Since my husband didn’t grow up vegetarian, it’s pretty rare that he’ll request anything with tofu, and by pretty rare I mean pretty much never. But these tofu BBQ sandwiches are something he’s always happy to eat! As always, let me know if you try them and what you think! 

Makes 4 sandwiches 

Ingredients for sandwiches 

• 4 rolls or 8 slices of bread (see note)
• 1 16 oz block of extra or super firm tofu
• 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce, plus more for serving (see note)
• A couple of tablespoons of mayo
• 1 batch of the spicy coleslaw
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced, optional  
• Serve with chips or corn on the cob 

Ingredients for the spicy coleslaw 

Adapted from Bon Appétit 

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 or 2 Serrano peppers, minced
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or minced
• 4 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar  
• 1/4 cup of mayo 
• 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil 
• The juice and zest of one lemon
• 1 small head of savoy or green cabbage
• 1 big handle of cilantro, finely chopped  
• Diamond kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 425. 
2. Drain the tofu and pat dry — try to get as much water out as you can. Thinly cut into strips and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Season with salt and spray with Avocado spray or lightly coat with oil. Bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through. 
3. While the tofu is baking, prepare the spicy coleslaw. Combine the red onion, Serranos, garlic, and vinegar in a large bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and let it sit for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the mayo, olive oil, lemon zest and juice. 
4. Cut the cabbage very thinly or slice thinly using a mandoline and add it to the bowl. Season with another teaspoon of salt and a couple of grounds of black pepper. Add in the cilantro and toss together until thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or vinegar. 
5. Once the tofu is done, toss it in 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce and set aside while you assemble your sandwiches. 
6. Toast your bread and then add mayo to one half of the sandwich and BBQ sauce to the other. Layer a couple of pieces of tofu, followed by a couple of big spoonfuls of the coleslaw. Add a layer of jalapeños, if desired. Close and enjoy! This sandwich is very messy but so good. Serve with chips or corn on the cob!

Notes

• BREAD: I like making these on French or ciabatta rolls. I also make them on sourdough sandwich bread but it does make for a messier sandwich. 
• BBQ sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce! We love Bachan’s hot and spicy BBQ sauce. It’s a little thinner than other BBQ sauces, so I only need a 1/4 cup to coat the tofu but if you use a thicker sauce, you might need more.