These seared tofu and cabbage bowls with carrots and soy-ginger dressing are an easy one-pan meal that’s big on flavor. Ready in under 40 minutes!
We are now in that stretch of winter where we’re all getting pretty tired of winter. The holidays are over and the resolution-fueled novelty of January is long gone. We’ve just about had it with our bulky sweaters, and if you’re like me, you’re sick of eating soups and stews, too. I’m craving something fresh and different, and that’s where this simple dinner comes in.
These tofu and cabbage bowls with a zingy ginger dressing are the perfect mid-winter weeknight meal. All you need is one pan, a few pantry staples (plus veggies), and about 35 minutes until this light yet satisfying dinner is on the table.
How to Make These Tofu Cabbage Bowls
You’ll start this recipe by pressing the tofu (i.e. weighing it down with something heavy, like a couple of cans), which helps eliminate excess moisture and helps the tofu become brown and crisp. Next, you’ll cut it up, season it, and sear it in a skillet until it has a nice golden brown crust.
While the tofu’s cooking, you’ll cut up a few carrots and shred some cabbage. I like to use a duo of green and purple cabbages here (for a variation of color and micronutrients), but if you only have one type, that’s totally fine.
Next, you’ll remove the tofu from the skillet, and sauté the vegetables in that same skillet. While the vegetables soften and caramelize, you’ll stir together an easy but super flavorful soy sauce-rice vinegar dressing. Then you’ll pour half of the sauce into the vegetables and drizzle the rest on the finished bowls.
If you want to bulk up these tofu cabbage bowls, serve them with brown rice.
Tips for Making the Perfect Seared Tofu
Cooking tofu in a skillet is one of the easiest and fastest ways to make delicious tofu. (Check out my IGTV tutorial on this topic!)
First, you have to press it. Pressing tofu eliminates excess moisture and helps it brown better. You can buy a gadget for this purpose, or just use what you have: a small cutting board + some jars from your pantry.
Then you cut it into slices and season it – tofu is pretty bland on its own, so this step is key (my go-to blend is smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper). Finally, you get it in the skillet. It’s important to arrange the slices in a single layer so that each piece makes contact with the hot pan and gets browned.
It’s important to leave the tofu alone – don’t fuss with it, move it around, or flip it more than once. If you want it to have a nice brown crust, just let it do its thing.
Check out these other tofu recipes…
- Saag Paneer-Inspired Collard Greens and Tofu
- Vegan Sushi Rolls with Crispy Tofu
- Creamy Veg Curry with Crispy Tofu and Sesame Noodles
- Vegetable Fried Brown Rice with Tofu
Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with #TheNewBaguette and @thenewbaguette on Instagram.
Tofu and Cabbage Bowls Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These tofu and cabbage bowls with carrots and soy-ginger dressing are an easy one-pan meal that’s big on flavor. Ready in under 40 minutes!
Ingredients
For the Bowls
- One 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil, for frying
- 3/4 pound green cabbage, shredded (about 3 cups)
- 3/4 pound purple cabbage, shredded (about 3 cups)
- 3 small carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- Cilantro, for serving
- Toasted sesame seeds, for serving
For the Sauce
- 1-inch knob of ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 medium garlic clove, crushed or grated
- 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Start by pressing the tofu: Drain the tofu and place it on a plate, then top with another plate or cutting board and weigh it down with something heavy like a couple of cans, to squeeze out as much water as possible. Let stand for 15 to 30 minutes, periodically draining off the excess water.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Undo the tofu contraption and slice the tofu into 8 slabs; cut each slab on a diagonal, creating 16 triangles in total. Arrange the triangles in an even layer on the cutting board and sprinkle with half of the spice blend.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to lightly coat the bottom. Arrange the tofu in the skillet in a single layer seasoned-side down. Season the other side with the remaining spice blend. Fry the tofu until the underside is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Gently flip the triangles and cook the other side for 5 to 7 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, make the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, curry paste, and maple syrup.
- Take the tofu out of the skillet and set aside. Raise the heat to medium-high and add a splash more oil, if needed. Add the cabbages and carrots and cook until they’re starting to soften and brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add half of the sauce, toss to combine, and turn the heat off.
- To serve, divide the vegetables among 2 plates and top with the tofu. Sprinkle with cilantro and sesame seeds and serve with the remaining sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 16.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.9 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 12.9 g
Keywords: cabbage, tofu, soy sauce, ginger, vegan
Liv says
This is good, but at 260 calories per serving it’s nowhere near enough food if you serve it to four as is suggested. I used about 3 cups cabbage total since that’s just what I had, but otherwise made as written, serving it over rice, and splitting the full recipe between two eaters. I haven’t used curry paste in this way before and really liked it.
Alexandra says
Hi Liv! Thank you for your thoughtful feedback – I’m glad you liked the curry paste in the sauce. I agree – this meal is definitely on the lighter size (more like warm salad). Which is why rice is a good way to bulk it up. The full recipe does call for 6 cups cabbage though 🙂