Spicy Harissa Whipped Tofu Dip

Name: Spicy Harissa Whipped Tofu Dip
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 16oz Block Silken Tofu, Drained (See Notes 1 and 2 for substitutions); 2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast; 1-2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder; 0.5 Teaspoon Salt (or to Taste); 0.25 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper; 1-2 Tablespoons Harissa Paste; 0.5-1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika; 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice

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Spicy Harissa Whipped Tofu Dip is a great way to turn silken tofu into a tasty snack or party food! With a creamy texture and a spicy kick, all you need are a few chips and you have a dish for easy entertaining. Works great as a pasta sauce as well!

Hey Internet, we've got another great tofu recipe for you. This time it's an easy tofu dip that you can make in your blender.

We used harissa, which is a spice made from hot peppers from Morocco, to add a bit of heat to it. But don't worry, if you're not big on fiery foods we have a variety of suggestions below on how you can customize this recipe. It's very versatile!

We love tofu! We've made so many great recipes with it. Our Tofu Nuggets are a super easy vegan version of chicken nuggets. We have these Tofu Meatballs, which are great for pasta and sandwiches like our Vegan Meatball Sub. We even have some amazing Tofu Cheese Recipes that you can make into so many different types of vegan cheese! And there are so many other uses for tofu; we'd be here all day if we listed them all. If you still want more though, check out our big list of vegan tofu recipes!

This time we're using silken tofu, a soft tofu that is almost liquid. It's great for a creamy dip like the one we're about to make. You could use firm tofu, but it has so much less water in it. We'll talk about that in the substitutions section.

Anyway, let's get into this tofu spread.

Why You Love This Tofu Dip

Super Easy: This delicious whipped tofu dip will be done in 5 minutes.
Turn Up the Heat (or Not): It's easy to get this recipe to the right amount of spiciness for your palate.
Customizable: This recipe is a great base for other dips, sauces, and more!

Ingredients

Pick up these simple ingredients the next time you're at a grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredients, instructions, and accurate nutritional information (to the best of my ability; please consult your physician or healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs). I give substitutions for the ingredients in the section below this one, so most people can still make this recipe!

1 16oz Block Silken Tofu, Drained: You DON'T want to press the tofu, but you want to open your container over a sink and let the extra water go down the sink. If you only have the small shelf-stable boxes of silken tofu, you can use two OR you can substitute the rest for soaked raw cashews or raw sunflower seeds (or even white beans) to bulk out your whipped tofu dip.
2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
1-2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
0.5 Teaspoon Salt (or to Taste)
0.25 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1-2 Tablespoons Harissa Paste, or more to taste: This is were you can pick how hot you want your dip. You can go with a mild version of the paste or go extra spicy. It's your choice. Note that if you want a spicier experience without adding more liquid, you can buy harissa seasoning and that one gives you more kick.
0.5-1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice

Substitutions

Harissa: If you have harissa powder instead, take into consideration that it's much more powerful than the paste. 1 teaspoon can be the same strength as 2 tablespoons of paste. You may also need to add a little more oil as the paste will likely have it.
Silken Tofu: You can use firm tofu for this recipe, but you will need to add more liquids. When blending, start by adding a little water at a time and continue to add until your dip is a smooth, creamy consistency.
Lemon Juice: You could instead use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar for your acid.
Olive Oil: Grapeseed oil and avocado oil are great replacements if you don't have olive oil. The oil is for richness and to help make a smoother texture. If you're not a big fan of using oil, some oil-free options include tahini or raw cashew butter. And of course you could also just blend in a few tablespoons of raw cashews or raw sunflower seeds.

How to Make Spicy Harissa Whipped Tofu

Drain Tofu: Open the package of your tofu over a sink. Pour the excess water out of it but do not press it.
Fill Your Blender: Add all of your ingredients to a high-powered blender or food processor.
Blend: Blend the ingredients on high for about 30 seconds. Make sure stop and scrap down the sides of the blend if any ingredients get stuck there.
Chill, Optional: If you want your dip to firm up a little bit, add it to an air-tight container and let it chill in a refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
Serve: Add to a small bowl or add it as a sauce to your meal! If you want to get the pretty swirl we got, add a little more harissa paste on top and then swirl it with a spoon.

Storage Instructions

Add your tofu dip to an airtight container and refrigerate. Store for 3 to 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Dip Into This Tofu Spread?

A nice pita chip goes great with this dip. Tortilla chips are also awesome. If you go with potato chips, make sure to buy a sturdy brand. Use carrot sticks, celery and your favorite crackers to make an appetizer platter!

What Else Can I Use This Dip In?

This spicy tofu dip was great in pasta! You could also use it as a salad dressing or as a sandwich spread (it thickens up slightly in the fridge, but if you want it thicker, blend in a few tablespoons of soaked raw cashews or raw sunflower seeds.

Any Else I Could Use to Top the Dip?

Fresh herbs are the way to go! Fresh parsley, fresh basil, or fresh cilantro are all great choices. You could also swirl in a little more harissa paste, add red pepper flakes if you really like spicy, or try a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

What Other Flavor Tofu Dip Recipes Can I Make?

The sky's the limit as tofu is very flexible as an ingredient. You could replace the harissa with some roasted garlic for a garlicky dip. If you want a more sour cream taste, add chives and more lemon juice. Get creative!

More Great Vegan Dips and Sauces

If you like dips and sauces a lot, check our big list of vegan dip recipes!