Quick Vegan Tofu Caprese

This 5-minute Vegan Tofu Caprese salad recipe is probably the easiest and quickest recipe on the blog. It’s fresh, light, and makes the perfect no-cook meal for busy weeknights, hot summer days, or whenever you need something delicious on the table in minutes.

A couple of months ago we had some non-vegan guests over, and served them some silken tofu. My husband and I weren’t sure they’d enjoy it, but luckily and a little surprisingly, everybody was an instant fan of silken tofu. And though we served that silken tofu Japanese style with soy sauce, garlic and green onions, everybody said silken tofu reminded them of mozzarella.

Long story short, we looked at each other with my husband and we both instantly had the same idea: Silken Tofu Caprese!

A Caprese salad has been a long time favorite summer meals of mine, it’s one of my go-to meals when I don’t feel like cooking. I haven’t found a store-bought vegan mozzarella though, that I’d like, so I always make my Raw Vegan Cashew Mozzarella. And although it’s a pretty quick and easy recipe, it still takes longer to make, than simply opening a box of silken tofu.

Now, don’t get me wrong: if I’m trying to recreate the authentic Caprese experience, I’ll still happily make my Raw Vegan Cashew Mozzarella for that. It has that unmistakable mozzarella texture and flavor. But this silken tofu version has something else going for it: it literally comes together in five minutes. No soaking, blending, or waiting. Just slice, arrange, drizzle, and eat. Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of recipe you need.

Vegan Tofu Caprese is…

• fully plant-based
• quick and easy to make
• a no-cook recipe
• fresh and refreshing
• light yet satisfying
• naturally gluten-free
• perfect for hot summer days
• made with only a handful of ingredients
• great as a light lunch, appetizer, or side dish

How to make Vegan Tofu Caprese

This might be one of the easiest recipes on the blog. Simply slice the tomatoes and arrange them on a serving platter. Carefully drain the silken tofu, pat away any excess moisture, and cut it into slices about the same thickness as the tomatoes.

Alternate the tomato and tofu slices on the platter, then drizzle everything generously with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season well with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then scatter fresh basil leaves over the top.

That’s it! The salad is ready to enjoy immediately. Since there isn’t much preparation involved, using ripe, flavorful tomatoes and good-quality olive oil will make all the difference.

How to serve Vegan Tofu Caprese Salad

You can serve this Vegan Tofu Caprese as an appetizer alongside bruschetta, antipasti, or vegan meatballs. It’s also a great side dish to share, especially for summer barbeque.

And of course you can also enjoy it on its own as a light yet filling meal. I like to serve it then with some fresh bread or crackers.

Customize it the way you like it!

• Silken toffu works best here, but soft tofu can be used as well. A flavored soft tofu (like basil tofu) is really delicious too

• If you want to make this dish more exciting, choose a variety of different tomatoes to make it. The more colors and shapes, then better!

• Add extras like minced garlic, toasted pine nuts, or a pesto drizzle

More easy summer meal ideas:

• Quick and Easy Gazpacho with Jalapeño
• Vegan Salad Niçoise
• Hummus Potato Salad w/ Roasted Vegetables
• Vegan Tomato Flatbread
• Zucchini Noodles with Pesto & Tempeh
• Quinoa Tabbouleh Stuffed Avocados
• Rice Noodle Salad w/ Spicy Peanut Sauce

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