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 15minutes
Cook Time 30minutes
Total Time 45minutes
Servings 4servings
Calories 206kcal
Author Yup, it's Vegan
Ingredients
16ozextra-firm tofu
2tbspgrapeseed oil(or other neutral, high-heat oil)
1/4tspsaltplus 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.