First, prep the pickled onions: Add the sliced onion to a bowl or jar. Pour over the vinegar, hot water, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, spices, parsley flakes, and pepper. Add the tofu and toss gently to coat. Let sit for 15–20 minutes.Then, using a potato peeler or the shaving edge of a block cheese grater, carefully shave the pressed tofu into strips. Reserve leftover marinade.
Thread the tofu onto skewers in tight folds using your hands, creating 4 to 5 inch skewers of “meat”. One block of tofu should lend 4 skewers.
In a pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the skewers on each side until golden and caramelized, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side. Use a bbq brush to coat any of the remaining marinade onto the skewers. It is easiest to flip them with a good pair of tongs.
Whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and drizzly.
Serve the tofu on warm naan or flatbread with tahini sauce, pickled onions, parsley, and a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
No skewers? Fold up the tofu ribbons in a small bake tray or cook the tofu as strips in the pan instead.
Swap tahini for a nut or seed butter if you have an allergy to sesame. You can also use hummus or a yogurt-based sauce like my vegan ranch.
Make it gluten-free by using tamari and gluten-free flatbread.
Add extras like cucumber, tomatoes, or shredded lettuce for crunch and extra volume.