Tomato & Tofu Salad

Tomato & Tofu Salad: Fresh, Light, and Nutritious

A light and refreshing Japanese salad combining juicy tomatoes with silky tofu. This protein-rich vegetarian dish features a nutty sesame dressing. Perfect for summer days or as a healthy side dish!

Tomato & Tofu Salad

Recipe by Japan Food & Recipe StudioDifficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking timeminutes

Tomato & Tofu Salad Ingredients

  • Main Ingredients
  • Medium tomatoes (2) Substitute: Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

  • Cucumber (1) Substitute: Persian or English cucumber

  • Tofu (100-150g) Substitute: Firm or silken tofu

  • Sesame Dressing
  • Toasted sesame seeds (1/2 tablespoon) Substitute: Ground sesame seeds

  • Sugar (1/2 tablespoon)

  • Rice vinegar (1 tablespoon) Substitute: Black vinegar or apple cider vinegar

  • Soy sauce (1 tablespoon) Substitute: Light soy sauce

  • Sesame oil (1 tablespoon)

Tomato & Tofu Salad Directions

  • Prepare Main Components
    Cut 2 medium tomatoes into 8 wedges each, then slice each wedge in half diagonally for attractive, bite-sized pieces. Cut 100-150g tofu into 1-2cm cubes and drain well on paper towels. Slice 1 cucumber into 2-3cm chunks. These varying shapes and sizes create visual interest and textural contrast in the final dish.
  • Create Balanced Sesame Dressing
    In a small bowl, combine 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Whisk thoroughly until sugar is completely dissolved and ingredients are well integrated. The dressing should have a slightly thick consistency that will coat the salad ingredients.
  • Assemble With Care
    Place drained tofu cubes in a serving bowl or on individual plates. Arrange tomato and cucumber pieces around and over the tofu. The arrangement should showcase the colorful vegetables against the white background of the tofu.
  • Dress Just Before Serving
    Pour the prepared sesame dressing evenly over the arranged salad just before serving. This timing prevents the tofu from absorbing too much dressing and becoming soggy, while allowing the tomatoes and cucumbers to maintain their fresh crispness.
  • Serve Immediately
    For optimal texture and flavor, serve at room temperature immediately after dressing. The contrast between cool ingredients and the nutty dressing is most enjoyable when fresh.

Notes

  • Tips & Points
    Tofu Choice Both silken and firm tofu work well.
    Draining Method Drain tofu on tilted plate for better texture.
    Variations Try adding corn, seaweed, or dried fish flakes.
    Dressing Options Experiment with black vinegar or herb additions.
    Storage Best served immediately. Can refrigerate dressing separately up to 3 days.

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