Copycat Chipotle Sofritas Recipe (Spicy Braised Tofu)

With the introduction of Chipotle sofritas, vegans around the USA rejoiced. For anyone not familiar, Chipotle is a fast food chain that serves burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, and salads. The customer chooses a protein and then chooses from a selection of beans, veggies, salsa, and other toppings. Previously, the vegan option was to skip the proteins altogether and of course, pass on the optional cheese and sour cream. But now, Chipotle is offering a tofu sofritas option and it is super delicious!

When sofritas, the first dedicated vegetarian/vegan protein option, was rolled in at Chipotle’s West Coast locations, I waited with bated breath for it to reach me here on the East Coast. Spicy shredded tofu, braised with fresh spices in adobo sauce? Sign me up, right? I’m happy to say that, at least for me, sofritas totally lived up to my expectations when it finally got to Baltimore. Spicy, juicy, and full of flavor, it was a great addition to my vegan burrito. So why make a copycat sofritas at home when the original is so good? I’ll tell you my reasons 🙂

• Chipotle’s sofritas is a little on the salty side. Combined with the salsas and beans that they offer, it can make for an overall too-salty meal. By making sofritas at home you can control the salt level yourself, depending on your tastes and what the accompaniments are.
• Chipotle hack: if you decline a protein option, you get free guacamole! Otherwise, the guac costs $2 extra. When we have Chipotle we usually get it as take-out, so with a batch of sofritas in the fridge, I can get the free guacamole, add my homemade sofritas, and save money.
• General taste preferences: I personally happen to really enjoy the sofritas, but some people aren’t as sold on it. By having this method of shredding and braising tofu in your back pocket, you can make something similar but change up the spices, heat level, and/or amount of sauce according to your own preference.

This DIY sofritas tastes surprisingly similar to the sofritas you get at Chipotle, but with key differences:

• Not as salty (see above)
• Mouthfeel is not as oily (but cook with more oil if you prefer!)
• Chewier: I attribute this to the super-firm tofu that I used and to the slightly larger pieces of tofu.
• Cheaper! Duh!

Of course, the most important reason at all to make homemade tofu sofritas is that it’s incredibly tasty! It doesn’t have to be in a burrito bowl – we enjoyed this sofritas in collard green wraps; quesadillas; and in a bean dip! I imagine it would also make for a truly fantastic chili. (Or be used anywhere that soyrizo is called for). The method for the tofu is not difficult, and in this particular recipe, I don’t call for freezing – just pressing it for a few minutes before getting started.

In a nutshell: the tofu is pressed, then pan-fried at a high heat. Once it cools slightly, we chop or shred the tofu into tiny pieces, and return it to the pan along with a a vibrant sauce made from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chargrilled fresh poblano pepper (you can substitute another pepper if needed/desired), tomato, garlic, onion, and seasonings. To finish the Chipotle sofritas, the tofu simmers in the adobo sauce until the flavors and juices are absorbed. Yum! I chose to freshly grind the spices in my coffee grinder. I’ve been buying more whole spices in an effort to increase their shelf life and flavor. You can use already-ground spices but you may need to adjust the quantity. It’ll taste good no matter what, though!

If you give this Chipotle sofritas a try, let me know on Instagram by tagging @yupitsvegan and #yupitsvegan in your post. Happy cooking!

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4.96 from 44 votes

Copycat Chipotle Sofritas (Spicy Adobo Braised Shredded Tofu)

Copycat Chipotle sofritas - tofu sofritas in the same style served at Chipotle, but even more flavorful (and healthier)! Firm tofu is pan-fried, then shredded and braised in a rich, spicy, and savory adobo sauce. Skip the lines and make your own vegan burrito bowls at home!

Course dinner, lunch, Mexican

Cuisine gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword chipotle tofu, sofritas

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 206kcal

Author Yup, it's Vegan

Ingredients

• 16 oz extra-firm tofu
• 2 tbsp grapeseed oil (or other neutral, high-heat oil)

For the spice blend:

• 1 and 1/4 tsp cumin seeds lightly toasted
• 1 tsp coriander seeds lightly toasted
• 1/4 tsp black peppercorns lightly toasted
• 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp coconut sugar or other sugar

For the spicy adobo sauce:

• 1 medium poblano pepper
• 2 tb chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2 tb additional adobo sauce
• 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth divided
• 1/2 white or yellow onion finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 and 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari)
• 1 tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 tsp nutritional yeast (optional, for added umami)
• 1/4 tsp salt plus more to taste (I personally went up to almost 1/2 tsp.)

Instructions

Prep the tofu:

• Press the tofu using a heavy object & towels, or your tofu press, for at least 5 minutes to remove any excess moisture. Slice the tofu into about 8 slices.
• In a skillet, add 1 tb. or so of grapeseed oil over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add as many slices of tofu as you can fit without crowding.
• Cook the tofu for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until evenly browned all the way around the outside. Remove from the heat and repeat with remaining slices of tofu. Set aside.
• Once the tofu has cooled, chop it into very small pieces, or to the size desired.

Prep the spice blend:

• In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns just until they start to smell fragrant. Add them to a spice grinder or mortar & pestle, along with the oregano and sugar. Grind into a fine powder.

Char the poblano pepper:

• If you have a gas stove, then turn on a burner with a low flame and place the pepper over the flames, using metal tongs if needed to hold it in place. Rotate the pepper occasionally, until it is browned on all sides and soft in the middle. The pepper should look like it has collapsed in on itself. You could also grill the pepper, or roast it in the oven until browned and soft. See the notes for suggestions on managing the spiciness or substituting for this ingredients.
• Remove the skin, stem and seeds from the pepper.

Prep the sauce and braise the sofritas:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the poblano pepper, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, about half of the water or broth, onion, garlic, tomato paste, soy sauce, vinegar, and optional nutritional yeast. Process until completely smooth.
• Add the sauce to a large skillet or saucepan along with the chopped, fried tofu. Bring to a gentle boil and then reduce the heat to medium.
• Add the rest of the water/broth, the salt, and about half of the prepared spice blend. Cover the pan, and cook for 5-7 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning and add more salt and/or more of the spice blend as desired. Stir, cover again, and cook for about 5 more minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the raw onion and garlic taste is gone.
• Enjoy in a burrito bowl, or anywhere else with Mexican-inspired flavors!

Notes

This recipe is definitely spicy. Make sure that the poblano pepper is thoroughly cooked, not just charred on the outside, but soft on the inside. And pair the sofritas with things like refried beans or guacamole/avocado to help balance out the heat. If you don't like spicy food, also try using only half of a poblano, or cutting down on the chipotle peppers. Or, substitute the poblano with a roasted red bell pepper to get the same delicious roasted pepper flavor without the heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1fourth recipe | Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 497mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1050IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 3.4mg

Looking for more recipes to serve alongside this tofu sofritas? May I recommend:

• Cauliflower queso
• Avocado Vegan Quesadillas