Tofu Steak frites in Pepper Sauce
Steak frites sounds like a fancy bistro, dark wooden tables, and a pepper mill waiting for you. We’ve turned it into a quick weeknight recipe – without the steak, but with everything we love about bistro food. Especially if you’re into pepper, this dish will probably end up on your “we’re making this more often now” list. Our vegan steak frites combines crispy fries, richly seasoned tofu, and an intense pepper sauce into a proper cosy bistro-style dinner at home.
The origin of the dish isn’t completely clear: both Belgium and France claim steak frites for themselves. And it’s just as hard to pin down whether Béarnaise sauce, pepper sauce, or herb butter is the most typical sidekick for steak and fries. As so often, we went for our own twist and created a vegan steak frites with tofu and plenty of pepper that’s perfect for a quick dinner.
How does tofu turn into steak?
For this recipe, we simply use firm plain tofu and fry it in vegan butter until golden brown. Thyme, paprika powder, pepper seasoning, and salt go straight into the pan, so the tofu isn’t just seasoned on top, but basically bathes in the melted herb butter. If you like, you can also slice the tofu in half lengthwise first – that way you get more surface area and even more roasted flavours.
What makes the pepper sauce special?
The sauce is a mix of creamy, tangy, and spicy, and we think that’s perfect for tofu and fries. The intense pepper flavour partly comes from pickled green peppercorns from a jar – especially when you bite into them. To add a subtle but constant pepper background, we’ve also seasoned the sauce with the Pepper Rub from LEBENSBAUM. The organic spice blend with pink pepper berries plus black and white pepper is mainly meant for grilling, but works beautifully in our pepper sauce too. LEBENSBAUM uses only carefully selected ingredients, with no artificial flavors or additives, and the We-Care label shows that social and ecological responsibility is considered along the entire supply chain – a detail we really appreciate in spices we reach for all the time anyway.
How spicy is the pepper sauce?
This dish probably isn’t for anyone who already finds chewing gum or toothpaste too spicy. The pickled peppercorns in particular bring quite a bit of fire (they are peppercorns, after all). If you leave those out, though, this dish is absolutely manageable for more sensitive taste buds.
Which sides go well with it?
We’re sticking with the classic combo of fries and parsley, but a small green salad with mustard vinaigrette makes a great fresh side. If you’re generally into hearty, sauce-forward dishes, you might want to check out our vegan Königsberger Klopse and vegan Green Sauce, or treat yourself to a jar of our vegan Gravy for your next lazy Sunday.
Tofu Steak frites in Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
For the tofu steak:
- 2 tbsp vegan butter (1 oz vegan butter)
- 2 blocks firm tofu ( 7 oz each)
- 1 tbsp fresh or dried thyme
- 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
- 1 tbsp pepper seasoning (e.g. Pepper Rub from LEBENSBAUM)
- 1 tsp salt
For the sauce:
- 2 shallots
- 1 tsp vegan butter
- 2 tsp green pickled peppercorns
- 1 tsp pepper seasoning (e.g. Pepper Rub from LEBENSBAUM)
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar (45 ml / 1.9 fl oz white wine vinegar)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 200 ml (0.85 cup) vegetable broth
- 100 ml (0.4 cup) plant-based cream
- 1 tsp mustard
- salt
Additionally:
- 450 g (gluten-free) frozen fries (16 oz frozen fries)
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp sweet paprika powder
- 1 oz parsley
Instructions
Melt the vegan butter in a pan, add the tofu, and fry it while seasoning with thyme, paprika powder, pepper seasoning, and salt. Fry for approximately 10 minutes on all sides, spooning the spiced butter over the tofu again and again.
Prepare the frozen fries in the oven or air fryer according to the package instructions, then season with salt and paprika powder. Roughly chop the parsley.
Remove the tofu steaks from the pan. Finely dice the shallots, then fry them in the same pan in vegan butter until translucent. Add the green peppercorns and pepper seasoning, deglaze with white wine vinegar and soy sauce, and let it reduce.
Add the vegetable broth, plant-based cream, and mustard, and season with salt to taste if needed.
Slice the tofu steaks into strips and serve with fries, sauce, and chopped parsley.
