Zen Noodles: A Tofu Teriyaki Adventure for Sunny Days
Hey there, sunshine seekers!
Is it just me, or does summer magically lift your mood? I've been feeling the good vibes and spending as much time as possible in my garden—though I admit, the weeds are staging a comeback! Life's been a whirlwind lately, with a move and a mountain of things to sort through. It's like my living space has turned into a treasure hunt, but not the fun kind! There's a ton of cooking to test and all sorts of things to get through.
When my to-do list tries to take over, I try to take a deep breath and remember that everything will get sorted with time. After all, stressing out never got anything done faster. I've been missing my friends so much after being in my own little bubble for too long. I'm planning a garden dinner party as soon as I can and this vibrant and easy teriyaki tofu noodle salad is high on the menu.
This salad is perfect for laid-back gatherings. It's light, satisfying, and super easy to throw together. You can even prep some elements in advance! I recommend making the teriyaki sauce ahead of time—it’s far tastier when you make it yourself and is so easy— and having the noodles cooked and ready to go. The edamame is best bought ready-to-go, and the tofu skewers along with some broccoli and spring onions can all go straight on the grill when your guests arrive. How’s that for easy?
The best part? It's delicious both warm and cold, which is perfect for a casual buffet. The combination of flavors and textures will have everyone reaching for seconds (or thirds!).
Let's Get Cooking!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
For the Teriyaki Sauce:
- 80 ml / 1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
- 120 ml / ½ cup cooking sake, dry sherry, or water
- 120 ml / ½ cup mirin
- 50 g / ¼ cup sugar, agave, or maple syrup, adjust to taste
For the Salad:
- 400 g / 14 oz firm or extra-firm tofu, pressed
- 30 ml / 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
- 200 g / 7 oz udon, soba, or flat rice noodles
- 200 g / 7 oz tenderstem broccoli, chopped small
- 3 spring onions / scallions
- 130 g / 1 cup edamame, ready-to-eat or frozen
- 15 ml / 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil and/or chilli oil
- 10 ml / 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
- Sesame seeds, to decorate
Instructions:
Teriyaki Sauce:
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until any sugar dissolves.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. It will thicken more as it cools.
Salad:
- Cut the pressed tofu into cubes (about ¾ inch). In a bowl, mix soy sauce with 1 tbsp of water and marinate the tofu until the liquid is absorbed. This is optional but great for flavor.
- Thread the tofu cubes onto skewers (metal or wooden – remember to soak wooden skewers). Thread them on a flat surface so all the tofu touches the cooking surface.
- Grill the tofu skewers until they have char marks on each side.
- Brush the tofu liberally with teriyaki sauce, return to the grill or place under a hot broiler until the sauce caramelizes but doesn't burn.
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions and refresh under cold water.
- Steam, grill, or stir-fry the broccoli, chopped spring onions (use the white and white-green parts, save the green for garnish), and edamame (if using frozen). If grilling, toss with a little neutral oil first.
- In a bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp of teriyaki sauce, toasted sesame and/or chilli oil, and rice vinegar. Taste and add more soy sauce if needed. Toss with the cooled noodles.
- Arrange the dressed noodles, broccoli, edamame, and spring onions on a platter. Garnish with spring onion tops, sesame seeds, and extra sauce if desired. Serve the tofu skewers alongside.
Notes:
- The recipe is based on a traditional Japanese recipe, feel free to adjust the salt levels to your preference.
- The sauce is fairly thin, if you prefer a thicker sauce, you can thicken it with some cornstarch.
Enjoy this delicious and easy meal, and let the good times roll!
Tag me in your creations on Instagram using #healthyhappycooking and @amazingapp, I love seeing what you do!