Tofu Salad Recipe

A big fan of tofu? Then you cannot miss out on this tofu salad recipe. Whip it up in less than 30 minutes for a healthy tasty dish that is low in calories, high in protein, and completely gluten-free.

What Does Tofu Taste Like?

Exactly how you want it to taste. Incredible, right? 

When it is raw, tofu has a neutral, somewhat bland taste with a squishy texture that is quite uninviting. However, thanks to its spongy quality, the famed tofu is an awesome absorber of flavors, so you can cook or season it in numerous ways and be amazed every time.

With different types of tofu, such as soft, firm, or extra firm, each type will lend itself better to certain cooking methods. While soft tofu is perfect for adding to soups or making desserts, extra firm tofu works best for grilling or frying.

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For this recipe, our tofu is cooked in an air fryer, hence, extra firm tofu is the number one choice. The result is a beautiful golden crispy exterior, while the inside is soft and moist. And the burst of flavor comes from the sauce drizzled over at the end.

Is Tofu Salad Healthy?

Yes, our tofu salad is healthy and is a wonderful low-carb, low-calorie, high-protein option.

Let us first look at the main component of this salad – the tofu.

This soy-based product is packed with important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It is also a fantastic source of complete proteins, providing all of the nine essential amino acids that your body needs but cannot produce by itself. This makes tofu an awesome meat substitute in many vegan diets.

Moreover, eating tofu regularly is known to help reduce the number of bad cholesterols (LDL), and hence is beneficial for your heart. Other significant benefits include the promotion of skin health and bone health, as well as the prevention of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.

And remember, this recipe doesn’t just include tofu: We have a variety of healthy veggies to accompany it, including broccoli, snow peas, red cabbage, and carrots. These ingredients help boost the fiber content and the number of vitamins in our dish, especially vitamins A and C.

Now we know how healthy this tofu salad recipe is, let’s get to the ingredient list!

Main Ingredients

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1. For the Salad

• Tofu: We choose extra-firm tofu for this recipe, since it works best with grilling or frying, and will hold up its shape well.
• Broccoli: The fresh nutty taste of boiled broccoli with a slight peppery hint goes beautifully with tofu in a salad.
• Snow peas: Their sweet and succulent flavor with a crispy texture makes them a delicious addition to our salad.
• Carrots: The mildly sweet taste and tender-crisp texture of carrots harmonize well with the other salad ingredients of our recipe.
• Red cabbage: Its refreshing taste, crunchy texture, and gorgeous violet color make it an all-time favorite when it comes to salads, in both aesthetics and flavor.

2. For the Toppings

• Peanuts: A generous sprinkling of broken roasted peanuts gives our salad a delicious satiating crunch.
• Sesame seeds: Roasted sesame seeds bring a distinctive fragrance and flavor to our dish.
• Scallions: A pinch of chopped scallions boosts the aroma and the overall appearance of the salad.

3. For the Dressing

This salad calls for a 6-ingredient dressing, including sesame oil, pepper, garlic, ginger, Sriracha, and soy sauce, which results in a pleasantly savory taste with a slight kick and an inviting fragrance.

How to Make Ahead and Store the Leftovers

This tofu salad is best served hot and fresh when the tofu cubes are still warm and crispy. However, if there are any leftovers and you don’t mind soft and chewy tofu, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

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For making ahead, simply prepare the ingredients and the dressing in advance and store them separately. Before serving, reheat the tofu in the air fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes, then assemble the salad.

How to Make Tofu Salad

5 from 1 vote

Today's tofu salad recipe makes a wonderful vegan meal or a nutritious side dish with a hearty healthy combination of tofu and a bunch of other veggies.

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• cook TIME 15 mins
• prep TIME 10 mins
• total TIME 25 mins

• COURSE Side Dish
• CUISINE Asian
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 238 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 16 oz extra firm tofu (cut into 3/4-inch cubes)
• 4 oz broccoli (cut into florets)
• 6 oz snow peas
• 1 oz red cabbage (shredded)
• 1 oz unsalted roasted peanuts
• 1 oz carrots (shredded)
• 1 1/2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp garlic (finely minced)
• 1/2 tsp ginger (finely minced)
• 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp scallions (chopped)

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep:

1

Cut the tofu into 3/4-inch cubes.

2

Trim the snow peas: Wash the snow peas, then cut to remove the stems at both ends.

3

Cut the broccoli: Wash the broccoli, then pat dry. Separate the florets from the head by cutting each one at the point where it meets the stalk. Make sure the florets are consistent in size so that they can cook at an even rate.

4

Shred the cabbage: Rinse the cabbage and pat dry using a paper towel, then cut it in half. Cut each half into halves again, then remove the white stem from the four halves. Finally, thinly slice each quarter to make shreds.

5

Shred the carrots: Wash the carrots, remove the skin, then use a grater to shred the carrots.

6

Mince the ginger: Use a spoon, a grater, or a paring knife to peel the ginger, then cut it into coins. Spread the coins in an even layer, then use the flat of the blade (a large knife would do) to crush the coins before mincing them.

7

Mince the garlic: Separate the cloves from the bulb and peel the skin off. Use a knife to slice each entire clove lengthwise, then hold the clove and turn 90 degrees to slice it crosswise. Keep mincing each clove to make tiny pieces.

8

Chop the scallions: Rinse the scallions, pat dry, then lay them in an even layer on a cutting board. Remove 2 inches of the tops and the root ends, then slide the blade of a sharp knife in a back and forth motion to make scallion rings.

9

Finely chop the parsley.

Cook:

1

Air fry the tofu: Place 16 oz tofu cubes into the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 10 minutes.

2

Make the dressing: Add 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp garlic, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1 tsp Sriracha, 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper to a small mixing bowl, then stir to combine.

3

Boil the broccoli and snow peas: Bring water to a boil in a cooking pot, then add 4 oz broccoli and 6 oz snow peas. Cook for 3 minutes, then drain them and transfer to a bowl to let them cool down.

4

Assemble the salad: Add broccoli, snow peas, 1 oz red cabbage, 16 oz tofu, 1 oz carrot, 2 tbsp scallions, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, and 1 oz unsalted roasted peanuts to a large mixing bowl.

5

Drizzle with the dressing, then serve!

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Tofu Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 238Calories from Fat 128

% Daily Value*

Fat 14.2g

22%

Saturated Fat 2g

13%

Cholesterol 1mg

0%

Sodium 259.6mg

11%

Potassium 291mg

8%

Carbohydrate 13g

4%

Fiber 5g

21%

Sugar 4g

4%

Protein 16g

32%

Vitamin A 2070IU

41%

Vitamin C 57mg

69%

Calcium 138mg

14%

Iron 3mg

17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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