This cold Japanese tofu salad features crisp veggies and silken tofu, served with a flavorful sesame soy dressing. A refreshing and light side dish that is ready in under 10 minutes and requires minimal prep.
It is great as a light meal on its own. We also love serving it with Japanese mains, including Japanese tofu curry, vegan yakisoba, and baked teriyaki tofu.
One of our go-to Japanese sides to order is Japanese tofu salad, but, funnily enough, we had not attempted to recreate it at home until now. After finally testing it in my own kitchen, I can confidently say this homemade version tastes even better than the restaurant ones.
It is highly versatile and pairs beautifully with other simple sides like my avocado maki or cucumber maki for a light meal. You can also serve it with heartier mains, like my teriyaki tofu stir-fry.
💚Why you will love this silken tofu salad
- A refreshing, light salad packed with flavors
- Simple to prepare and ready in 30 minutes
- Highly versatile - pairs great with a variety of side dishes
- Nourishing and packed with colorful veggies
🥗What you will need
For the salad
For the dressing
- Silken tofu - Any kind of silken tofu will work. I usually go for Mori-Nu's firm silken tofu.
- Vegetables - Feel free to use other vegetables in place, such as regular cabbage, bell peppers, corn kernels, and salad greens of your choice.
- Rice vinegar in dressing - For a citrusy twist, you can substitute it with equal amounts of Ponzu.
- Dressing - Feel free to substitute sesame soy dressing with other dressings, such as Ponzu dressing, wafu dressing, or creamy roasted sesame.
🔪How to make
Step 1: Wash and chop vegetables. Gently drain silken tofu and slice it into ½-inch-thick pieces.
Step 2: Make the dressing by combining all ingredients needed. Pour it over salad right before serving.
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✔Helpful tips
- Handle silken tofu with care - As it is fragile and breaks apart easily.
- Add the desired amount of dressing - Add by spoonfuls and adjust to taste to prevent the salad from being overly salty.
- Batch make the dressing - To meal prep, you can make a larger batch of sesame soy dressing and refrigerate it in a glass jar for up to a week. You can also use it for other salads, like my lettuce avocado salad.
❔Commonly asked questions
It is safe to eat tofu directly out of the packaging without cooking. Tofu, by itself, is already cooked as it is made from heated and coagulated soy milk.
If using silken tofu on salads, drain excess water and slice it before serving.
Silken tofu is neutral and bland in taste, with a hint of nutty and beany flavor that is barely noticeable after seasoning. It easily takes on the flavors of sauces and seasonings, making it the ideal blank canvas for a variety of dishes.
📖 Recipe
Cold Japanese Tofu Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce or other variety of lettuce
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- ½ medium cucumber sliced
- 1 medium tomato sliced into wedges
- 1 block silken tofu drained and sliced (around 12.5oz/350g)
For the dressing
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari/shoyu (use gluten-free if needed)
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar or ponzu
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup or other liquid sweetener
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Assemble salad by dividing veggies equally among 2 bowls, then topping them with the sliced silken tofu.
- In a bowl, mix together all ingredients needed for the dressing. Stir to mix.
- Serve the salad alongside the dressing and enjoy!
Notes
- Handle silken tofu with care - As it is fragile and breaks apart easily.
- Add the desired amount of dressing - Add by spoonfuls and adjust to taste to prevent the salad from being overly salty.
- Batch make the dressing - To meal prep, you can make a larger batch of sesame soy dressing and refrigerate it in a glass jar for up to a week. You can also use it for other salads, like my lettuce avocado salad.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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