Blackened Tofu & Brussels Salad with Spicy Garlic Dressing

This is the kind of salad that makes a great brunch, lunch, or hearty dinner!

I love making up new salad recipes or better yet, just laying out a bed of greens and dressing it with all kinds of goodness in the form of veggies and proteins. When I don’t have a plan for dinner I often look in the fridge and list off potential options and ask my husband “do you feel like spicy? Would you rather have tofu or tempeh? Brussels or Broccoli? Do you want a salad?” and his answers help me build my recipe idea knowing we have the ingredients. This salad is easily adaptable with different proteins or dressings, leave out the avocado if you want a less filling option.

Recipe makes 2 hearty servings of salad or 4 small side salad bowls

Salad Ingredients

1 head Romaine Lettuce
2 Radishes
1/4 cup Sugar snap peas chopped
1/4 Onion thinly sliced
1 Avocado thinly sliced
2 cups Roasted Brussels Sprouts Spray oil or 1-2Tbl olive oil
1/2 cup vacum sealed extra firm tofu 6-8 Tbl Blackening Seasoning (store bought or recipe below!)
1/2 Yellow pepper sliced

Dressing Ingredients: toss all into a mason jar and shake to combine!

4tbl garlic hummus
1tbl lime juice
1tbl rice vinigar
Dash garlic salt & Fresh ground pepper to taste
1tsp chipotle sauce or 1/4 tsp chipotle powder and 1tsp water
2tbl water 
1 tbl avocado oil mayo or other vegan mayo

Blackening Seasoning

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp Oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

First things first! Get your Brussels Sprouts going! If you plan to roast in your oven preheat to 425. I prefer to use my air fryer for the brussels and I set it to the french fry setting. Slice the ends off each sprout and then slice in half. Add the sprouts to a sheet pan or your air fryer basket and spray with cooking oil or drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast in the oven or air fryer flipping once after 15min and let them cook until you have singed and crispy exterior layers.

While your Brussels are roasting prepare your tofu. I prefer to use extra firm and vacum sealed tofu so there is very little water to squeeze out or cook out. If you can’t find this type of tofu the water packed style works fine as long as you get extra firm and press it between some kitchen towels to extract some of the moisture before you cook it. Slice the block in half and set half of it back in the fridge for another recipe. Slice the half you’re using into 1/4 thick slabs or you can go a bit thinner if you’re using the vacum sealed style which holds together much better and won’t crumble.

While your Tofu is being pressed or after you’ve set it aside. Mix up your blackening seasoning (the recipe above makes more than you will need so you will have it on hand for a few more recipes!) Once mixed place 4-6Tbl of the spice blend into a shallow bowl and coat both sides of each slice of tofu by pressing it down until the mix sticks to the surface. In a medium skillet heat 1 Tbl oil of your choice and place all the slices down into the pan. Cook on medium heat and flip them cooking both sides until the spices begin to singe or take on a golden brown color. Set the tofu aside to cool while you prepare the salad.

Prepare two medium sized bowls with a bed of romaine topped with onion, yellow pepper and radishes and sugar snap peas. Lay your sliced avocado in one quarter of the bowl and your brussels sprouts in one half and then slice your tofu into thin strips (it’s easier to slice when it’s cooled a bit) and lay the strips in the last quarter. Drizzle with dressing and enjoy!!!!

Tofu Scramble Salad & Tahini Dijon Drizzle

If you’ve been paying attention to my instagram feed you’ve noticed my obsession with this bowl/plate shape. It’s a super shallow ‘blate’ combining a flat bottom with rounded sides to hold in all the goods! These ripple blates will be appearing soon in my online shop and you won’t want to miss them! They are perfect for salads, rice and pasta dishes, small serving bowls and so much more!

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals to make but often on my days off my husband and I eat breakfast closer to lunch time and I end up wanting more savory options. I’ve made tofu scramble a million different ways but I took my flavor inspiration from some of the ingredients my husband had leftover in the fridge from his last recipe (see Gluten Free Pasta Salad) and enhancing the flavor with a simple tahini dressing. I love keeping things simple and this recipe is easily adapted with any leftover veggies you’ve got in your fridge and tofu could be switched out for crumbled tempeh too. Leave me a comment if you try it out I’d love to know what you think! This recipe makes 2-4 servings dependent on how frugal you are with your tofu!

Tofu Scramble Ingredients

2 cups fresh organic baby spinach leaves
Ten cloves roasted garlic minced
Three sun dried tomatoes minced
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tbl liquid aminos
1 tbl olive oil
1 package extra firm packed tofu drained
4 tbl minced chives
3 Marinated Artichoke hearts minced
1 tbl liquid from marinated artichoke hearts

Dressing Ingredients

2 tbl tahini
1/2 tbl olive oil
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1 Tbl rice vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp maple syrup 
1-2Tbl water (depending on how thick you like your dressing)

In a medium frying pan heat the olive oil over medium heat and then crumble the tofu into the pan with your hands. If your tofu was air packed in water it should not be too water dense and you will not need to press it. If your tofu was packed in water gently squeeze the block over the sink to drain as much water as you can but I don’t waste my time trying to press it. It will cook down in no time. Toss the tofu around to coat with olive oil and sprinkle in the liquid aminos, pakrika, chilli powder, garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and allow to cook for 8-12 min stirring occasionally until the tofu begins to brown.

While the tofu is cooking prepare a shallow bowl with a bed of fresh baby spinach leaves (break them up by hand if they are large) Set your bowl of spinach aside and prepare your dressing. Add all dressing ingredients into a small mason jar or bowl and shake or whisk until well combined. This can be made the day before and I store mine on the countertop rather than in the fridge so the consistency doesn’t thicken. If you find it’s too thick just drizzle water and mix until it is the desired consistency.

Check in on the tofu, once it’s showing some golden brown color, add the garlic, tomatoes and artichoke hearts as well as the artichoke heart juice and continue to stir until fragrant and combined. Once the tofu is nicely browned remove it from the heat and toss a hearty helping over your bed of spinach and drizzle with dressing.

Optional *

Swap out spinach for romaine or spring mix or any combination

Swap out tempeh for tofu but it’s best to steam your tempeh first

Substitute sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts for roasted red peppers and calamata olives

Blackened Tempeh

Blackened Tempeh with Roasted Brussell Sprouts and Brown Rice Pasta

Tempeh is a soybean product made by culturing and fermenting soybeans into a block form. It's high in protein, holds its shape and easily accepts marinades and can be fried, baked, roasted or crumbled into soups, sauces or stir fry. This is an easy way to prepare tempeh and pair it with pasta, stir fry, veggies or breakfast/brunch.

Ingredients

2 packages tempeh cut into 1/2 inch wide strips

3 Tbl Canola Oil

Marinade: 

2 Tbl soy sauce

1/4 cup water

1 Tbl Siracha

2 Tbl Olive Oil

Blackening Seasoning

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp Oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

Use a steaming basket to steam tempeh for 8-10 min. Steaming helps soften the tempeh so it can soak up the marinade. It also helps sweeten the tempeh.

While the tempeh is steaming, mix the marinade in a mason jar or small bowl and shake the jar or whisk in a bowl to mix. Once the tempeh has steamed, remove it from the steaming basket and set into a shallow dish and pour marinade over it. Make sure it's evenly coated. Let sit while you mix the seasoning.

Mix ingredients for the blackening seasoning in a shallow bowl and set aside. Prepare a non stick frying pan with 3 Tbl of canola oil and heat over medium heat. Dredge each strip of tempeh into the blackening seasoning and carefully lay them into the hot oil. Allow to cook 2-3 min and flip to brown each side.

Serving Suggestions:

• Sandwiches

• Stir Fry

• With Rice or Pasta

• With Roasted Veggies

Tofu Breakfast Scramble

This is a quick and easy recipe that is adaptable for any flavor profile (mexican, indian, italian etc) When you live with an omnivore who loves eggs for breakfast like I do, you want to make something just as easy and that involves similar ingredients so that you can both enjoy a lovely Sunday brunch together. This is a great way to use up leftover veggies too!

Ingredients:

1 package extra firm tofu, drained

2 Tbl olive oil

1/4 cup diced red pepper

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh spinach

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp salt

pepper to taste

2 Tbl nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp paprika

In a large frying pan heat the oil over medium heat. Crumble the tofu into the hot oil and sprinkle with turmeric, salt,pepper, nutritional yeast, garlic powder and paprika. Toss and cook until the tofu dries out and begins to brown. Push the tofu to one side of the frying pan and add the onions and red peppers to the other side and toss until the veggies heat through. Mix tofu and veggies together and toss in the spinach. When spinach turns bright green, turn off the heat and serve while hot.

* Make it Mexican: add 1/2 tsp ground cumin and 1 Tbl diced jalepeno

* Make it Indian: add 1/2 tsp curry powder and 1/4 tsp garam masala

* Make it Italian: add 1 Tbl of Herbs de Provence and 1/4 cup diced tomatos