I’m going to keep this one simple: This is our current favorite thing to eat. It is so delicious, full of the flavors and textures that we often crave. And unlike salted caramel pound cake [1], it is actually healthy. It comes from the new book Bowl and Spoon by the smarties over at The Sprouted Kitchen [2], Sara and Hugh Forte. I like the food they make, and I like their books. This one is full of delicious recipes that are served in (#?)bowls, large and small. It feels just right for spring, and I have a lot of recipes bookmarked to try.
The recipe, as written, serves four people. If you are two or one or three, no worries. Keep the components separate (tofu, noodles+veggies, dressing) and combine them all when you are ready to eat. We found that it all kept surprisingly well, and was almost as delicious on the second day. We preferred eating half of an avocado with this (rather than the quarter of avocado called for), but you do you. Julienne peelers are great, and make this easy.
Slivered Vegetable and Soba Salad with Mapled Tofu (Recipe adapted from The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl and Spoon [3] by Sara and Hugh Forte)
- 14 ounces extra-firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Freshly ground pepper
- 6 ounces soba noodles
- 1 bell pepper, seeded and sliced thinly
- 3 carrots, peeled and julienned into long strips
- 1 seedless cucumber, julienned into long strips (avoid the seedy core)
- 1 bunch of cilantro, coarsely chopped
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 large avocado (or 2?)
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon yellow miso paste (if you have a darker color, just use less)
- 1 (3-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 teaspoon honey
- zest and juice of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (plus more for serving)
Drain the tofu and press out excess liquid in a clean dishcloth. In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes and add them to the hot pan. Saute gently until the edges begin to brown. Add the soy sauce, maple syrup, and a healthy dose of black pepper. Stir and cook for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are crisp and the tofu is nicely browned. Set aside to cool.
Cook the soba noodles according to package directions, and rinse well in cold water, and drain. Put the noodles, bell pepper, carrot, and cucumber in a large bowl and toss together.
For the dressing, put all of the ingredients into a small jar with a lid and give it a good shake.
When ready to serve, pour the dressing over the veggies and noodles, add the chopped cilantro and toss well to coat. Top the bowl with the green onions, sesame seeds, and tofu. Serve each portion with a quarter (or half!) of an avocado.