Last Updated on June 7, 2024
This Sofritas recipe is our copycat of Chipotle Sofritas. A lime-infused hearty plant-based protein enjoyed rain or shine, will quickly become your weekly go-to meal, I’m sure!
Sofritas Recipe (Better Than Chipotle)
If you’ve ever tried a bowl of Sofritas at Chipotle Mexican Grill, then prepare to print out this recipe, or toggle-on the “Cook-Mode” on your screen, because you will love Chipotle copycat and will be making sofritas at home a lot to save you time and money!
Good news for you! You don’t need to be a professional chef to make delicious Sofritas at home, this is a beginner-friendly recipe. Just like how easily to make these vegan birria tacos with consome, vegan fajitas, and vegan chili (TVP recipe).
After trying the Chipotle’s Sofritas, I couldn’t wait to whip up my own (tastes just like the original).
Similar to Chipotle, my copycat Chipotle Sofritas takes extra firm tofu, sauté it on a skillet, and adding a bit more adobo sauce for preference. It almost hits the mark! Plus, making in large batches saves you more time and wash-ups.
In this post, we gonna decode the secret ingredients of Chipotle Sofritas and show you how quick and easy it is to prepare at home.
Served alongside our spicy cilantro sauce, cilantro lime rice, vegan Mexican rice, gluten-free arepas, or grilled asparagus in foil, your family will enjoy licking the plate clean and asking for thirds — possibly fourths… and can’t thank you enough 😁.
What is Sofritas?
Ok, before we dive too deep into how easily you can adapt Sofritas into your monthly meal prep, you may be wondering, what is Sofritas? ‘Sofritas’ is a soy-based protein that has a spicy kick to it.
In Chipotle, tofu is the main ingredient for Sofritas, most commonly eaten alongside similar spicy or sweet food items.
It has become a tasty substitute for traditional animal-based proteins and has gained a massive following within the plant-based community.
But what does ‘Sofritas’ mean? There’s no definite answer to this. Generally speaking, “sofrito, sofregit, soffritto, or refogado” are base sauces widely used in Latin American, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese cuisines.
In Spanish, ‘Fritas’ means ‘fried’, and if I were to take a guess the ‘So’, refers to ‘soy’ since soybean is the main ingredient.
Sofritas meaning, ‘Fried Soy’, then makes sense as the dish is tofu scrambled in a frying pan and braised in a spicy sauce, and it’s not too hard to see why.
Make Sofritas with Tofu (Plant-Based Protein)
The main ingredient is Tofu (curdled soy milk then pressed into firm blocks of Tofu, also known as unfermented beancurd) in Sofritas as a replacement for meat.
During the Asian trading boom, tofu gained worldwide fame as an extremely popular plant-based protein source.
Since then, many cultures have added tofu to their dishes, including Middle Eastern, European, and Hispanic cuisine.
Chipotle is a very common spice mix in Mexican cuisine and is a combination of ground and dried Mexican spices alongside garlic, cumin, and salt.
Mexico loves its spice, so much so, they use chipotle seasoning in many breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
So, by adding a pinch of spiciness from the West to an ultra-loved Asian staple, you get an aromatic twang that packs a powerful punch of flavor from the first bite.
What does Sofritas taste like
Sofritas taste like Taco Tuesday- yep, I said it! With ample amounts of chili pepper, dried cumin, paprika, and oregano you could easily mistake Sofritas sauce for taco seasoning- which, in essence, it is kind of, but more on that later.
Now if you’ve ever had the pleasure (or displeasure for some) of trying tofu straight from the block, then you quickly realize that there’s too much room for improvement.
Tofu- on its own- is white, flavorless, and spongey— making it easily moldable for chefs around the world as they see fit.
After all, tofu’s high-protein profile and its flavorless base are what make it one of the most versatile plant-based protein sources today.
Once fried, Chipotle Sofritas tofu crumble resembles the texture of crumbled ground meat. For this Chipotle Tofu we went with extra-firm tofu, because I wanted it to soak up all the Sofritas sauce, but still maintain a nice sturdy chew.
Is it Vegan?
Absolutely! Is Chiptole Sofritas vegan? You bet! Whichever way you prefer, Chipotle Sofritas ingredients incorporate tofu and spicy seasonings only.
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians, plus, it’s also gluten-free and low-carb! Scroll down to read our Chipotle copycat recipe for more.
Copycat Chipotle Sofritas 📖 Recipe – You’ll Love This Recipe
You can check the quantities of each ingredient on the recipe card down below:
- Extra-firm Crumbled Tofu – we prefer to use super firm tofu chunks for tofu Sofritas. However, if you can’t find extra-firm tofu at your local stores, you can freeze the tofu overnight, defrost the tofu, and press it before use. You can brown your tofu crumbles in the oven or the air fryer first if you want to reduce cooking oil.
- White Onions (*optional) or Yellow Onions- finely diced.
- Olive Oil – for cooking.
Sauce Ingredients
- Canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce – Sofritas sauce made with the La Morena brand. Jalapenos that have been smoked dried and canned inside a sweet and tangy tomato puree with spices. You don’t need a lot because just a little kicks up the spice level a ton. Here we use 3 Chipotle peppers for mild flavor, however, feel free to use more or add some poblano peppers if you like it very hot.
- Chipotle Sauce – I am using the La Morena brand.
- Garlic Cloves – minced
- Tomato Paste (Tomato sauce)
- Vegetable stock (salt-reduced/low-sodium) – if you’re on strict gluten-free diet, you will need to check the label before purchasing.
- Maple Syrup – or coconut sugar. Slightly sweeten the sauce to balance out the spicy and sour flavors.
- Seasoning– garlic, oregano, ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, and salt.
- Lime Juice or Lemon Juice.
How to make Chipotle Sofritas
✴️ You will need a high-speed blender or food processor to make the sauce.
- 1. First, add garlic, chipotle pepper in adobo, chipotle adobo sauce, vegetable broth, tomato paste, ground cumin, oregano, paprika, maple syrup, salt, and lime juice in the blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Cooked The Tofu:
- Place the tofu in a large mixing bowl and use a potato masher or a wooden spoon to break the tofu into small pieces almost mince-like. For safety reasons, I do not recommend breaking the tofu in the pan while cooking.
- 3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add tofu and diced onion to the skillet, stirring constantly to prevent burning, and keep scraping the bottom of the skillet if there is a sign of sticking.
- 4. Cook the tofu until golden crispy on the outside (cooking for a total of 10 minutes).
- 5. Add the sauce to the skillet and stir to combine.
- 6. Let it simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Season to taste if you need more salt, then serve with rice or tortillas along with avocado, sweet corn, chopped cilantro, and black beans. Enjoy.👍🏻
Ways to Eat Sofritas
Now you know how easy it is to make at home, you can enjoy Sofritas as much as you like. Here are our suggested ways to serve Sofritas:
- Chipotle tofu bowl or burrito bowl – on top of cooked plain rice or cilantro lime rice. Topped with corn, salsa, avocado, black beans, lettuce, fresh tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Burritos – wrapped in tortillas with fruit salsa and vegan cheese. Brown the outside of the burritos on medium-high heat. Cut it into half and serve warm.
- Tacos – tortillas of your choice, filled with the Sofritas tofu filling. Top up with shredded lettuce, crunchy slaw, chopped onion, tomatoes, and dairy-free sour cream.
- Is it OK to serve Sofritas with chips or cornbread muffins alone? No problem at all!
How to Store
You can store leftover sofritas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
It freezes really well, but it does change the texture slightly (maybe a bit chewier).
To safely defrost your Sofritas, keep them in the refrigerator until they are thawed (tofu is high in protein and you don’t want to leave it at room temperature).
Have You Made This Recipe?
Hope you enjoy my version of Sofritas. Please give me a five-star rating if you enjoyed this dish! 😘
Readers Interactions (Frequently Asked Questions)
The word “sofritas” comes from the Spanish verb “sofreír,” which means “to sauté” or “to fry.”
The sofritas at Chipotle definitely have a bit of a kick. They’re made with chili peppers, after all. And if you eat them straight out of the container, you might find yourself reaching for a glass of water.
For my copycat version, sofritas is mellowed out by other ingredients like maple syrup and lime juice. This makes it pretty mild. So while they’re not exactly bland, they’re not too much to blow your head off either.
In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. If you can handle a little spice, then this dish is definitely worth trying. But if you’re sensitive to heat, you might want to give it a pass.
Chipotle’s sofritas are organic, shredded tofu braised in chipotle chilies, chipotle adobo sauce, and Mexican spices.
Sofritas is typically made with tofu, peppers, onions, and spices. It’s a good source of protein and fiber, and it’s low in calories. However, the spices used in Sofritas can make it high in sodium. If you’re watching your salt intake, you may want to limit your consumption of Sofritas.
Overall, It is a healthy dish that can be enjoyed by vegans and meat-eaters alike. Just be sure to watch your portion size and salt intake if you’re trying to stay healthy.
Yes, It is a great option for vegans and vegetarians. The popular Mexican dish is made with vegetables, spices, and herbs, making it a hearty and flavorful meatless option. In addition to being a flavorful filling for tacos or burritos, sofritas can be enjoyed on their own as well.
Yes, the tortilla at Chipotle is vegan. The ingredients are simple and include flour, water, salt, and vegetable shortening. This combination creates a soft and delicious tortilla that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions. Here is an article explained in depth: Are Tortillas Vegan?
As the vegan bowl includes sofritas, guac is an extra charge.
You can have,
Black Beans
Pinto Beans
Cilantro Lime White Rice
Brown Rice
Fajita Vegetables (sauteed bell peppers and onion)
Sofritas (braised tofu with chipotle peppers)
Guacamole
Romaine Lettuce
Supergreens Lettuce Blend
Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa
Fresh Tomato Salsa
Tomatillo Red Salsa
Green Chili Salsa
Tortilla Chips
