Jan
16
Vegan tofu bowls with sweet potato coconut milk sauce, spinach, sweet buttery macadamia nuts and brown rice. Made with organic Nasoya extra firm tofu. The perfect veggie packed lunch for meal prep!
If you love tofu and you know it clap yo hands. *CLAP CLAP*
I was happy to see SO many of you making my tofu nachos from last month that I decided to create yet another tofu recipe that’s perfect for meal prep and one that’s also inspired by my latest travel adventure in Australia where thai and tropical flavors were prominent and often paired together.
MY OTHER RECIPES
The dish I had was a fusion of macadamia nuts, coconut milk, sweet potatoes, rice and tofu. Basically it was a creamy, warm bowl of veggies and that’s exactly what I’ve recreated for you today. It’s the perfect recipe for getting back into a routine in the new year, which, if you’re like me, is much-needed after traveling.
One of the best things about cooking with tofu is that it adopts pretty much any flavors that you add to it. In this recipe I stuck with super simple ingredients because January calls for going to to the basics:
Brown rice: Brown rice has a delicious, almost nutty flavor, plus it’s naturally gluten-free and packs a punch of fiber.
Sweet potatoes: These babies have tons of vitamin A and fiber. I like to add them to bowls like this one because they keep you feeling satisfied.
Macadamia nuts: My new obsession ever since I visited Australia. I swear they put macadamia nuts in everything over there and they are SO good. They’re rich, almost buttery, and are a great source of extra iron + protein. They’re going to be in quite a few recipes I have coming up so buy a big bag and get ready to party with the mac.
Nasoya extra firm tofu: My go-to for creating easy, delicious plant-based meals. I’ve been loving experimenting with all of the different ways to cook with tofu, and get especially excited when Tony loves them as much as I do. AKA THE DREAMY NACHOS.
In this particular recipe, I decided to try something new to create slightly crispy flavorful tofu edges without deep frying; I tossed the tofu in coconut flour and spices, then pan fried them in a little coconut oil. The results were OUTSTANDING and I’ve been loving coming home to this perfectly portioned meal prepped dish.
If you’ve been traveling or just had a busy schedule the past few weeks – remember that it’s okay to start out slowwww. When I got back in town I started out with a light spin class before hitting the gym for my usual weight training classes. To refuel, I’ve had meals like these Macadamia Coconut Tofu Bowls on hand to make sure I’m not freaking starving while I’m waiting for dinner to cook.
I know you’re going to be just as in love with these are you were with the tofu nachos. If you want you can add peas or green beans in with the sweet potato coconut milk mixture for an extra dose of veggies. Enjoy!
P.S. Along with their traditional silken, firm, and extra-firm tofu types, Nasoya also has TofuBaked, which is tofu that has already been marinated and baked so that it’s ready to eat hot or cold. It’s a great option for lunches and dinners in a pinch. I think the sesame ginger flavor would be absolutely delicious in this recipe too!
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram, or leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how you liked it.
Vegan Macadamia Coconut Tofu Bowls
Author: Monique of AmbitiousKitchen.com
Nutrition Information
- Serving size: 1/4th of recipe
- Calories: 489
- Fat: 23.1g
- Saturated fat: 10.1g
- Carbohydrates: 56.7g
- Sugar: 5.9g
- Fiber: 8.1g
- Protein: 16g
Recipe type: Gluten Free, Vegan, Meal Prep, Lunch, Dinner, Tofu
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
- For the brown rice:
- 1 cup short grain brown rice
- 2 cups water
- Pinch of salt
- For the tofu:
- 1 package Extra Firm Nasoya Tofu
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- For the sweet potato coconut milk mixture
- 1 (15) oz can light coconut milk
- 1 large sweet potato, diced into ½ inch cubes
- 1 red pepper, cut into large chunks
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- To assemble:
- 1 (5 oz) package baby spinach
- 1/4 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
- Freshly chopped cilantro
- Cook the rice: Place water and brown rice in a medium pot along with a pinch of salt and place over high heat. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 35-45 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is cooked and slightly chewy. Fluff with a fork then remove from heat.
- To cook the tofu: Wrap a few paper towels around the extra firm tofu and squeeze gently to release extra liquid. We want to get it as dry as possible without it crumbling. Next cut the tofu into 1 inch cubes. Place into a large bowl and add in the coconut flour, salt, cumin and cayenne. Gently toss to combine. Add coconut oil to a large nonstick skillet and place over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in tofu, cooking for about 3-4 minutes per side until slightly golden brown. Once done, transfer to a plate for later.
- To cook the sweet potatoes: In the same skillet, add in the coconut milk, sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, turmeric and salt. Bring to a simmer and allow the sweet potatoes to cook for 10-15 minutes until fork tender. The coconut milk should reduce nicely.
- Assemble the bowls by adding ¼ of the brown rice, ¼ of the sweet potato/coconut milk mixture (you can mix it with the rice if you’d like), ¼ of the tofu, and a handful of spinach. Top with macadamia nuts and cilantro. Serve immediately or place in meal prep containers for lunches/dinner throughout the week.
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This post is in partnership with Nasoya Tofu, a product I use and trust. Thanks for supporting AK and the brands that help make this site possible!
