Meatless Monday: A Light, Cool, Refreshing Salad – Crispy Tofu Cubes with Mango and Avocado in Sweet Chili Sauce
August 2, 2010 in Appetizers, Entrees, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Entrees
I make a cold shrimp salad with avocado and mango in an Asian sweet chili sauce. It is a great go-to quick main dish salad for the summer – cool, refreshing and so flavorful. Crispy tofu cubes in place of the shrimp is a wonderful switch up – added at the last minute, of course, to preserve their crispiness.
Anne and I have been huge tofu fans since writing 101 Things to do with Tofu a few years ago. It’s a fab frugal source of protein – and has a mild flavor that plays well with pretty much any other flavors. And, this sweet chili dressing is bright and flavorful with a touch of heat. If I wasn’t in mixed company when I ate this salad last night, I would have licked my plate. No, really.
Perfect for a summer Meatless Monday!
CRISPY TOFU CUBES WITH MANGO AND AVOCADO
In Asian Sweet Chili Sauce
Serves 4 as an entree; Prep and wait time 30 minutes
1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
16 ounces extra-firm tofu
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large ripe mango, diced
2 ripe Haas avocados, diced
four large lettuce leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
Stir together the chili sauce, vinegar, ginger and soy sauce and set aside.
Wrap tofu block with a kitchen towel and set between two dinner plates. Place a large can on top to press down, pressing liquid from tofu. Let stand 20 minutes or so.
Cut pressed tofu into 1/2 inch cubes. Toss in cornstarch until evenly coated. Heat oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Cook tofu cubes in 2 batches so as not to crowd pan. Turn occasionally until cubes are lightly browned. Remove to paper towels and pat off excess oil.
Toss together sauce, tofu cubes, mango and avocado. Spread lettuce leaves on a salad plate. Mound the tofu mixture on top of lettuce leaves and serve immediately.
Other tofu salads worth checking out:
Thai Tofu Salad, Hebivoracious
Eggless Vegan Salad, A Veggie Venture
Curried Tofu Salad, Eat Me Delicious
Tofu Salad with Herbs, Cheap Healthy Good
Teriyaki Tofu Salad, Semi-Sweet
Sticky Ginger Tofu Salad, Healthy Happy Life
Tofu Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing, Shiny Cooking
– posted by Donna
Oh my goodness, this looks heavenly! I had something else planned for dinner tonight, but it’ll have to wait, because I’m making this!
(p.s. I’m enjoying the Quesadillas cookbook immensely- such a good summer cookbook. Thanks again!)
Heather – So happy you’re enjoying Quesadillas! Let me know how you like the salad. It’s one of my summer faves.
You are determined to make a tofu fan out of me, aren’t you? Ok, I’ll say this looks worth trying. Beautiful photo, too.
Linda – Do it! Take the tofu plunge!!!
I’ve become absolutely addicted to sweet chili sauce lately and have been using it as a salad dressing! It looks perfect combined with the mango and tofu. So delicious.
Joanne – AMEN to the massive use of sweet chili sauce. I LOVE the stuff!
This looks amazing! Thanks for posting
Joanna – You are MOST welcome!
Is there a particular brand you recommend, Donna?
Anne – I have tried 3 or 4 brands over the last few years. I like Maggi Taste of Asia Sweet Chili Sauce. It has lowers carbs than most brands and is very flavorful.
Looks like a fabulous summer meal. I bet it would be great with chicken too.
Barbara – Yes indeed, any mild protein would work well. And grilled would work well, too!
This looks wonderful! I’m going to be making this for dinner this week!
Ashley – I know you will LOVE this recipe!
I did!! I made it tonight – it was wonderful! I served it over brown rice, and my husband adored it. He said he’d eat it every night
I posted it on my blog, with a link to yours. I have to check out more of your recipes!
Ashley – we are happy that you liked this! Tofu cooked in small crispy cubes can be used so many ways. This is one of my faves!
This sounds so simple and yet so tasty!
Kevin – Thanks for visiting us! Crispy tofu is a surprise – yummy in so many things. I’ve been a fan of Closet Cooking for a long time – one of the first food blogs I followed!
I only just got up, but that is freaking drool-worthy. If I run across any good mangoes I’ll be making this.
Thank you for including my recipe in your list! That’s really thoughtful.
Amy – I knew you would like this recipe because it is shiny!
All I can say is Mmmmmmm… I am so hungry right now and I look in my fridge and see nothing that sounds good. I should learn to cook good food like this.
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