You’re going to L-O-V-E this knock-off, EASY copycat chipotle sofritas recipe! The perfectly spicy, plant-based protein for burritos, bowls, salads, and tacos.
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Chipotle is the best, is there a better fast-casual restaurant? Panera is up there, too. I can’t help but hit up a fast casual spot with the kids when we travel or go out for the day. When we moved to the desert, almost an hour away from Palm Springs, I didn’t think I’d get to go to my beloved fast-casual joints very often. I don’t. Maybe once a month.
But if it weren’t for this experience, I wouldn’t have developed a copycat Chipotle Sofritas recipe that so closely resembles the real thing. These sofritas are spicy, sauce, chewy, and freakin’ awesome (and easy). Even if you think you don’t like tofu, I urge you to give these a try.
EASIEST RECIPE FOR CHIPOTLE SOFRITAS AT HOME
This is truly the easiest way to make sofritas as home, that taste much like the original.
You’ll need:
- Firm tofu
- A little olive oil
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (we’re using the peppers and the sauce!)
- Garlic cloves
- A roma tomato
- 1 small onion
- Some spices (cumin, chili, coriander, + oregano)
- Veggie broth
- Salsa verde/green salsa
These are things I keep mostly stocked at all times, and after you try this recipe–you will, too.
BEST TOFU BRAND
I swear, week after week I’m talking about how much I love Trader Joe’s for certain things, and I’m about to do it again…
My favorite brand of tofu for making sofritas is Trader Joe’s Firm Tofu. I’m not being paid to promote this brand in any way, it’s just truly my favorite. It’s easy to press and it’s (as the name says) very firm. It doesn’t take a whole lot of pressing.
PRESS YOUR TOFU
Don’t forget to press your tofu, you really can’t skip this step. Sofritas is known for its chewy bites, and if it’s not pressed properly, it’ll end up more like a soggy stew than the classic sofritas we know and love.
Now that you’re convinced, here’s how I press my tofu:
Simply wrap the tofu in a clean towel, place it on a cutting board, and place something heavy on top (such as a cast iron skillet or even a dutch oven). If you don’t have those, simply use any pan you have and place soup cans on top or heavy books.
You could also invest in a tofu press, like this one.
Press your tofu for at least 30 minutes.
HOW TO MAKE SOFRITAS SAUCE
In a blender, you’ll be combining the chipotles, adobo, garlic cloves, roma tomato, onion and spices until it’s smooth.
PAN FRY THE TOFU, ADD THE SAUCE
You don’t need a lot of oil here, but you’ll need some. Two tablespoons should be enough, I like to use extra virgin olive oil, but any neutral tasting oil will work. Turn your pan onto medium heat.
Slice the tofu into ½ inch sticks and place them into the pan. Fry on each side for a few minutes.
HELPFUL TOOLS + INGREDIENTS
MORE @PLANTSDISH RECIPES
Restaurant Style Blender Salsa
Mango Salsa
Mild Salsa Verde
IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE
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Copycat Sofritas
Ingredients
FOR THE TOFU
- 1 14 oz package of firm tofu *pressed + sliced into 8 strips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
FOR THE CHIPOTLE SAUCE
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 roma tomato
- 1 small onion
- 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp adobo sauce
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp oregano
TO MAKE THE SOFRITAS
- 3/4 cup veggie broth
- 1/2 cup salsa verde *mild or spicy
Instructions
FOR THE TOFU
- Press your tofu for 30 minutes, simply slice the tofu in half lengthwise, wrap in a clean towel, place on a rack, and place something heavy (like a cast iron skillet) on top.
- Slice your tofu into 8 equal strips, then add it to a pan over medium heat with olive oil. Fry on each side until the outsides are somewhat crispy. This should take about ten minutes.
FOR THE CHIPOTLE SAUCE
- In a blender, combine the chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic cloves, roma tomato, onion, and spices. Blend until completely smooth.
- Add the fried tofu to the blender and pulse a couple of times until it's chopped into small bits. Be careful not to over blend, you can always chop a few larger pieces with the back of a wooden spoon once it's transfered back to the pan, you can't repair over-blended tofu.
FOR THE SOFRITAS
- Add the veggie broth, salsa verde, and contents of the blender to the pan and bring to a simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is reduced.
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