Mediterranean Herbed Lemon Tofu and Couscous Bowl

A zesty, bright, and ultra flavorful Mediterranean-inspired bowl with crispy marinated herbed lemon tofu, fresh couscous and veggie salad, crisp pita chips, and a creamy tahini sauce.

This Mediterranean-inspired bowl is loaded with flavor and the perfect meal prep recipe. It’s filled with a crispy herbed lemon tofu, fresh couscous veggie salad, pita chips, and creamy tahini sauce.

I still can’t get over how much flavor is loaded into this tofu – it’s too delicious.

In my opinion, the key to an ultra flavorful tofu is at least an overnight marinade. It is more of a hassle and time-consuming, but I promise you it is worth it to achieve these tofu flavor bombs. Tofu is like a sponge – it soaks up every bit of flavor you toss it with, so the longer you allow the marinade ingredients to seep into it, the better!

Keep reading for a delicious Herbed Lemon Tofu recipe.

How to Make Mediterranean Herbed Lemon Tofu and couscous Bowl:

Overnight Marinade: Herbed Lemon Tofu

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon zest, garlic, dried herbs, and salt. Add the cubed tofu and toss well to combine, being careful not to break the tofu. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight

Couscous and Veggie Salad

  1. In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together until well combined. Season with salt to taste. Wrap bowl with plastic wrap and store in fridge until ready to serve.

Crispy Pita

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut each pita into 8 triangles. Add to a large baking sheet and toss with a couple drizzle of olive oil and heavy pinch of salt. Bake for 6 minutes then flip and bake for another 2 minutes until golden brown and crisp.

Cooking the Herbed Lemon Tofu

  1. While pitas are baking, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated tofu and toss to coat in oil. Cook for 5-6 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown on each side. Add to a paper towel lined bowl to soak up excess oil (oil is ok, but you don’t want it dripping in it).
  2. IMPORTANT: Don’t toss the extra marinade in the bowl! It will be used in the tahini sauce.

Tahini Sauce

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the tahini and leftover marinade until creamy. Season with salt to taste.

Assemble

  1. Assemble dish by adding couscous salad, herbed lemon tofu, and crispy pita to a bowl. Drizzle with tahini sauce and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to marinate the tofu overnight?

I HIGHLY recommend that you marinate the tofu for at least 8 hours. This allows all the yummy goodness/ingredients to seep into the tofu, achieving an herbed lemon tofu flavor bomb.

If you are really short on time and still want to make this recipe, then you can marinate for at least 1 hr.

What type of tofu do you recommend?

I used firm tofu in this recipe, but extra-firm would also work.

How do I store this mediterranean tofu bowl?

I recommend storing the components separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

If you’re looking for more vegan tofu recipes, you’ll also love this Smoky Chipotle Tofu Burrito, these Shawarma-spiced Tofu Pita Wraps, and this Sticky Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry.

Also, if you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram don’t forget to tag me @healthienut + #healthienut! I love seeing your mouthwatering recreations!

5 from 3 votes
Mediterranean Herbed Lemon Tofu and Couscous Bowl
Prep Time
8 hrs 15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
8 hrs 25 mins
 

A zesty, bright, and ultra flavorful Mediterranean-inspired bowl with crispy marinated herbed lemon tofu, fresh couscous and veggie salad, crisp pita chips, and a creamy tahini sauce.

Course: Main Course
Keyword: easy vegan dinner recipe, mediterranean herbed lemon tofu and quinoa bowl
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Taavi Moore
Ingredients
Herbed Lemon Tofu
  • 14 oz. firm tofu, pressed drained and cut into 1" cubes
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Zest from ½ medium lemon
  • 2 cloves of garlic, grated
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp chili powder
Couscous and Veggie Salad
  • 1 finely diced english cucumber (2 cups diced)
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes (1 ¾ cups diced)
  • 1 cup chopped kalamata olives
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 cup cooked couscous (½ cup dry)
  • Juice from ½ lemon
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely diced
Crispy Pita
  • 3-4 pitas (I got mine from Trader Joes)
  • Olive oil
  • Kosher salt
Tahini Sauce
  • ½ cup tahini
  • ½-¾ tsp kosher salt
  • Leftover tofu marinade
Instructions
Overnight Marinade: Herbed Lemon Tofu
  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon zest, garlic, dried herbs, and salt. Add the cubed tofu and toss well to combine, being careful not to break the tofu. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight

Couscous and Veggie Salad
  1. In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together until well combined. Season with salt to taste. Wrap bowl with plastic wrap and store in fridge until ready to serve.

  2. Crispy Pita

  3. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut each pita into 8 triangles. Add to a large baking sheet and toss with a couple drizzle of olive oil and heavy pinch of salt. Bake for 6 minutes then flip and bake for another 2 minutes until golden brown and crisp.

Cooking the Herbed Lemon Tofu
  1. While pitas are baking, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated tofu and toss to coat in oil. Cook for 5-6 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown on each side. Add to a paper towel lined bowl to soak up excess oil (oil is ok, but you don't want it dripping in it).

  2. IMPORTANT: Don't toss the extra marinade in the bowl! It will be used in the tahini sauce.

  3. Tahini Sauce

  4. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the tahini and leftover marinade until creamy. Season with salt to taste.

Assemble
  1. Assemble dish by adding couscous salad, herbed lemon tofu, and crispy pita to a bowl. Drizzle with tahini sauce and enjoy!

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8 Comments

  1. Lucy
    February 18, 2024 / 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious!!
    I substituted quinoa for couscous and added some sun dried tomatoes to the tahini sauce because I had some on hand. This was really flavorful and nutritious and I’m already looking forward to making it again 🙂 Thank you, Taavi!!

    • healthienut
      Author
      February 20, 2024 / 2:36 am

      Hi Lucy, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it! The sun dried tomato addition to the tahini sauce sounds amazing, I need to try it!

  2. Olivia
    May 19, 2024 / 12:13 pm

    Before marinating, do you press the tofu? Or freeze, defrost, press? Or nothing at all?

    • healthienut
      Author
      May 20, 2024 / 6:43 pm

      Hi Olivia, great question. You should press and drain the tofu prior to marinating. If you’re using frozen tofu, defrost the night before, then press and drain.

  3. Jenn S.
    July 17, 2024 / 12:24 am

    5 stars
    Super delicious! The whole family loved it!

    • healthienut
      Author
      July 18, 2024 / 7:38 pm

      Hi Jenn, so happy to hear you all enjoyed it! 🙂

  4. Brittany Viklund
    April 21, 2025 / 11:34 pm

    5 stars
    This was EXCELLENT! It was nutritious, satisfying and so flavorful. I included a scoop of homemade hummus for extra fiber and protein and it all came together so deliciously. This would be a great meal to serve a crowd. Thank you!

    • healthienut
      Author
      April 22, 2025 / 9:50 pm

      Hi Brittany, awh yay! SO happy to hear you enjoyed it. Homemade hummus sounds amazing!

5 from 3 votes

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