Jamaican Jerk Tofu Skewers (vegan, 15 mins)

Jamaican Jerk Tofu Skewers with vegetables are full of great taste and are super easy to make! Grill them on the barbecue, grill pan, pan fry or bake. This easy vegan recipe is mind-blowingly delicious and ready in just 15 minutes.

Jerk Tofu Skewers

Want a super-easy, healthy vegan dinner in just 15 minutes? This is it!

Complex, deep, jerk flavors are mixed with vegetables and tofu that are then grilled to perfection.

You could bake the vegetables and tofu in the oven, but I really love the smokey char marks that grilling gives.

Both methods make the tofu get lovely and crispy on the outside, while the inside is nice and chewy.

And of course, tofu is a wonderful flavor sponge for the delicious jerk seasoning.

Serve with a salad, rice, or of course try it with this Jamaican Rice and Peas Recipe.

Ingredients

To make these tasty Jerk tofu skewers, you will need: 

For the Tofo Skewers
Mushrooms
Red onion
Red pepper
Yellow pepper
Zucchini (courgette)
Extra firm tofu

For the Jerk Seasoning Marinade
Oil
Chili powder
Salt
Pepper
Sugar
Garlic powder
Dried thyme
Ground coriander powder
Ground cinnamon
Nutmeg

Cooking Methods for Grilled Jerk Kabobs

I know it's January, but after the excesses of Christmas, I love lighter meals this time of year.

You can cook these skewers in lots of ways. You may not be turning on your barbecues (unless you're some of my lovely Southern Hemisphere readers), so you can either just bake the tofu and veg, or, as I do, cook them on a cast iron ridged grill pan.

Barbecue

These tofu skewers are great on the barbecue! Just heat the grill, place them crossways so they don't fall in and cook, turning occasionally until cooked through and they begin to darken.

Grill Pan

I love how using a ridged grill pan (or griddle pan) means you get the lovely charred taste without standing out in the rain at the barbecue!

Simply heat the griddle pan until hot, add the tofu and vegetables that have been coated in the jerk seasoning (you'll likely have to do this in batches) and cook until it gets grill marks, then use tongs to turn each piece and cook the other side. 

Oven

To bake this Jerk Tofu and Vegetables in the oven, simply toss the veggies and tofu cubes in oil and seasoning, spread out in an even layer on a baking tray (or use two so you don't crowd them).

Bake at 400F / 200C for 25 minutes or until the veggies and tofu are cooked through and the edges are starting to get crispy.

Air Fryer

You can even make these in the air fryer! Just toss the veg and tofu cubes in the seasoning, add it to your air fryer (you may need to do it in batches) and cook until the tofu is crispy on the outside and the veg is cooked.

SCROLL DOWN for the full recipe, method and ingredients list.

Caribbean Jerk Seasoning

Jerk seasoning has heat, aromatics, sweetness and herbs to create a deep, complex flavor.

Often it can be super spicy from habaneros, but I've gone easy so you can enjoy these jerk tofu skewers without too much heat.

You only need a few ingredients for it, so feel free to quadruple the seasoning in the recipe and save ⅔ in a jar for future use! 

Serving Suggestions for Tofu kabobs

You can, of course, serve this jerk tofu in lots of ways (in a buddha bowl, with plain rice etc...), but I've threaded the tofu and vegetables onto skewers to create jerk tofu kabobs.

That way, you can easily cook them on the grill or barbecue and each one is portioned for you with tofu and veg.

Try these accompaniments to your Caribbean tofu:

Rice and Peas
Beet Leaf Callaloo
Vegan Jamaican Patties
Jerk Grilled Eggplant

You'll also love these other Vegan Street Food recipes. 

20 Minute Vegan Dinners

I love cooking, but that doesn't mean that I want super-involved time-consuming meals on a Tuesday after work! Try some of these quick vegan dinners that will be on the table in 20 minutes!

1. Vegan Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks
2. Spanish Beans
3. Naan bread pizza (use vegan cheese)
4. Chickpea Curry
5. Tofu Curry
6. Persian Grilled Tofu Vegetable Skewers

Cook's Tips and Tricks

• Feel free to swap in other veggies! It's great with baby tomatoes and pineapple chunks.
• You can, of course, use pre-made jerk sauce from a jar or premixed jerk seasoning mix.
• Try these skewers cooked on the barbecue, grill pan, oven or air fryer.

Substitutions to make this recipe work for your diet

This Jerk Tofu Skewers recipe is very versatile and can be tweaked to fit a number of different diets:

• Gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
• Dairy-free: This recipe is dairy-free.
• Egg-free: No eggs were harmed in the making of this dish.
• Oil-free: If you're oil-free, then skip the oil for the marinade and use water instead. Just keep moving the skewers so they don't stick too much when cooking.
• Soy-free: Tofu is made of soy, so if you're soy-free then skip the tofu. If you're not vegan or dairy free you could use halloumi or paneer (both are dairy cheeses).

NOTE: I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. If you have a food allergy or intolerance you should determine whether the ingredients in each recipe are suitable for you.

Can this recipe be prepped ahead of time?

Yes. Absolutely.

You can chop the veggies and tofu, toss them with the Jerk seasoning and keep them marinating in a bowl in the fridge for up to one day. You could also thread them onto the skewers, brush with the marinade and keep them on a plate in the fridge for up to two days. 

Then just grill and serve!
 

Jerk Tofu Skewers with Vegetables

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

Jamaican Jerk Tofu Skewers with vegetables are full of great taste and are super easy to make! Grill them on the barbecue, grill pan, pan fry or bake. This easy vegan recipe is mind-blowingly delicious and ready in just 15 minutes.

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

SaveSaved!

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Dinner, Main Meal

Cuisine Caribbean, gluten-free, Jamaican, Vegan

Servings 4

Calories 163 kcal

Equipment

• Grill pan or barbecue
• Skewers
• Bowl
• Pastry brush (optional)

Ingredients

 

• 8 mushrooms⁠⠀
• 1 red onion⁠⠀
• 1 red bell pepper⁠⠀
• 1 yellow bell pepper⁠⠀
• 1 zucchini⁠ courgette
• 1 block 350g extra firm tofu⁠⠀

For the Jerk Seasoning Marinade

• 2 tablespoon oil
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

 

• Clean the mushrooms and halve any very large ones.⁠⠀
• Peel the onion and chop into wedges. De-seed the bell peppers and chop into 1” square pieces. Chop the unpeeled courgette into ½” rings. Cut the firm tofu into 1” square pieces.⁠⠀
• Heat a barbecue or grill pan until hot.⁠⠀
• Meanwhile, mix the seasoning spices and oil in a small bowl. Thread the vegetables and tofu, alternating, onto the skewers and brush with the marinade.⁠⠀
• Cook the skewers on each side until the vegetables are cooked. Turn and repeat on all sides.⁠⠀
• Lovely served with rice and peas.⁠

Notes

• Feel free to swap in other veggies! It's great with baby tomatoes and pineapple chunks.
• You can, of course, use pre-made jerk sauce from a jar or premixed jerk seasoning mix.
• Try these skewers cooked on the barbecue, grill pan, oven or air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 9gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 371mgPotassium: 575mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1385IUVitamin C: 104mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.