Skip the takeout and make your own Vegan Sofritas Burrito Bowl at home! Filled with spicy homemade chipotle tofu sofritas, protein-rich black beans, brown rice, and healthy vegetables, this burrito bowl is a terrific meal for lunch or dinner. This easy recipe is a homemade copycat of a Chipotle favorite. It's plant-based and gluten-free.
Chipotle Vegan Sofritas Burrito Bowl
There’s a certain Mexican fast food chain that’s known for being vegan friendly. While I don’t eat take-out often, I was pretty excited when a franchise opened around the corner from my house a few years ago. It made those days when I’m too busy to cook lunch easier, and it was terrific for dinner on busy weeknights. Plus, it's a healthier option that other fast food places.
My go-to order was always a vegan burrito bowl with black beans and tofu sofritas. The last time I ordered one, however, there was a wadded up piece of plastic wrap mixed in with the food. Ewwww!! I reported it to the company, but my complaint wasn’t taken seriously. I haven’t eaten there since.
Homemade Vegan Sofritas Burrito Bowl
Since then, I’ve been making my own burrito bowls at home. Making them at home means I know exactly what goes into my meal, and I can switch up the bowl’s contents depending on what I’m in the mood for. It might take a little time, but I’d rather control the contents of meal than wonder what might be lurking in my food.
My homemade sofritas are made with good for you ingredients like tofu, poblano peppers, and chipotles in adobo sauce, along with lots of spicy seasoning. I would even go so far as to say they are better than Chipotle's!
What are Sofritas?
Sofritas are a plant-based protein that Chipotle introduced in 2013. It has a texture similar to ground meat, but it's actually a marinated and braised tofu in a spicy tomato sauce.
They probably inspired by sofrito. Sofrito can found in in Mediterranean, Latin American, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cooking. It's a dish made with olive oil, garlic, onion, and peppers. Sometimes carrots and tomatoes are added.
Sofritas Ingredients
- Poblano peppers
- Vegetable stock
- Chipotles in adobo sauce
- Tomato paste
- Garlic
- Ancho chili powder
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Neutral vegetable oil
- Tofu
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Romaine lettuce
- Salsa
- Corn
- Avocados
- Cashew cheese sauce
- Cilantro
See the recipe card for exact measurements
Preparing Your Tofu
The star of this recipe is the vegan sofritas made with tofu. To make them, I freeze the tofu. Freezing it changes the texture and makes it easier for the tofu to soak up seasonings, sauces and marinades.
- First you freeze the tofu while it’s still in the package.
- Once frozen, you allow the tofu to thaw in the fridge or a room temperature.
- Then you press the tofu the way you normally would to remove any excess water. I have a tofu press, but you can also use a cast-iron skillet or a heavy book.
How to Make Vegan Sofritas
Preparing your recipe can be done in just a few easy steps.
- First you preheat the broiler on your oven.
- Then you place the poblano peppers on a baking sheet and place the sheet under the broiler. You cook the peppers until they char, about 3-5 minutes, and then flip them over and allow the other side to char as well.
- Next you remove from the oven and allow to cool. Once they’ve cooled, you peel off the outer skin and remove the seeds with a sharp pairing knife.
- Next you place the peppers into a blender or food processor along with the vegetable stock, chipotles, adobo sauce, tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, black pepper, and sea salt and blend them until smooth.
- Then you heat the oil in a large pan and crumble the tofu into the pan and then add the sauce.
- You cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the tofu.
These vegan sofritas are pretty spicy, so if you're sensitive to heat, cut back on the chipotles.
How to Make Your Own Burrito Bowl
Once you have your tofu sofritas made, it's time assemble your burrito bowl!
- You simply divide the sofritos, brown rice, and black beans between 4 bowls.
- Then you top with the lettuce, salsa, avocado, cheese sauce, and cilantro.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Customize your Burrito Bowl
This recipe is very flexible. Feel free to swap out the ingredients that I use in this recipe with whatever you have on hand.
- Pinto beans can be used instead of black beans.
- Guacamole can be used instead of avocado.
- Sautéed onions and bell peppers can be added to your bowl.
- You can add fresh corn, dairy-free sour cream, diced tomatoes, or whatever you have a hankering for.
- I used my own cashew cheese sauce, but you can use-store bought cheese if you have some on hand. I like Violife, So Delicious Dairy Free, and Follow Your Heart.
- You can use store-bought salsa or homemade, if you feel like making your own.
Serving Your Tofu Sofritas
You can use your tofu sofritas in other dishes too. They're not just for burrito bowls!
- Use them as taco "meat"
- Top a salad with them
- Stuff a burrito with them
- Use them in quesadillas
How will you serve your tofu sofritas?
Tofu Sofritas Burrito Bowl
Ingredients
For the Sofritas
- 2 poblano peppers
- ½ cup vegetable stock
- 4 chiles from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon neutral-flavored vegetable oil
- 1 16-ounce package extra firm tofu frozen, thawed, drained, and pressed
For the Burrito Bowl
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 15-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 1 cup salsa homemade or store-bought
- ½ cup fresh corn kernels
- 2 avocados diced
- ½ cup cashew cheese sauce
- 2 tablespoons cilantro for serving, optional
Instructions
Make the Sofritas
- Preheat the broiler on your oven. Place the poblano peppers on a baking sheet and place the sheet under the broiler. Cook the peppers until they char, about 3-5 minutes, and then flip them over and allow the other side to char as well.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Once they’ve cooled, peel off the outer skin and remove the seeds with a sharp pairing knife.
- Place the peppers into a blender or food processor along with the vegetable stock, chipotles, adobo sauce, tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, oregano, cumin, black pepper, and sea salt. Blend until smooth.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Crumble the tofu into the pan and then add the sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the tofu.
Make the Burrito Bowls
- Divide the sofritos, brown rice, and black beans between 4 bowls. Top with the lettuce, salsa, avocado, cheese sauce, and cilantro, if using.
- Serve warm.
Top Your Burrito Bowl With:
- Fresh Tomato Salsa
- Avocado Salsa Verde
- Cashew Cheese Sauce
- Chipotle Lime Dressing
- Jalapeno Lime Aioli
Becky Striepe
Oh my gosh, I love sofritas and can't wait to make them at home!
Dianne
Thanks, Becky! I hope you enjoy them!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
That restaurant's sofritas are too spicy for me! I like that I can use your recipe and control the spice. These bowls look delicious!
Dianne
Thanks, Amy! You can definitely cut back on the spices in this recipe, if you don't want it too hot.