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You are here: Home / Main Meal / Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu

Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu

Updated 2 May 2025 Published 17 October 2014 55 Comments

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Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu in a bowl with chopsticks

Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu is nutritious and delicious. Packed full of red pepper, carrot, courgette, and onion, which is paired with crispy fried tofu, rice, and quinoa, this tasty vegan dish is a must-try!

Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu in a bowl with chopsticks

This recipe was inspired by a Savoury Rice Salad in my much-loved ‘Entertaining with Cranks’ book.

Even though I’m not a vegetarian, I have always loved vegetarian food and in some ways find it much more adventurous than cooking with meat.

My Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan-Fried Tofu uses the softer variety of tofu, not the more rubbery one. Hence, there is a divinely light soft centre beyond the crispy exterior, which is to die for!

We are all new to eating tofu, and everyone loved it. This warm salad was both nutritious and delicious.

Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu in a bowl with chopsticks

I’d be interested to find out what you do with your tofu, as it’s a food I have yet to fully explore!

However, I recently made a delicious Blackberry Tofu Brulee, which went down a storm!

More Vegetarian Salad Recipes

For some more inspiring vegetarian salad ideas, you might like to check out:

  • Warm Lentil, Cherry Tomato and Halloumi Salad
  • Maple Tofu Skewers with Papaya Salsa
  • Teriyaki Tofu Stir-fry
  • Warm Dressed Noodle Salad
  • Tea Smoked Tofu Gado-Gado (Indonesian Peanut Sauce Vegetable Salad
  • Egg Noodles with Purple Broccoli and Grilled Tofu.

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Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu in a bowl with chopsticks

Disclaimer: I won the Clearspring Tofu in a Twitter competition and received the other Clearspring products as samples.

Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.

Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu in a bowl with chopsticks
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Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu

A delicious warm salad or long grain brown rice with quinoa, grated courgette, carrot and red pepper topped with crispy pan fried tofu for a light and delicious vegetarian meal.
Course dinner, Lunch, Main
Cuisine East Asian, Japanese, South East Asian
Prep Time 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
Total Time 45 minutes minutes
Servings 4
Author Camilla Hawkins

Equipment

  • Chopping Board
  • cook’s knife
  • Mandolin
  • Set of measuring spoons
  • Saucepan
  • Frying pan
  • Large plate

Ingredients

  • 250 g Wholegrain rice with red, black and white quinoa
  • 2 Medium Onions finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil + extra
  • 2 tbsp Tamari soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 Small courgette grated or make matchsticks with a mandolin
  • 1 Carrot grated
  • 1 Red pepper finely chopped
  • 300 g Block of tofu I used Clearspring firm & silken which is actually soft
  • Salt flakes & freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • Slice the tofu into 8 pieces (or more if wished).
  • Put on a plate lined with folded kitchen paper and pat dry the tofu with lots more kitchen paper.
  • Once dry, put in a large dish and scatter with salt flakes then gently pour in enough boiling water to cover and leave for a minute. (This will firm up the tofu slightly and extract more moisture).
  • Drain the tofu, pat dry again with more kitchen paper and set aside.
  • Boil the rice and quinoa according to instructions and then drain.
  • Meanwhile fry the onions in 2 tbsp oil until golden.
  • Add the rice and quinoa to the pan along with the freshly ground pepper and Tamari soy sauce. Then leave to one side.
  • In a large frying pan or wok add enough oil to coat the bottom and then fry the tofu on both sides until golden (it may break as it’s very fragile).
  • Put the fried tofu onto kitchen paper to drain.
  • Add the courgette, carrot and red pepper to the rice mixture and mix thoroughly.
  • Place into 4 bowls and top with the fried tofu.
  • Serve with an extra splash of tamari soya sauce if wished.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mayuri Patel

    15/04/2020 at 5:40 pm

    That is a fantastic meal Camilla, filling and healthy. Love how beautifully you’ve pan fried the tofu. Whenever I get tofu I usually use it in stir fries. Love this salad, bookmarking it.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      15/04/2020 at 10:30 pm

      Thank you so much Mayuri, it is a fabulous dish:-)

      Reply
  2. Amy Fidler

    07/04/2017 at 8:02 am

    A nice light lunch recipe x

    Reply
  3. Jayne Sullivan

    07/03/2017 at 8:52 pm

    This looks so tasty. A recipe I will have to have a go at making.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      07/03/2017 at 9:35 pm

      Thanks Jayne, it is lush:-)

      Reply
  4. Amy Fidler

    27/02/2017 at 7:48 am

    I used to be a vegetarian,so i’ll love this xx

    Reply
  5. Lisa Williams

    06/01/2016 at 2:23 pm

    This looks so delish I adore crispy tofu so anything with that in is a winner in my book 🙂

    Reply
  6. Ninjacat

    15/08/2015 at 10:46 pm

    This looks divine ~ I’ve never tried tofu and looking at this I’m going to have to.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      15/08/2015 at 10:50 pm

      Thanks Claire I’d never had it either but fried like this it was just divine, everyone loved it:-)

      Reply
  7. Paul Wilson

    20/05/2015 at 9:38 pm

    I’ve been trying quinoa, makes a nice change from rice/pasta.

    Reply
  8. Maya Russell

    18/05/2015 at 9:40 am

    I really like this recipe and the pan fried tofu idea. I have never had tofu and I’m interested to know what it tastes like.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/05/2015 at 10:15 pm

      Maya it really doesn’t taste of anything but when fried it has such a lovely crispy texture and absorbs other flavours well:-)

      Reply
  9. tiggerific1973

    17/04/2015 at 3:30 pm

    I love quinoa but still never tried pan fried tofu, next on my list 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jacqueline Roberts

    12/04/2015 at 5:17 pm

    This sounds delicious

    Reply
    • Camilla

      12/04/2015 at 11:27 pm

      Thanks it is delicious:-)

      Reply
  11. Nancy G

    09/04/2015 at 7:25 pm

    Quinoa is so good with everything. I just saw a fresh fruit salad with blueberries, rasberries, 1/4 C quinoa,
    a little OJ and some orange zest with a tiny bit of cinnamon if you like, vanilla powder, pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds. It’s just a little of everything – don’t overdo it! And…..a mint leaf on top! mmmmmmm- great for a different breakfast.

    Also, with soft tofu, I have this cheesecake recipe to die for – I’ll look it up and post it as soon as I can!

    ng

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/04/2015 at 7:36 pm

      Sounds lovely, I think I’d have that as a dessert though, mornings always a rush:-)

      Reply
      • Nancy G

        09/04/2015 at 8:03 pm

        Yes – you must have kids – mine are already older and out of the house! However, at your convenience,
        if you’re interested in trying it you can make it ahead – should stay fresh for a couple days in an airtight
        container.

        ng

        Reply
  12. Nancy G

    09/04/2015 at 7:04 pm

    This is right up my husband’s and my alley – can’t wait to try it! We dry our tofu between saucer plates and paper towels – works pretty good!

    ng

    Reply
    • Camilla

      09/04/2015 at 7:36 pm

      Great – do let me know what you think:-)

      Reply
      • Nancy G

        09/04/2015 at 8:00 pm

        I will!

        Reply
  13. Ursula Hunt

    19/03/2015 at 10:46 am

    This is tasty and wholesome

    Reply
    • Camilla

      19/03/2015 at 12:33 pm

      Thanks Ursula, it was a big hit here with the family:-)

      Reply
  14. Clare B.

    17/11/2014 at 5:51 pm

    This looks so yummy. At first glance I thought it was halloumi but think it could work with either. I’m going to try both.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      17/11/2014 at 7:35 pm

      I love fried Halloumi but for this particular dish I think the tofu marries off better but let me know how you get on!:-)

      Reply
  15. William Gould

    13/11/2014 at 5:55 am

    I have never (knowingly) tried Tofu – I think the name puts me off more than anything….

    Reply
    • Camilla

      14/11/2014 at 10:47 am

      I hadn’t either until recently but it was crispy, light and yummy:-)

      Reply
  16. Farhana

    10/11/2014 at 10:27 pm

    Thanks for a quinoa recipe.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      10/11/2014 at 11:43 pm

      Pleasure:-)

      Reply
  17. Jane Middleton

    08/11/2014 at 7:43 pm

    This would be something I would love to try, never tasted fried tofu.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      08/11/2014 at 9:38 pm

      Nor had I it was so good:-)

      Reply
  18. Heather Haigh

    28/10/2014 at 11:49 am

    I keep meaning to eat more quinoa but often feel a bit stumped as to what to make with it. Thanks for a lovely recipe.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      29/10/2014 at 10:39 pm

      Thanks Heather:-)

      Reply
  19. Lisa Howlett

    26/10/2014 at 8:04 pm

    Love Tofu and so going try this recipe thanks for putting this yummy recipe on

    Reply
    • Camilla

      26/10/2014 at 9:54 pm

      Pleasure, enjoy:-)

      Reply
  20. kayleigh white

    18/10/2014 at 5:32 pm

    I’ve never heard of this before! Looks yummy and I will be trying it!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 11:36 pm

      Great, glad to inspire you:-)

      Reply
  21. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

    18/10/2014 at 4:15 pm

    Love this recipe Camilla – so healthy and looks so tasty. Gorgeous photo too!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 11:37 pm

      Aaw, thank you so much Becca, that means a lot coming from you;-)

      Reply
  22. Ursula Hunt

    18/10/2014 at 11:25 am

    Never had Tofu should give it a try

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 3:12 pm

      Yes, you really should:-)

      Reply
  23. Jacqueline Meldrum

    18/10/2014 at 10:57 am

    This is my kind of dish Camilla. I would happily tuck into that right now. Thanks for linking to me too 🙂

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 3:13 pm

      Yay, that’s what I like to hear Jacqueline – it was fab:-)

      Reply
  24. Maddy

    18/10/2014 at 10:07 am

    Thanks for the tip re Tofu – we often find it rubbery 🙁

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 3:14 pm

      Maybe that’s because you’re using the harder type of tofu – this one is like soft curd.

      Reply
  25. Paul Wilson

    18/10/2014 at 1:21 am

    Have to give this a go – keep meaning to try more quinoa and tofu.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 3:16 pm

      Me too!

      Reply
  26. Shubila

    18/10/2014 at 12:04 am

    This looks amazing! I love tofu so I will be trying this recipe out soon.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      18/10/2014 at 12:06 am

      Fabulous, so glad you like it:-)

      Reply
  27. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla

    17/10/2014 at 8:29 pm

    What a delicious salad and those flying pumpkin-bats are sooo cute!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      17/10/2014 at 9:43 pm

      Thank you, it really was:-) I love my flying pumpkins too:-)

      Reply
  28. Keep Calm and Fanny On

    17/10/2014 at 7:31 pm

    I love the Entertaining with Cranks book, I learnt to cook veggie stuff from their books when I was young! I like my tofu deep fried, nice and crispy – yum… This looks great, thanks!

    Reply
    • Camilla

      17/10/2014 at 9:46 pm

      Thank you:-) I was lucky enough to eat in their restaurants too as a teen and always loved all the luscious food there! I have 2 of their books and they are amongst my most treasured cook books:-)

      Reply
  29. kellie@foodtoglow

    17/10/2014 at 3:55 pm

    As a tofu aficionado (i.e. a vegetarian, leaning toward vegan) I am so happy that you are having success in your experiments with tofu. People deride its blandness but I see its neutral taste as a bonus: we can make it taste like whatever we want. And it is such a shape-shifter, going from unpromising blob to sizzling shimmering slice of deliciousness, like here. Nice recipe, Camilla. And Clearspring is definitely the go-to brand for tofu, tamari and grains.

    Reply
    • Camilla

      17/10/2014 at 9:48 pm

      Thank you so much Kellie. I have to say I was a bit confused with all the various types of tofu and wasn’t sure if I’d fried the right variety but as it tasted so good I thought it can’t be wrong!

      Reply

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