Chickpea Tofu Recipe

This plant-based, 3-ingredient chickpea tofu is packed with protein but low in fat. It’s also soy-free. Make it in minutes!

If you are vegan (and even if you aren’t!), you’ve heard of tofu. But have you ever heard of Burmese tofu? It’s super easy to make, and it can be used just like regular tofu. That means you get all those fun, plant-based, tofu-centered dishes without the soy!

Before anybody comes at me, I’m not trashing soy. But for anyone like me who can’t tolerate soy and therefore needs soy-free alternatives, this is a fabulous replacement! (Soy-free, plant-based cheesecake, anyone?)

What Is Chickpea Tofu?

This is a simplified version of Burmese tofu. It is tofu made with chickpea flour (aka, garbanzo bean flour) instead of soy. It is fast and easy to make and gives you plenty of plant-based protein. The texture is ever so slightly grainier than soy-based tofu, but it can be made to be firm, medium, or silken, just like regular tofu.

You can read more about Burmese tofu by clicking here to get to Wikipedia.

Is Chickpea Tofu Healthy?

If you consider beans to be healthy, then yes! It’s quite healthy!

Is Chickpea Tofu High In Protein?

Chickpea flour has approximately 20 grams of plant-based protein per cup. Pair that with a grain, and you’ve got a complete protein! This recipe uses 1 full cup of chickpea flour. So you’ll have 20 grams of protein per batch of chickpea tofu. Not too shabby!

Is Tofu Made From Chickpeas?

No traditional tofu, no. Typically, tofu is made from soybeans. But many people cannot have soy. That’s where this Burmese version comes into play. Plus, it has way better flavor than soy-based tofu!

Can You Get Soy-Free Tofu?

Not in stores. At least not that I’ve seen. Tofu is always made from soy unless you make this version of it.

Where To Buy Chickpea Tofu?

I personally have never seen it in any of the grocery stores I have been to. There may be some specialty stores that carry it, but I have never seen it. Of course, at the time, I wasn’t looking for it either. So if you’ve seen it in stores before, please share in a comment below!

Are Chickpeas A Good Source Of Protein?

Yes. However, the amount of protein can vary based on whether you purchase your chickpeas canned or dried. 1 cup of dried and cooked chickpeas has approximately 15 grams of protein, while canned chickpeas can run as low as 10 grams. So check the packaging when you buy them!

Can You Color Chickpea Flour Tofu?

You can! The best ingredient to color it is turmeric. It gives it a nice, yellow color not unlike some cheese.

Can You Flavor Chickpea Tofu?

You can! While chickpea tofu has a far more delicious flavor than soy tofu, you can add different flavorings to this to keep things interesting. A few ideas are:

• Ginger – add approximately a quarter teaspoon of ground ginger to the flour and salt mixture at the beginning of the recipe.
• Garlic – add approximately a half teaspoon of garlic powder to the salt and flour mixture
• Curry – Add a quarter to a half teaspoon of curry powder for more spicy tofu.
• Black pepper – add approximately a quarter teaspoon to the flour mixture.
• Any other spices – once you’ve made this according to the recipe, you can add pretty much any other spices you wish to add. But I recommend making the basic version first so you can get a feel for the flavors before you add anything to it.

What Is The Best Thing To Prepare With Chickpea Tofu?

Pretty much anything you can make with regular tofu, you can also make with chickpea tofu. Here are a few ideas:

• Scrambled “eggs”.
• Plant-based cheesecake
• Chipotle Grilled tofu
• Add to smoothies for extra protein
• Tofu stir fry
• Tofu sandwiches
• Lettuce wraps
• Taco meat
• Air fryer tofu
• Baked tofu
• Kebabs
• Lasagna filling
• Protein for soups and stews
• Veggie tofu wraps
• Hummus wraps – yes, that’s chickpeas on top of chickpeas. But dang, it’s good!)
• Grain bowls
• Curry
• Noodle dishes
• Add to salads
• Make corn-free polenta
• And more!

About The Ingredients

Chickpea flour – Also known as Besan flour, this can be found at most mainstream grocery stores. Look for the baking aisle where they have other gluten-free flour. Read the ingredients to make sure it only contains chickpeas.

Salt – I used pink Himalayan salt. But you can use whatever salt you normally cook with.

Water – Use good, filtered water. See notes at the bottom of the recipe for the amount of water you should use to get your desired level of firmness.

How To Make Chickpea Tofu

Oil the dish that you will pour your chickpea tofu batter into and set aside. I use a glass, 6½ x 8 inch food storage container (pictured here). You don’t have to oil the container, but it helps to get the tofu out when it’s done firming up.

Whisk together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Then whisk in 1 cup of water.

Whisk until smooth.

In a saucepan or pot, bring the other cup of water to a boil. Reduce to medium heat to keep the water at a medium simmer

Whisk the flour mixture into the boiling water and reduce the heat to medium. You want this to cook at a soft boil. Continue to whisk for about 3-8 minutes, more or less constantly. (Whisking time will depend on how much water you use. See notes on the water amounts at the end of the recipe card below.)

Once it thickens, you can pour it into a dish or mold.

Using a spatula, spread it out and smooth it out the best you can. It firms up pretty quickly. Cool this to room temperature for 1-2 hours. Then transfer to the fridge for another hour. It should be quite firm, like firm tofu.

Turn the tofu out onto a flat work surface.

Use a paper towel to dab off any excess oil from the dish.

Cut it into your desired shape.

How To Store Chickpea Tofu

Pack this in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 or 5 days.

Can You Freeze Chickpea Tofu?

Yup! It actually freezes quite well. Simply wrap it well and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

More Base Recipes

• Vegetable Stock
• Seitan Mix Recipe
• Chickpea Flour Flatbread

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