Monday, October 7, 2013

Jumbo spicy kale salad with tofu

I was expecting to love America's range of vegan snacks, desserts and chocolates. I was expecting to enjoy almond milk coffees, and readily available veggie dishes, and tofu in various forms. I did enjoy all of those things. Unexpectedly, however, my greatest American food love (pending one incredible dessert that shall be discussed in time) was the salads. Huge salads. Meal-worthy salads. Salads with All The Things.

These are serious salads.

I could bring back chocolate and snack foods, but I couldn't bring back the salads. And so, I am making it a mission to make my own. Here is the first attempt!


This kale salad makes use of my newly bought sriracha (which I bought in Australia, lest my fellow Australians think I'm being cruel by taunting you with unavailable products), and reflects my discovery that I actually like salad dressings when they are done correctly. Prior to this month, I put salad dressings in the 'slimy' category and wanted them far away from my salads. Now, I realise they can be wonderful. This is especially true for kale.

If you don't like spicy things, this salad may not be for you. However, as with most salads, it can be customised to taste, with a different dressing and a different tofu marinade. Or, you might use legumes instead of tofu or add more nuts or use seeds. I have enjoyed some of this with a side of sweet potato, and that could also be added to the salad itself. Basically, this is a concept. Mix and match to taste! I loved it this way, but I am sure I'd love it just as much with a few variations.


Jumbo spicy kale salad with tofu
Makes 1 large salad that might serve few or many, depending on how much you want to eat (I'm guessing it will give me 4 lunch serves)
Vegan


Ingredients
Salad mix
1 bunch of green curly kale, leaves removed from stems and roughly torn
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped carrot (1 carrot)
1/2 cup snow peas, ends removed
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp maple syrup
1 batch spiced tofu as per below
Srirachi sauce or other hot/chilli sauce, optional, for drizzling
Nuts (I used pecans, added just at the time of serving), for sprinkling over the top

Spiced tofu
350g firm tofu, sliced and pressed
1 tbsp srirachi sauce, or other hot/chilli sauce (use less if you like things mild, more if you like things burning)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp water

Method
For the salad, combine all vegetables in a large bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or cup and drizzle over the salad. Toss to combine. Top with the spiced tofu, an extra drizzle of srirachi, and nuts of choice.

(If you are making this to serve immediately, you may want to massage the dressing into the kale. If you're making it ahead of serving, the dressing will soften the kale on standing.)

For the tofu, lay the pressed sliced tofu in a shallow dish and combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl or cup. Pour the marinade over the tofu and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and cook the tofu strips for several minutes on each side, until golden. Allow to cool before cutting into small cubes and adding to the salad.


Submitted to Ricki's Wellness Weekend.

Are you a jumbo salad fan? And what is your position on salad dressings?

28 comments:

  1. Wow, now THAT'S a salad!

    I'm am compeltely on the fence about kale! I tried it once, where I attempted to make kale 'chips' because everybody had raved about them. I may have left them in a 'little' longer than necessary, and now I'm scarred by the memory of slightly burnt kale. But this recipe looks like it could be the one to win me back ;) Especially with the tofu.

    Sriracha I've only ever heard of, never seen. I googled around a bit and somebody suggested an Asian grocery store, so I'll keep an eye out for it on my next visit :)

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    1. If it helps, I don't like kale chips at all! I also used to think I only liked kale cooked (but not as chips ;) ) but I have found it is good raw if it's in small pieces with dressing / flavouring and other ingredients in the mix.

      Asian grocery store definitely sounds promising for the sriracha! I hope you can find some as it's a fun product.

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  2. Ive been reminded again to keep your blog at the top of my list to visit! This salad looks incredible! Now I'm off to catch up on the many blog posts Ive been missing out on due to having been a slack blogger.. see you round Kari : ) x

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    1. Aw, thank you - what a lovely comment :-)

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  3. I am definitely a fan of the ALL THE THINGS salads here, I must say. And I love that spiced up dressing! Sriracha is definitely a favorite ingredient around here.

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    1. And I can see why! It is one of the best ALL THE THINGS :-)

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  4. I have salad envy when I see all your salads in the US and even your kale salad - was interested to see you didn't massage your kale - am not sure about raw kale in salad but this does look good and I look forward to a jumbo salad series (might even have to search out sriracha once I get into my hot sauce)

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    1. I am always too lazy to massage kale :P However, I should probably have noted (and will go back to do so actually) that I made this up with the dressing and then ate it over several days, so the massaging kind of happened on its own on account of the dressing sitting on the ingredients for a while.

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  5. what a fabulous mix of flavours! I don't mind a bit of spice in my salad!

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  6. I'm glad you've come around on the salad dressing thing! :) I love giant salads, and I'm eager for when such a thing is a possibility with my budget again. Also, LOVE Sriracha.

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    1. You are definitely highlighting for me how well sriracha can go with, well, everything ;)

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  7. I totally dig into meal salads while travelling. Not sure why I don['t make them as much at home - possibly all that chopping - but your version looks delicious!! :)

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    1. You may notice mine also has very little chopping ;)

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  8. Haha love that 'with all the things'. I too love big salads - Seinfeld episode? There is a big salad place on George Street in Sydney that we travel a distance for.

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    1. Good salad places are definitely worth travelling for - glad you have a faithful standby near (ish) you!

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  9. It's good to hear you can buy good food in the USA because as a nation, such a high percentage appear to eat nothing but rubbish (not that we're too dissimilar here). This salad looks very good and at this time of year - salad season - I'm always interested in trying new salad recipes. This one looks good for me because I certainly don't mind a bit of heat! xx

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    1. I think the trouble with the US (and here, and so many places now - but the US does it particularly!) is that there is just so much of everything. The good thing about the US is that does mean there is a lot of great, healthy food among the less healthy alternatives - which isn't necessarily what you associate with the country, but does make for some wonderful meals if you like fresh ingredients and dishes.

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  10. Yum! love a big bowl of salad with a decent sauce/dressing on top :-) looks delicious

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  11. I'm not usually enthused by salads but this one sounds fantastic with spiced tofu and a drizzle of Sriracha (I love the stuff)!

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    1. I think you'd add the extra sriracha and then some - and be very happy indeed :-)

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  12. I think I would try massaging the Kale to soften it up and take out some of the bitterness. This salad looks wonderfully delicious!

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  13. Exactly. I, too, am now embracing certain salad dressings (like the tahini dressing on Fresh' green goddess bowl). Also bread mmmmmm bread is the awesomestttttttt.

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    1. Have you come around to (peel free!) fruit bread yet? If you're going to embrace bread, I hope you'll stretch to dried fruit varieties 'cos there the ones I love best :)

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    2. Much much much much much much prefer olive bread and roasted garlic bread and herb cheese bread. But I'll always take vegetables over fruit too, so that all makes sense.

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    3. At least if we'll never fight over bread in that case ;) Also, thanks for not correcting my appalling spelling / word use, which horrifies me now and I can't edit without deleting this whole comment thread! *they're*, not there...

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