This dish is super easy and packed with vitamin C, fiber and protein. I got the idea by combining four foods that I really love—roasted broccoli, baked tofu, fresh noodles and a spin-off of my mom’s peanut sauce. And even better, this dish is versatile and can be adapted each time you make it.
Photo by Julia Liang
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh pasta* or 2 cups dry pasta
2 broccoli crowns
2 cups tofu
2 cloves garlic, chopped
~¼ cup peanut butter
~2 tablespoons sesame oil
~2 tablespoons soy sauce
Splash of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Pinch of cumin
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Water
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional: sesame seeds, shredded carrots, chopped green onion
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Dice tofu and spread onto oiled baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes, flip tofu pieces over, then bake for another 15 minutes or until crispy.
Photo by Julia Liang
Photo by Julia Liang
3. Cut broccoli florets into bite size pieces. Toss in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Photo by Julia Liang
4. Boil water for pasta.
5. Chop garlic and sauté in pan with olive oil.
Photo by Julia Liang
6. Add sesame oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper and peanut butter. Stir mixture together over low heat for about 2 minutes. Add water to reach the desired consistency for your final sauce. Remove from heat.
Photo by Julia Liang
7. Once tofu is done baking, bump oven’s temperature up to 450°F and roast broccoli for about 15 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
Photo by Julia Liang
8. Cook pasta according to package’s instructions. (Fresh pasta only takes a few minutes to cook!)
Photo by Julia Liang
9. Add broccoli, tofu and pasta to sauce and toss everything together over low heat for 1 minute.
Photo by Julia Liang
Photo by Julia Liang
10. Top with sesame seeds, shredded carrot or chopped green onion for garnish. Enjoy!
Photo by Julia Liang
TIP: For those of you at Cal, Berkeley Bowl has a great selection of fresh pastas including wheat, egg, rice, spinach and beet noodles. Yum.
Photo by Julia Liang