Skip to main content

Chile and Ginger–Fried Tofu Salad With Kale

3.7

(5)

Photo of a tofu recipe for chile ginger tofu with kale salad shown on a red plate from a book by Melissa Clark.
Photo by Eric Wolfinger

In this spicy salad, cubes of fried tofu act like tender-bellied croutons amid the leaves of baby kale, only with much more protein and spunk than the usual toasted bread. You’ll need to marinate the tofu for at least an hour before cooking, so plan ahead. And if you don’t feel like frying, you can broil the tofu. Skip the cornstarch and run the tofu under the broiler for two to three minutes per side, until golden brown. It won’t be as crispy, but the flavor is still good and spicy. And it’s a lot less messy. Serve this with rice noodles tossed with a little sesame oil, or with a sliced baguette. 

Read More
Reliable cabbage is cooked in the punchy sauce and then combined with store-bought baked tofu and roasted cashews for a salad that can also be eaten with rice.
The tofu is crunchy on the outside, in part thanks to a panko-studded exterior, and squishy-in-a-good-way on the inside. It also comes together in 20 minutes.
This vegan version of the classic North African scramble uses soft silken tofu instead of eggs without any sacrifice of flavor.
Oyster mushrooms are a strong all-rounder in the kitchen, seeming to straddle both plant and meat worlds in what they look and taste like when cooked. Here they’re coated in a marinade my mother used to use when cooking Chinese food at home—honey, soy, garlic and ginger—and roasted until golden, crisp, and juicy.
There are many things that appeal about a Basque cheesecake—it's crustless (one less job) and is meant to look “rustic” with its wrinkled and jagged sides.
Traditionally, this Mexican staple is simmered for hours in an olla, or clay pot. You can achieve a similar result by using canned beans and instant ramen.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
You can consider this recipe a template for creating a gooey, cheesy instant ramen dish with an appetizing golden crust in the oven.