Waning days of summer, but it’s still hot in certain areas; and salads are king. Which means one has to become inventive.  There are so many ways of making a  good salad, and so many ingredients that can be used, apart from the usual greens and tomatoes. You have seafood salads, beans salads, pasta salads, steak salads, ext. So, how about a tofu salad? Why not? Everything else has been added to the canon. With tofu we have a unique, healthy alternative to the usual  norm.

Tofu is an acquired taste. An there’s a reason fort that. The problem with tofu is , that on it’s own, it’s rather bland. And, ironically, this is also its greatest asset: it can take on whatever flavors are added to it via herbs, spices or seasonings. In this tofu rending I gave it an Asian slant using using soy sauce and sesame oil along with basil, garlic, oregano and scallions rounding out the dish. You can have it as a salad entrée by itself; or you can serve it over plain steamed rice for variation.

TOFU SALAD

1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
1 package (20-oz) extra firm tofu, rinsed and sliced into 1/2-inch cubes or chunks
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/2 cup shopped scallions
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Freshly ground  black pepper to taste
A pinch of brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

  1. In a salad bowl (or any medium bowl that’s convenient), toss the tofu with the tomatoes.
  2. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, scallions, oregano, garlic powder, pepper and sugar. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Stir in basil and mint, and serve.
    Yield: 4-5 servings.