Falafel Bowl

If you have been craving falafel but cannot decide which of the many possible sides to enjoy it with, this falafel bowl is a perfect choice! It combines five delicious Mediterranean recipes to create a filling meal you can easily make in advance and th…

If you have been craving falafel but cannot decide which of the many possible sides to enjoy it with, this falafel bowl is a perfect choice! It combines five delicious Mediterranean recipes to create a filling meal you can easily make in advance and throw together for a quick lunch or dinner. The best part...

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The post Falafel Bowl appeared first on My Pure Plants.

Tofu Fried Rice

This tofu fried rice recipe is bursting with flavor! Tender tofu takes center stage with fluffy rice, colorful veggies, and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This tofu fried rice recipe is bursting with flavor! Tender tofu takes center stage with fluffy rice, colorful veggies, and a savory sauce in this hearty vegan dinner.

Tofu Fried Rice

There’s just something about the cozy comfort of ginger-scented fried rice that’s nearly impossible for us to turn down. Here’s a rendition that makes it into a vegan meal: try tofu fried rice! Chewy cubes of tofu nestle into fluffy, veggie-packed rice bursting with savory, garlicky flavor. Top it with a drizzle of hot sauce and serve it warm, and it’s absolutely packed with flavor. Here’s how to make this tasty vegan recipe!

Ingredients for tofu fried rice

Fried rice is a dish of cooked rice, eggs, seafood or meat, and vegetables that’s popular in many Asian cuisines: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Cambodian, Indonesian, and more. It’s traditional for fried rice to be cooked with eggs, but this tofu fried rice recipe is vegan. It packs in the savory flavor with seasonings and uses turmeric to add a golden color to the rice. The best part? Chewy cubes of tofu, which are seasoned to savory perfection. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Tofu: Use extra firm tofu for the best result here.
  • Rice: Medium or long grain rice is best, because short grain rice can become clumpy. Basmati ricewhite rice, or brown rice work well; we prefer the flavor of white rice.
  • Olive oil and toasted sesame oil: For cooking the tofu and flavoring the rice.
  • Onion and garlic: These aromatic veggies form the base.
  • Fresh ginger: Fresh ginger root brings the signature flavor to fried rice; do not omit it!
  • Carrots, peas, and green cabbage: Carrots and peas are classic. Green cabbage adds a nice contrasting texture to the other vegetables and soft rice.
  • Soy sauce: Soy sauce is essential the final flavoring.
  • Turmeric: Turmeric adds a golden color to the rice, a nice substitute for the egg!
Tofu Fried Rice

Start with day old rice

The most basic adage for fried rice: start with day old rice. It’s not required (we’ve got a work-around), but it’s best for this recipe. What’s important about using day old rice?

  • Freshly cooked rice has a lot of moisture. If you use fresh rice in the skillet, it clumps together and turns out soggy.
  • Leftover rice is drier. When you cook it, the grains stay separate and form that signature texture. For the best fried rice, make it using leftovers (stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator) or boil a pot the night before.
How to Cook Rice

Workaround for cooking the rice day of

Often when we’re craving fried rice, we don’t think ahead enough to have rice made up the night before. So we’ve created a work-around for the rice which works well! If you want to make fried rice the same day, here’s our shortcut:

  • Make the rice. Once it’s finished steaming, proceed to the next step.
  • Spread on a tray and freeze 15 minutes: Spread the freshly cooked rice onto a rimmed sheet pan or tray in an even layer. Place the tray in the freezer and freeze for about 15 to 20 minutes until the grains become cool to the touch. Some might even become frozen: that’s ok! They’ll heat right back up once they hit the pan.

Ways to serve it!

Tofu fried rice works on its own or with a few simple sides to make a more filling meal. Here are a few side dishes we’d pair:

Tofu Fried Rice

More tofu recipes

This tofu fried rice recipe is one of our top recipes with tofu! Here are a few more tofu recipes you’ll love:

This tofu fried rice recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Tofu Fried Rice

Tofu Fried Rice


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4

Description

This tofu fried rice recipe is bursting with flavor! Tender tofu takes center stage with fluffy rice, colorful veggies, and a savory sauce in this hearty vegan dinner.


Ingredients

  • 14-ounces firm or extra firm tofu, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 3 tablespoons smoked soy sauce or soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), divided
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, minced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 cups shredded Napa cabbage (about 1/2 cabbage)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 3/4 cup frozen peas
  • 3 cups cooked white rice or brown rice, at least one day old
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Prep the onion, carrots, cabbage, garlic and ginger as noted above. 
  2. Cut the tofu into 3/4-inch wide cubes and pat dry with a towel. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to a cold non-stick pan. Add the tofu cubes and a few pinches kosher salt.
  3. Turn on the heat to medium-high. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until the tofu is lightly browned on the bottom.
  4. Briefly remove the pan from the heat to reduce spitting. Flip the tofu with a spatula. Return the heat to medium-high and cook additional 5 to 6 minutes until browned. Remove from heat and drizzle with 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Set aside.
  5. In a large skillet, heat the toasted sesame oil over medium high heat. Sauté the onion and carrots for 2 minutes. Add the cabbage, garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until tender.
  6. Add the peas, rice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, kosher salt, and turmeric. Heat for a 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until all rice is coated.
  7. Stir in the tofu and the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Garnish with sliced green onion and serve hot.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Rice
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Tofu fried rice

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

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This easy Mediterranean Rice Pilaf is packed with flavors and aromas that will knock the socks off of your taste buds! Featuring raisins, pistachio nuts, and a variety of fresh herbs and spices, it is delicious and fluffy. For more flavorful Mediterran…

This easy Mediterranean Rice Pilaf is packed with flavors and aromas that will knock the socks off of your taste buds! Featuring raisins, pistachio nuts, and a variety of fresh herbs and spices, it is delicious and fluffy. For more flavorful Mediterranean-style side dishes to spice up your to your next dinner night, try my...

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The post Mediterranean Rice Pilaf appeared first on My Pure Plants.

Warming 1-Pot Chickpea Curry (Vindaloo-Inspired)

An EASY vegan version of vindaloo has evaded us for a while. Recreating the rich, spicy, warming flavors of this Indian curry while staying true to our commitment to simplicity is a challenge. The quest continues, but through our trials and tribulation…

Warming 1-Pot Chickpea Curry (Vindaloo-Inspired)

An EASY vegan version of vindaloo has evaded us for a while. Recreating the rich, spicy, warming flavors of this Indian curry while staying true to our commitment to simplicity is a challenge. The quest continues, but through our trials and tribulations, we landed on a super comforting, warming chickpea curry that was too good not to share!

Made in 1 pot with easy-to-find ingredients, this curry is fuss-free and SO flavorful.

Warming 1-Pot Chickpea Curry (Vindaloo-Inspired) from Minimalist Baker →

Cilantro Lime Rice

This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is bright, flavorful, easy to make with just a few ingredients, and will make any meal more delicious!

The post Cilantro Lime Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If you’ve ever been to Chipotle, you know how good cilantro lime rice is and just how much flavor it can add to a meal. Luckily, it’s super easy and budget-friendly to make at home, too, so you take any meal to the next level just by switching out your plain white rice for this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe. It’s bright, flavorful, savory, and absolutely delicious. This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is so good, in fact, that sometimes I make it a meal simply by adding some black beans and cheese. Done and done!

Overhead view of cilantro lime rice in a bowl garnished with lime wedges.

What Is Cilantro Lime Rice?

Cilantro lime rice is simply white rice flavored with lime and cilantro, but we throw in a couple more tricks to make it even more delicious and crave-worthy. It’s often served as a side dish with Latin or Tex-Mex meals, adding tons of flavor and color to the plate. But, since cilantro IS the main flavor in this rice, you definitely need to be a cilantro lover to like this recipe. If cilantro isn’t your thing, try our tomato rice instead!

Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Rice

The best part about cilantro lime rice is that you only need a few ingredients and it doesn’t take much longer than cooking plain rice, making it a total win. Here’s what you’ll need to make cilantro lime rice:

  • Long Grain White Rice: You can use any long grain white rice for this recipe, conventional, jasmine, or basmati. Conventional is the most budget-friendly, but you’ll get even more flavor with jasmine or basmati. Avoid medium and short grain rices as they tend to be sticky instead of fluffy.
  • Chicken Broth: Cooking the rice in chicken broth instead of plain water adds a LOT of flavor to the rice, including a deliciously savory base. If you want to make this vegetarian, look for a vegetarian version of chicken broth rather than a regular vegetable broth, which will turn the rice a brownish color, obscuring the cilantro’s pretty green color.
  • Cilantro: This recipe is all about the cilantro! Cilantro gives the rice a really bright and fresh flavor and a beautifully vibrant green color. Fresh cilantro is a must for this recipe, not dried.
  • Lime: Fresh lime also adds a bright flavor, and the tanginess of the juice is a nice contrast to the savory chicken broth. We use both the juice and the zest for maximum lime flavor.
  • Olive Oil: A little olive oil helps coat the cooked rice to give it richness and prevent it from getting to gummy as you fold in the fresh ingredients.

How to Serve Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a great side dish to go with any Latin or Tex-Mex meal, but it’s also great as a base to bowl meals, as a flavorful filling in burritos, or you could even use it as a base for a casserole. Try serving cilantro lime rice with shrimp tacos, cheese enchiladas, burrito bowls, chicken fajitas, or some saucy black beans.

Tip: Don’t Waste the Stems!

When using fresh cilantro, don’t toss the stems! Cilantro stems are very tender and have just as much flavor as the leaves, so as long as they’re thoroughly washed and finely chopped, they can be used right alongside the leaves in recipes like this. So you don’t have to spend time meticulously pulling the leaves from the stems and you’ll have less waste, too!

Cilantro lime rice in the pot with lime wedges.
Cilantro lime rice in the pot with lime wedges.
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Cilantro Lime Rice

This Cilantro Lime Rice recipe is bright, flavorful, easy to make with just a few ingredients, and will make any meal more delicious!
Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine Southwest
Total Cost $2.50 recipe / $0.42 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 (about 1 cup each)
Calories 275kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups long grain white rice (uncooked) $0.52
  • 3 cups chicken broth $0.32
  • 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro $0.75
  • 1 lime $0.59
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32

Instructions

  • Rinse the rice in cool water then let it drain well. Add the rice and chicken broth to a sauce pot, place a lid on top, and bring it to a full boil over high heat without removing the lid or stirring.
  • Once it reaches a full boil, turn the heat down to low, or just above low, and let the rice simmer for 15 minutes (no stirring or removing the lid). After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and let the pot rest for an additional five minutes.
  • While the rice is cooking, zest and juice the lime, and finely chop the cilantro. Add 3 tablespoons of the lime juice, ½ teaspoon of the lime zest, and 1 cup of finely chopped cilantro to a bowl with the olive oil and stir to combine.
  • Once the rice has rested off of the heat for five minutes, remove the lid and fluff with a fork. Drizzle the cilantro lime mixture over the rice, then gently fold to combine. Make sure not to stir the rice vigorously, or that can cause it to become mushy and sticky.
  • Taste the rice and adjust the lime or salt to your liking, then serve with your favorite meal.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 440mg | Fiber: 1g

How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice – Step By Step Photos

Chicken broth being added to a pot with rinsed rice.

Start by rinsing 2 cups of uncooked long grain white rice. Let it drain well, then add it to a medium pot with 3 cups of chicken broth. Place a lid on the pot and bring the broth to a full boil over high heat. Once it reaches a full boil, immediately turn the heat down to low, or just slightly above low, to keep the broth at a gentle simmer.

Cooked and fluffed rice in the pot.

Let the rice simmer for 15 minutes without stirring or removing the lid, then turn the heat off and allow the pot to rest, without removing the lid, for an additional five minutes. Finally, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.

Chopped cilantro and zested and juiced lime on a cutting board.

While the rice is cooking, zest and juice one lime. Rinse and finely chop about ½ bunch of fresh cilantro, or about one cup once chopped. Add the chopped cilantro, 3 tablespoons of the juice, and ½ teaspoon of zest to a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and stir to combine.

Cilantro lime mixture being poured into the rice.

Pour the cilantro lime mixture over the cooked rice, then gently fold it to combine. Be careful not to stir vigorously or fold too much as the more the rice is stirred the more it will become sticky. Just fold the ingredients together in a gentle motion.

Finished cilantro lime rice in a pot.

Serve the cilantro lime rice with your favorite meal and enjoy!

Close up overhead view of cilantro lime rice in the pot with lime garnishes.

The post Cilantro Lime Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry

This tofu broccoli stir fry comes to the dinnertime rescue! Broccoli florets and tofu cubes are tossed in a tangy,…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This tofu broccoli stir fry comes to the dinnertime rescue! Broccoli florets and tofu cubes are tossed in a tangy, savory sauce for a vegetarian and vegan dinner everyone will love. Even better, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.

Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry

Craving a healthy weeknight meal that’s bursting with flavor? Look no further than this tofu broccoli stir-fry! This type of fast and easy meal has become exactly what we crave (don’t you want to just dive right into that bowl?). The tender tofu cubes and crisp broccoli florets get tossed in a savory sauce that’s both sweet and umami, making it a vegetarian and vegan dinner everyone will love. Plus, it’s ready in 30 minutes, so you can get dinner on the table fast. Our kids both adore tofu, so this one is a big winner in our house!

Ingredients in this tofu broccoli stir fry

Everyone in our house is a major fan of this plant-based protein, especially when we make baked tofu or crispy tofu. This broccoli tofu stir fry is even more of a hit, since it mixes in our other favorite green vegetable. The stir fry sauce is simple and requires only one special ingredient, fresh ginger (required, in our opinion). Otherwise you might have just about everything else in your pantry! Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this tofu broccoli stir fry:

  • Pantry ingredients: Soy sauce, sugar (or honey or maple syrup), rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, garlic powder, olive oil, salt
  • Fresh ingredients: Firm or extra firm tofu, fresh ginger, broccoli
Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry

A quick way to peel ginger

The fresh ginger is essential to this stir fry sauce, as it brings an irresistible sweet, peppery flavor that can’t be replicated with the dried form. Grab a fresh ginger root in the produce section of your grocery.

Here’s a quick tip on how to peel ginger for this tofu broccoli stir fry. Instead of using a vegetable peeler, use a spoon! Ginger root is notoriously hard to peel with a vegetable peeler: it’s knobby and the skin is tough and stringy. But peeling it with a spoon works like a charm. It sounds unbelievable until you try it: but it’s the perfect tool for the uneven surface of ginger root.

Tips for cooking broccoli tofu stir fry

This tofu broccoli stir fry comes together in about 30 minutes, making it an all star in our fast and easy dinner recipes! Here are a few tips for getting this dinner together quickly:

  • If serving with rice, start that first. It takes about 12 minutes to cook a pot of rice and 10 minutes for it to steam afterwards. Start this first so it’s ready to go.
  • Cornstarch is the key to crispy tofu. This is what makes a nice crispy edge to the protein: it’s essential so don’t leave it out! It also adds body to the simple stir fry sauce.
  • Use a non-stick pan. A non-stick surface is required for cooking the tofu, otherwise it becomes a sticky mess! If you don’t have one, you can make baked tofu instead, then add it to the stir fry at the end.
Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry with rice

Notes on the sweetener

The stir fry sauce in this recipe uses sugar: this is required to balance the intense salty flavor from the soy sauce and tangy flavor from the rice vinegar. If desired, you can remove the sweetener: we’d recommend adding in 2 more tablespoons water to mellow out the sharp flavors.

If you prefer a natural sweetener, honey or maple syrup are perfect here! We often make this stir fry sauce with both of them and they add an additional nuance in flavor.

What to serve with tofu broccoli stir fry

To make a filling healthy dinner, this tofu and broccoli stir fry needs a side dish. Keep in mind that it makes about 3 servings, or 4 modest servings. Here are a few ideas for making it a meal:

  • Rice: White rice is quick to make and the flavor melds perfectly. You can also make brown rice, but since the nutritional difference isn’t major we tend to stick with white rice.
  • Noodles: Soba noodles are perfect with a stir fry, or try udon, ramen, or rice noodles.
  • Edamame: Add another green vegetable by serving a side of salted edamame or spicy edamame.
Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry with rice in bowl

Leftover storage

Broccoli tofu stir fry saves well, if you don’t finish it all in one sitting! Store leftovers refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. Reheat them gently on the stovetop and if they are very dry, add a splash of olive oil or soy sauce.

More tofu recipes

This tofu broccoli stir fry is one of our top healthy dinner recipes! There are so many tasty ways to infuse tofu into your everyday. Here are a few more tofu recipes you’ll love to try:

This broccoli tofu stir fry recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free (with gluten-free soy sauce or tamari).

Print
Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry

Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry (Fast & Easy!)


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 3 to 4 servings

Description

This tofu broccoli stir fry comes to the dinnertime rescue! Broccoli florets and tofu cubes are tossed in a tangy, savory sauce for a vegetarian and vegan dinner everyone will love. Even better, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.


Ingredients

For the sauce

  • ¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey or maple syrup)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • ½ tablespoon fresh grated ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

For the stir fry

  • 14-ounces firm or extra firm tofu
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli, stem on (about 3 large heads or 6 heaping cups florets)*
  • White rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. If serving with rice, start the rice.
  2. Whisk together the soy sauce, water, sugar, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, grated ginger, and garlic powder until a smooth sauce forms. Store in a covered container until using, or use immediately.
  3. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes and pat it dry with a clean towel. Add the tofu cubes to a bowl and sprinkle with 2 pinches (⅛ teaspoon) kosher salt. Sprinkle with the cornstarch, turning the cubes with a spatula, until evenly coated.
  4. Add the 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large, cold non-stick skillet* (this is important; it only works with non-stick surface!). Add the tofu cubes in a single layer. Turn on the heat to medium-high. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until lightly browned on the bottom.
  5. Briefly remove the pan from the heat to reduce spitting. Flip the tofu with a spatula. Return the heat to medium-high and cook additional 5 to 6 minutes until browned. Remove to a plate.
  6. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same large skillet and heat it on medium high heat. Add the broccoli and 2 pinches (⅛ teaspoon) kosher salt. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until starting to brown, stirring occasionally. 
  7. Reduce the heat to very low. Add the tofu back to the skillet and pour the sauce over the broccoli and tofu. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until sauce thickens. Serve immediately. Leftovers store refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. 

Notes

*If you don’t have a non-stick skillet, make this Baked Tofu recipe instead and add the tofu to the stir fry at the end.

  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Stir Fry
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Tofu broccoli stir fry, broccoli tofu stir fry, tofu and broccoli stir fry, broccoli and tofu stir fry

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Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach and Rice)

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Cabbage Stir Fry with Mushrooms and Lentils

This cabbage stir fry is like a tasty symphony of flavors in your mouth. You get that crispy cabbage, a little kick from sriracha, a touch of sweetness from maple syrup, and the savory umaminess from soy sauce. Plus, it’s super quick to make! If …

This cabbage stir fry is like a tasty symphony of flavors in your mouth. You get that crispy cabbage, a little kick from sriracha, a touch of sweetness from maple syrup, and the savory umaminess from soy sauce. Plus, it’s super quick to make! If you’d like to explore quick and easy stir fry entrees,...

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The post Cabbage Stir Fry with Mushrooms and Lentils appeared first on My Pure Plants.