Shredded Tofu Recipe + How-To

This shredded tofu recipe is an easy and fun way to cook tofu! We’ll show you how to make it in less than 10 minutes.

We LOVE tofu, like a lot. Even before going plant-based tofu was one thing we loved it in a multitude of dishes. From noodles to stir fry to sushi and curries, tofu holds its own. Some people consider tofu bland but come on, how could it be any blander than white meat chicken?? No, tofu is fabulous at soaking up whatever flavors it’s cooked with and it’s SO versatile. One thing we’ve been loving lately is this shredded tofu recipe.

It’s perfection at mimicking shredded chicken. Although we argue that tofu is not just a meat replacement like the West would have you believe, it does indeed fill that hole for folks like us who were accustomed to eating shredded chicken on the reg. Our shredded tofu recipe couldn’t be easier to make and it will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

There are a few key tips to making the best shredded tofu but if you choose the right tofu and shred it the right way, nothing is standing in your way. We’ll get to those tips in a sec.

If you’re wondering if tofu is keto-friendly, the answer is a resounding YES! It’s low in carbs, packed with protein and healthy fats, and is versatile (we’ll say that until the day we die). If you want to read more about tofu and its place in a low-carb diet, check out our dedicated post on this ingredient.

Ingredients in shredded tofu

Are you ready…such a long ingredient list. You’ll need, wait for it…tofu. Ha! Yes, just tofu. Obvi.

There are a few notes though because you want to use very firm tofu, otherwise, it won’t be shreddable and will simply fall apart. Our go-to tofu is Hodo. It’s simply the best for any recipe that needs firm tofu and it is pre-pressed so you can skip pressing it yourself, has a great flavor, is high in protein, and is organic. It’s a win, win, win, WIN!

If you can’t find Hodo (even though we haven’t had issues finding it at most grocers), you can start with an extra-firm tofu block and press it to get all the extra liquid out. We like this tofu press.

How to make our shredded tofu recipe

You simply need a box grater. To shred tofu on a box grater, we like to firmly push the tofu into the grates to get nice thick strips moving in a slow manner all the way down to get the long strips. Pretty simple.

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Making crispy shredded tofu

1. Start by shredding it as normal. Heat up some natural oil, we use avocado, in a large very well-seasoned cast-iron skillet (or yes, a non-stick ceramic large skillet if you prefer) over medium-high heat.
2. Then, place a single layer of the tofu shreds in the hot oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes without touching until a crispy crust forms.
3. Use a spatula to scrape the tofu up and give it a stir. Cook for another minute or two to crisp up the other side just a bit as you want it to be part crispy, part soft. Kind of like carnitas would be.

What to use shredded tofu for

So.many.things. Here are a few ideas that all work on a low-carb diet.

You could swap the shredded chicken for shredded tofu in our tinga recipe then in our tinga stuffed poblanos (you’ll also need to swap the cheese in the stuffed poblanos if you want to keep it plant-based).

Shredded tofu also goes great in Asian style stir-frys, noodle dishes, lettuce wraps, larb, raw salads (like with green onions, sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili oil, yum), tacos, burrito bowls, soups, and so much more.

We’re envisioning all sorts of tofu dishes we want to create with this shredded tofu, buffalo tofu dip is one that comes to mind 🤤 . Have an idea that we haven’t mentioned? Leave it below!

A note on seasoning shredded tofu

You can make this shredded tofu plain which is what the recipe below is but depending on what you’re using the tofu in you may want to season it. For example, if we’re using it in a Mexican-style recipe we’ll add in some cumin seeds and smoked or sweet paprika about a minute before the tofu is done cooking to give it some flavor. If you’re going an Asian route, white pepper is a delicious option.