Vegan Kebab Skewers with Marinated Tofu

These vegan kebab skewers with marinated tofu and an assortment of vegetables have the perfect char, and seasoning. They’re easy to make and are perfect for grilling season.

When summer arrives there’s nothing that brings more nostalgia than the smell of grilled kebabs.

When I was a kid we spent many summer days gathering with my extended family at my Uncle Al’s house. He lived on a small inner lake, and invited our extended family out at least a few times during the summer.

My Uncle Al was the coolest guy around! Everybody loved him. He had a big smile, a warm heart, and he always made us kids feel important and seen.

Summer Lake Days and Kebabs!

When we went to his house he took us for a ride in his classic 1930’s car along the dirt roads.

Then he’d take us out on his pontoon boat, and let us kids take the wheel. Sometimes he’d anchor the boat, and we’d jump off the edge for a quick dip. Or we’d bring fishing rods along to do some fishing.

We never actually caught anything, and I’m pretty sure if we did, Uncle Al would release them.

When we’d get back from our adventures with Uncle Al, my Aunt Betty would have a platter of grilled kebabs ready for us all to dig into.

The smell of grilled kebabs immediately brings me back to lake days with Uncle Al, my cousins and I running around his big backyard, and my other aunts and uncles enjoying a few cocktails and our traditional Armenian recipes.

Those are truly some of my happiest childhood memories.

Both my Uncle Al and Aunt Betty have since passed, but that’s one of the wonderful things about food. It brings back family memories. It’s a connection to the past, and we continue the traditions by passing our recipes through the generations.

These vegan kebabs are a nod to my Uncle Al and Aunt Betty. I doubt they ever had tofu, their kebabs were always lamb and chicken, but this is my take on their traditional recipe.

It’s made with marinated tofu, and lightly seasoned veggies. Then grilled to perfection.

Why you’ll love these vegan kebab skewers…

• Flavorful marinated tofu
• Simply prepared vegetables
• Easy grill instructions using a grill pan or outdoor grill
• A great vegan option for cookouts or BBQs

Ingredients You Need

• Extra Firm Tofu-Press water out of the tofu before marinating and prepping it to grill. Instructions are below and in the recipe card at the end of the post.
• Soy Sauce-I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce. If you have a gluten or soy allergy you can sub for coconut aminos.
• Sriracha-A hot chili sauce made from chili paste, vinegar, garlic, and salt. It’s often used in Asian cuisine and adds a nice kick to the tofu. If you do not like spicy food feel free to leave this out of the marinade.
• Garlic-Use 1-2 cloves of freshly minced garlic.
• Olive Oil-You can leave this out if you choose. I use the olive oil to brush on the grill pan and vegetables to keep them from sticking.
• Red Pepper-Cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Red Onion-Sliced into 1 inch chunks.
• Zucchini-A wonderful summer squash and a sturdy vegetable for grilling.
• Yellow Squash-Another summer squash that grills nicely.

Tools and Equipment You Need

• Grill or Grill Pan-We have a charcoal grill at home, and when my husband is motivated to fire it up, I’ll use the outdoor grill to make these kebabs. However, you can make these all year long using a grill pan.
• Bamboo Skewers-I prefer to use bamboo skewers rather than the long metal ones when grilling.
• Tongs-Use tongs to turn your skewers, especially when using an outdoor grill. Keep those hands and fingers safe, and use an outdoor grill mitt too!

How to Make Vegan Kebab Skewers with Marinated Tofu

Step 1: Press tofu. This is an important step, and critical to ensure that your tofu is firm enough to grill. See instructions below on how to press tofu.

Step 2: Chop tofu, and vegetables into one inch chunks.

Step 3: Pour soy sauce, sriracha, and minced garlic over cubed and pressed tofu. Gently toss tofu to ensure all pieces are evenly covered. Allow to sit in marinade for a minimum of 10 minutes. Feel free to add more soy sauce or sriracha to be sure that all pieces are covered.

Step 4: Using bamboo skewers place tofu, followed by vegetables piercing down the center. Repeat pattern until skewer is filled.

Step 5: Heat grill to high heat. If using a grill pan, brush with olive oil. If using an outdoor grill, brush kebabs on all sides with olive oil. Place on grill for 2-3 minutes each side, flipping until all sides of the kebab are evenly cooked. Enjoy!

How do you press tofu?

• Sandwich tofu between several sheets of paper towel on a plate or baking sheet.
• Place a heavy pan on top of the tofu with 3-4 heavy cans on top of the pan.
• Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes, changing out paper towels halfway through.
• You can also use a tofu press to do the same thing, although it is not necessary.

What are kebabs?

Kebabs are traditionally made with ground meat, and sometimes vegetables. They are cooked on a skewer over an open flame. Depending on what part of the world you are from a kebab can be slightly different.

My family is of Armenian decent, a small landlocked country in Eurasia. For our family, a shish kebab included grilled and marinated meat and vegetables on skewers. However, I’m sure even this could be slightly different between families.

In other countries a kebab refers to a wider range of grilled meat dishes.

Top Tips for Making the Best Vegan Kebab Skewers

• Press tofu before marinating.
• Make sure tofu is completely covered in marinade and that you allow it to sit in the marinade for a minimum of 10 minutes. The longer you’re able to allow the tofu to sit in the marinade the more flavorful it will become. You could even allow the tofu to marinate overnight.
• Cut the vegetables and tofu into even bites. This will allow for a more even cook. I prefer 1 inch pieces.
• When it comes to grilling tofu, don’t be afraid to cook it longer. It can’t become overcooked the way meat can. I like a very firm tofu with dark grill marks, and this might mean I need to leave it on the grill an extra few minutes
• When using a grill pan it can be difficult to get the skewers to lie flat since the vegetables are different shapes and sizes. One benefit of using an open flame grill is that you can more easily set the skewers on the rack to get those nice even char marks!

What do I serve with vegan kebab skewers?

• Vegan Rice Pilaf-This a no brainer for our family and the way we always enjoyed kebabs. Rice pilaf is a rice dish with thin browned noodles that are cooked in a chicken stock. However, I make a vegan pilaf using vegetable stock.
• Quinoa-If you’re not up for making vegan pilaf, quickly make some quinoa, a nutty protein rich side dish.
• Vegan Yogurt Sauce-Most all of our Armenian dishes were served with a yogurt, garlic, cucumber sauce. Try dipping your veggies and tofu in this vegan tzatziki for a traditional shish kebab experience.

Variations

For these tofu kebabs I used more traditional Asian seasonings, which might seem odd considering shish kebab is more of a middle eastern recipe.

I think the tofu really soaks up the flavor of the soy and sriracha which makes for a nice grilled flavor and texture.

However, you can create a more traditional marinade using olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Be creative and use whatever fresh herbs you have in your garden.

Also, feel free to use any vegetables that you have on hand. I like to pick colors from the rainbow to make these kebabs bright and beautiful.

Need help with meal planning? Check out these vegan prep meals for tips and tricks, and lots of recipes!

How to Store and Keep

Store leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Tofu is best when not frozen and reheated.

Want more vegan summer recipes?

• Vegan Bao Buns
• Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
• Vegan Burrito Bowls
• 45+ Easy Vegan Grilling and BBQ Recipes by 2 Share My Joy
• Vegan Gazpacho

Recipe