Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu is so healthy and delicious. Packed full of red pepper, carrot, courgette & onion which is paired with crispy fried tofu, rice and quinoa, this tasty vegan dish is sure to be a hit!
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 and not the more rubbery one, therefore after the crispy exterior there is a divinely light soft centre to die for! We are all new to eating tofu and this was our first experience eating it – everyone loved it and the warm salad which was both nutritious and delicious.
I’d be interested to find out what you do with your tofu as it’s a food I have yet to fully explore! I did however make a very lush Blackberry Tofu Brulee recently which again went down a storm!
For some more inspiring vegetarian salad ideas you might like to check out:
- 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.
I am entering my Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu into Extra Veg a blog challenge run by Helen and Michelle and hosted by Emily this month.
Pin for later!
Disclaimer: I won the Clearspring Tofu in a Twitter competition and received the other Clearspring products as samples.
Warm Rice & Quinoa Salad with Pan Fried Tofu
Ingredients
- 250 g Quick Cook Rice & Quinoa I used Clearspring or a mixture of long grain brown rice & red quinoa
- 2 Medium Onions finely sliced
- 2 tbsp Rapeseed oil + extra
- 2 tbsp Soya Sauce I used Clearspring Tamari
- 1 Small courgette grated or make matchsticks with a mandolin
- 1 Carrot grated
- 1 Red pepper finely chopped
- 1 300 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 to the pan along with the freshly ground pepper and soya sauce, 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 soya sauce if wished.
Jacqueline Roberts
This sounds delicious
Camilla
Thanks it is delicious:-)
Nancy G
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!
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Camilla
Sounds lovely, I think I’d have that as a dessert though, mornings always a rush:-)
Nancy G
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.
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Nancy G
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!
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Camilla
Great – do let me know what you think:-)
Nancy G
I will!
Ursula Hunt
This is tasty and wholesome
Camilla
Thanks Ursula, it was a big hit here with the family:-)
Clare B.
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.
Camilla
I love fried Halloumi but for this particular dish I think the tofu marries off better but let me know how you get on!:-)
William Gould
I have never (knowingly) tried Tofu – I think the name puts me off more than anything….
Camilla
I hadn’t either until recently but it was crispy, light and yummy:-)
Farhana
Thanks for a quinoa recipe.
Camilla
Pleasure:-)
Jane Middleton
This would be something I would love to try, never tasted fried tofu.
Camilla
Nor had I it was so good:-)
Heather Haigh
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.
Camilla
Thanks Heather:-)
Lisa Howlett
Love Tofu and so going try this recipe thanks for putting this yummy recipe on
Camilla
Pleasure, enjoy:-)