Kung Pao Tofu Rice Salad

Gingernut's Note:

This is a surprisingly satisfying vegetarian salad. I got the recipe from Leanne Ely's "Saving Dinner" e-mail service. I have since stopped using the service, but this recipe remains a family favourite. We are meat-eaters but enjoy this anyway! Cooking time is time to cook rice. If you plan ahead and use your rice cooker, this is a very quick meal to throw together! I *think* this is vegan but it might depend on the brands of soy and hoisin sauces you use.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 6 cups cooked brown rice
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 60 ml water
• 60 ml soy sauce
• 15 ml hoisin sauce
• salt (if needed)
• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 3 cups thinly sliced bok choy
• 1 1/2 cups chopped green onions
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 500 g extra firm tofu, cubed

Directions:

1. Prepare dressing by placing vinegar through salt in a bowl or shaker.
2. Whisk or shake till well blended.
3. Place rice in a large serving bowl and add in carrot, bok choy, onion, cilantro, and tofu.
4. Toss to combine.
5. Drizzle dressing over rice salad and serve.
6. Note: This recipe originally called for the rice to be brought to room temperature. This is fine, but please be aware that rice allowed to come to room temperature for long periods should not then be stored in the fridge and then eaten as leftovers--you could wind up with a very unpleasant bout of food poisoning. If you would like to use leftovers, you should chill your rice in the fridge immediately after cooking, prepare the salad with the cold rice, and immediately refrigerate any excess. If you require more information, Google "Bacillus cereus" and "rice".

Reviews

[Chef #482283]

This is a fantastic recipe! Very healthy and light -- perfect for packing in lunches. I used red wine vinegar rather than apple cider and it turned out just fine.

[Chef #378058]

I made this yesterday and it was absolutely lovely - didn't use as much peanut butter as required and it may have lost out a bit as we only had malt vinegar in the house, but it was fast, easy and gorgeous.