Chipotle Sofritas (Copycat Recipe)

This Sofritas recipe is simple, tasty, and it makes a great companion for your burritos, tacos, salads, or rice bowls! Follow my simple photo and video instructions and make this delicious treat at home!

Pieces of tofu cooked in a spicy Mexican sauce… Yum! If you tried Sofritas at Chipotle, I am sure you now are craving more. Fear not, after endless experiments, I finally created a recipe that tastes like the Chipotle version, so you can make it yourself now.

I don't go out to eat often, but I do like to visit Chipotle once in a while. Since I eat very little meat, I usually opt for vegan/vegetarian options. I loved tofu Sofritas since the first time I tried them, and I've worked tirelessly trying to replicate this recipe at home. I hope you enjoy my Copycat Chipotle Sofritas recipe!

Video Tutorial: Chipotle Sofritas

Why I love these Sofritas

• Adjustable heat. I find that Chipotle Sofritas is a bit too spicy. It’s easy to make it at home and you can adjust the spice level depending on personal preference.
• Less salt. My Sofritas recipe is less salty. Of course, you can adjust it exactly to your liking.
• Less oily. My Sofritas have a lighter texture and mouth feel because I use a non-stick skillet and less oil.
• Cheaper. Lastly, it's definitely much cheaper to make Sofritas at home.
• Easy to make. Once you make this homemade sofritas recipe and get a hang of it, it will be a breeze to make the next batch. 

Main Ingredients

• Tofu. Use extra-firm tofu. I prefer using organic tofu.
• Oil. Use any oil you prefer. I like avocado oil and olive oil the most.

For The Sauce:

• Adobo Sauce. Blend canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce until smooth. Use the pureed sauce in this recipe. Put the leftover sauce into an ice cube container and freeze. Transfer to a ziplock bag and store in the freezer until needed. Learn what to do with chipotles in Adobo sauce here. 
• Vegetables. Tomatoes, green bell pepper (or poblano pepper), onions (yellow, white, or red onion works), garlic cloves.
• Spices. Cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar (or regular).

How to Make Chipotle Sofritas

1.  Place all of the sauce ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until it looks like salsa.

2. Wrap the tofu into 3-4 layers of paper towels and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Use tofu press, if available. 

3. Place the tofu on a cutting board, and cut into ½-inch slices.

4. Heat oil in a large skillet (non-stick is best here but cast iron works too). Add tofu and fry, without moving it for 3 minutes on medium heat, until a golden brown crust forms on the bottom. Start breaking the tofu slices with the wooden spatula and keep frying and breaking the tofu into small pieces for about 5 minutes.

5. Add the tomato sauce to the crumbled tofu, stir, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

About Adobo Sauce

You can purchase canned Chipotle in Adobo Sauce at any large grocery store, usually in the Mexican food section. For this recipe, you can do one of the following:

1. Strain adobo sauce through a Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer pressing down with a spoon on the peppers to extract the sauce.
2. Process the chipotles together with the sauce in a blender, and use that puree instead of the sauce. Keep in mind it will result in slightly spicier Sofritas, so you may want to use just a bit less.
3. Read this helpful article: What to do with Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

Recipe Variations

• Add a touch of sweetness. You can add a teaspoon of maple syrup or ½ tsp. of sugar when making Sofritas sauce in Step 1. 
• Add a zing. About one tablespoon of lime juice also makes a great addition. Alternatively, you can drizzle your finished dish with some lime or lemon juice.
• Add more heat. If you like to make these Sofritas even spicier, add some chili powder or finely diced Chipotle chilies. 
• Add tomato paste. You can add about a tablespoon of tomato paste to add some sweet flavor.

Helpful Tips & Tricks

• Ground or Chunkier Sofritas? Adjust how big you make your tofu chunks to personal preference. Just keep breaking them with the spatula until you are satisfied with the texture.
• How to store Sofritas? Store leftover sofritas refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days.
• Can you freeze it? Yes. It can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
• Make it Spicier! Adjust the amount of heat by adding more or less adobo sauce/puree. I’d suggest using two tablespoons the first time you make the recipe, and then add more or less the next time you make it. However, if you don’t like spicy food, you may want to use only 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce.

How to serve Chipotle’s Sofritas

• Over rice. I love a bowl of these veggies over some white or brown rice. My Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans pairs really well with these delicious Sofritas.
• On a tortilla. Try them with some of my Fajita Vegetables on top of tortillas. Or serve with tortilla chips and use Sofritas as a dip. 
• With beans. Another great way to serve these, is add these Mexican Pinto Beans or Corn Salsa with Black Beans on the side.
• Make a salad. These will make a great addition to your Taco Salad!
• In a sandwich. This tastes great between some slices of bread or atop a piece of crusty rustic bread. You can also enjoy them on veggie or beef burgers.
• Make a Chipotle bowl. Create an ultimate Chipotle Mexican Grill experience. Make a bowl with all of the fixings. And don't forget a nice scoop of sour cream on top!

I really can’t wait for you to try this recipe, friends! Made with simple ingredients and tons of serving options this homemade version of sofritas is truly delicious. The tender pieces of tofu wrapped in aromatic sauce... YUM!  It’s SO TASTY that even meat-eaters ask for seconds! Please, review this recipe if you do try it, and feel free to ask any questions in the comment section below.

More delicious recipes:

• Fried Tofu
• Tofu in Indian Sauce
• Healthy Vegan Stew
• Mexican-style Quinoa Salad
• Sweet Potato Hummus