicy.
Why You Will Love this Recipe?
- Sofritas is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
- It's main ingredient is Tofu, which is an excellent plant-based protein alternative to meat and dairy, and it's free of cholesterol.
- This easy one-pan recipe comes together in 25 minutes, making it great for weeknight dinners.
- Sofritas is a budget-friendly recipe. Depending on the portion size, this recipe can easily feed 6 people, making it an affordable protein dish.
Ingredients- Notes & Substitutions
This recipe comes together with easily available produce and spices that you can gather in one shopping trip.
- Tofu: I use extra-firm tofu for this recipe since it's easy to cut into steaks and brown. For best results, I press the tofu (instructions below) to get rid of excess moisture. This step takes 15 minutes, but you can use that time to prepare all other ingredients.
- Marinade: We use fresh vegetables, tomato paste, garlic, vinegar and canned chipotle chiles (in adobo sauce) to makes this unique, smokey marinade. Since we only need 2 canned chilies in this recipe, you can freeze the remaining in ice cube trays for later use.
- Spices: These sofritas get flavored by classic spices used in Mexican cooking, including chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, salt and pepper. If you have taco seasoning on hand, feel free to use that instead.
Sofritas Recipe
This simple and delicious recipe comes together in three easy steps. Here is a step by step guide for this vegan Mexican dish- Sofritas!
Prepare Tofu
- Press tofu to squeeze out any excess moisture. To do that, remove from packaging and place it on a plate lined with 2 paper towels. Place another plate on top. Now place a canned food item to add weight on that. Leave it like that for 15 minutes.
- Cut tofu into 4 thin slices horizontally. Brush both sides of each slice with avocado oil. Brown the slices lightly in a preheated skillet for 5 minutes on each side, on medium-high heat. Alternatively, brown in a preheated air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes. Remove and keep aside.
Prepare sauce
- To prepare sauce, combine green pepper, onion, garlic, tomato, tomato paste, chipotle pepper + sauce, spices, water and vinegar in a food processor. Pulse until the marinade is slightly chunky. Keep aside for later.
Assemble Sofritas
- Heat the same skillet on medium-high heat, and add 1 tablespoon oil. Stir in the sauce. Add the browned tofu that has been chopped into ¼-inch pieces, or scramble it using a wooden spoon or a potato masher. Add ¾ cup water. Stir, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add more water if needed. Check for seasoning and stir in chopped cilantro and enjoy!
Serving Suggestion- How to Eat Sofritas?
Sofritas is a versatile protein dish that I like to serve in the following ways. Top it with fresh pico de gallo, restaurant-style salsa or guacamole for a colorful and healthy meal.:
- Tacos: Serve it over warmed or grilled corn tortillas as Sofritas Tacos.
- Enchiladas: I follow this easy recipe for enchiladas and use sofritas instead of chicken.
- Tostadas: Buy some store-ready crispy tostadas and top it with sofritas and an assortment of salsas. You can follow this recipe for reference.
- Burrito Bowl: I serve sofritas in a bowl along with cilantro lime rice (or Mexican rice), Black beans or Refried Pinto Beans, grilled onions and peppers and top that with guacamole and pico de gallo. It makes for one comforting meal!
Low Carb Meals with Sofritas: Serve over lightly toasted Almond Flour Tortillas and top that with your favorite condiments- cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole, and enjoy a flavorful low-carb meal. Another idea is to build a burrito bowl with it and use Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice instead of regular rice.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu and press it for at least 15 minutes to get rid of extra moisture. This prevents the tofu from becoming soggy in the sauce.
- Spices: If you don't have the listed spices, use taco seasoning instead. Refer to the recipe card for quantity.
- Meal-Prep: Sofritas can be made ahead for meal prep. Cool it and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Adjust the sauce: The consistency of the sauce can be adjusted. Add another ½ cup water for more sauce.
FAQs
It's a dish made with chopped tofu that is braised in a spicy chipotle sauce. It's a plant based protein that can be added to tacos, burritos, salads and more.
Sofritas is made with Tofu, which is curdled, condensed soy bean milk, which is then pressed to shape into a block. It is 100% plant-based.
Sofritas is a vegan protein entree made by braising tofu chunks in a spicy chipotle-adobo sauce.
More Mexican Recipes on the Blog
For a complete range of Mexican inspired recipes, visit this collection: Mexican & tex-Mex Recipes.
📖 Recipe
Chipotle Sofritas
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Equipment
Ingredients
For Tofu:
- 16 ounce extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
For the Sauce:
- ½ medium onion cut into chunks
- ½ large green bell pepper cut into chunks
- 1 medium roma tomato cut into chunks
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 2 chipotle chilies from canned chipotle in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- ¼-½ cup water + more for later
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
For Spices (or substitute 1½-2 tablespoons taco seasoning)
- 1 teaspoon Mexican chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Prepare Tofu
- Press tofu to squeeze out any excess moisture. To do that, remove from packaging and place it on a plate lined with 2 paper towels. Place another plate on top. Now place a canned food item to add weight on that. Leave it like that for 15 minutes.
- Cut tofu into 4 thin slices horizontally. Brush both sides of each slice with avocado oil.
- Brown the slices in a preheated skillet for 5 minutes on each side, on medium-high heat. Alternatively, brown in a preheated air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes. Remove and keep aside.
Prepare sauce
- To prepare sauce, combine green pepper, onion, garlic, tomato, tomato paste, chipotle pepper + sauce, spices, water and vinegar in a food processor. Pulse until the marinade is slightly chunky. Keep aside for later.
Make Sofritas
- Heat the same skillet on medium-high heat, and add 1 tablespoon oil. Stir in the sauce.
- Add the browned tofu that's been cut in ¼-inch pieces or scramble it using a wooden spoon or a potato masher. Add ¾ cup water. Stir, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add more water if needed.
- Check for seasoning and stir in chopped cilantro and enjoy!
Notes
- Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu and press it for at least 15 minutes to get rid of extra moisture. This prevents the tofu from becoming soggy in the sauce.
- Spices: If you don't have the listed spices, use taco seasoning instead. Refer to the recipe card for quantity.
- Meal-Prep: Sofritas can be made ahead for meal prep. Cool it and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Adjust the sauce: The consistency of the sauce can be adjusted. Add another ½ cup water for more sauce.
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