Want to make a salad that will actually impress people? This Asian Crunch Salad with Sesame Tahini Dressing and saucy tofu is going to do just that!
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Have you ever made a salad at home and just felt like it lacked umph? No more my friend. This Asian Crunch Salad with Sesame Tahini Dressing and a saucy tofu puff is going to prove that you can have an outstanding salad all at home!
Oftentimes, we throw some random ingredients on top of lettuce and just hope it tastes decent enough to be okay. But when you are intentional about your ingredients, then it really has the ability to make it not feel like you’re eating “rabbit food”, but truly be satisfied with a complete meal.
This delicious vegan meal option is perfect for brunches, lunches, or just because meal.
What makes this an Asian salad?
In this US, there’s pre-made bagged salads in most grocery stores called “Asian salad”. These Asian chopped salad kits include green and red cabbage, lettuce, kale, carrots, green onions, sliced almonds, wonton strips, and often comes with a sesame ginger dressing.
When we created this salad, we wanted to take that classic chopped salad kit that we enjoy and level it up even more with the additions of more crunchy ingredients, more vegetables, and better dressing, and that delicious spiced, saucy tofu.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Perfect for Meal Prep – Most salads aren’t great for meal prep; however, this one is. You can make it up to 3 days in advance and just wait to add the dressing until you’re ready to eat.
- Packed with Flavor– All the ingredients are intentionally picked to give you a salad that actually tastes great rather than being boring.
- Customizable– one of the best things about salads is that you can switch and swap ingredients based on what you have. While we think the recipe as written is perfection, you can use what you have on hand!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, swap out the tofu with something like cauliflower or chickpeas. The edamame can be replaced with a bean like white beans or just omitted. And the soy sauce can be no soy soy sauce.
Yes! As long as you don’t add the dressing, this salad is great for 3 days.
We don’t recommend freezing the salad, but the dressing can be frozen.
Other amazing vegan salad recipes to make:
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Asian Crunch Salad with Sesame Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 heart of romaine, chopped
- ½ head red cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup edamame
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped (16g)
- ½ cups cashews 190g
- 1 large carrot, matchsticks
- 4 mini sweet peppers, thinly sliced
- 3 mini cucumbers, sliced
- 3-4 green onions, green and white part, chopped
- ½ fresh ginger, (1.25cm)
- 1 cup wonton strips (110g)
For the Sesame Tahini Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil (55g)
- 3 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2-4 tablespoon tahini (amount depending on flavor and creaminess desired)
- 2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ in fresh ginger 1.25cm
For the Saucy Tofu Puffs
- ½ cup vegetable stock 120g
- 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 package tofu puffs, cubes cut in half (can use super firm tofu instead, cut into cubes)
- ⅛ teaspoon 5 spice powder, optional
Instructions
- Into a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the salad. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients together and set aside.
- For the tofu, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl first (vegetable stock to red pepper flakes). Set aside. In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once heated, and the tofu puffs and sprinkle the 5 spice powder about it. Stir together and let cook for 2 minutes. Add in the sauce you made and allow to cook until sauce is soaked up, stirring often so it doesn't burn.
- Remove tofu from heat and allow to cool slightly. Add on top of salad and drizzle the dressing across the top or serve dressing on the side.
where can i find tofu puffs?
We find them at the Asian Market (H-mart)
Do you ever give the nutritional value of your recipes?
Sorry, this one was missing it somehow, it’s been fixed!
Delicious 😋 I made this salad with a few adjustments. I couldn’t find tofu puffs so just used a block of tofu cut in squares. I substituted all olive oil (kept sesame oil for its distinct taste) with veggie broth. This will definitely be on my “repeat”. Thank you, incredibly flavorful.
Delicious. I couldn’t find tofu puffs so I just used tofu cut in cubes. I also replaced all the olive oil (kept the sesame oil) with veggie broth. And it was crunchy and the flavor was out of this world!
Perfection!
Another great recipe. It is the reason you want to YELL Vegan food has more flavor than processed garbage. Wake up people and taste what you have been missing. Thanks again for sharing your recipes.
You’re so welcome!
delicious. thank you. 😁
You’re so welcome
Excellent recipe!! Thank-you
so glad you enjoyed it!