Baked tofu bowls are loaded with color & texture. They’re filled with lemony tofu, crispy kale, and avocado on brown rice. Then they’re finished with tahini dressing.
It’s a satisfying & healthy lunch or dinner that will make you feel like you’re being good to yourself. Vegan and gluten free.
This tofu bowl was inspired by my favorite order at Flore restaurant in Silver Lake, California. I started ordering it in 2008 or so, when kale chips were all the rage.
It’s listed on the menu as the basmati brown rice bowl. I loved how something with so many vibrant, antioxidant-packed ingredients could also be so satisfying.
You get toothsome tofu, vibrant crispy kale, shredded carrots, and creamy avocado on brown rice. It’s finished with a generous drizzling of tahini dressing, which brings it all together.
It’s no wonder that once I moved away from California, I had to start making my own version at home.
Tofu bowls
Vegetable packed tofu bowls like this one are known by a variety of names.
They’re called bliss bowls, Buddha bowls, nourish bowls, power bowls, and grain bowls. Whatever you call them, they’re satiating, healthy, and delicious.
They’re a great way to have a meal that’s a balance of protein, carbs, and fat. There’s a variety of nutrients in every bite!
I love this tofu bowl recipe exactly as written. But it’s also great with whatever produce you happen to have in the refrigerator.
(Also, check out the store-bought shortcuts a little further down in the post, so that this bowl is even faster & easier to prepare.)
What kind of tofu should I use?
For this tofu bowl, I recommend super firm, vacuum-packed tofu.
You can find it at Trader Joe’s or natural grocery stores in the refrigerated section. (It’s one of my favorite vegan Trader Joe’s products.)
This variety is super convenient, because it isn’t packed in water. Therefore it doesn’t need to be pressed before using.
If you don’t have access to vacuum packed tofu, that’s no problem. Water packed tofu will work too. You’ll just need to press it first.
Step by step instructions
1. Cut tofu into roughly one inch squares. Combine extra virgin olive oil and tamari in a baking dish.
Add the tofu, and coat it all over with the tamari/olive oil mixture. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
(To keep this dish gluten free, be sure to use gluten free tamari soy sauce.)
2. Flip the tofu, add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Then bake 20 more minutes.
3. If the tofu hasn’t absorbed all of the lemon juice, flip one more time. Bake another 5 minutes until there isn’t any wet lemon juice left on the bottom of the baking dish.
4. While the tofu is baking, make a batch of brown rice, grate a carrot, slice an avocado, and rinse snow pea shoots (or sprouts).
5. Make the kale chips by massaging curly kale with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
6. Cook kale chips in the air fryer.
(If you don’t have an air fryer, you’ll either need to bake them separately. Or make a batch of sautéed kale instead in a skillet.)
7. Mix a quick batch of lemon tahini dressing by combining tahini, lemon juice, water, and a pinch of salt.
8. Once the tofu is done, it’s time to compile the bowls with brown rice, tofu, kale chips, grated carrot, snow pea shoots (or sprouts), and sliced avocado. Top with vegan tahini dressing.
Store-bought shortcuts
If you’re short on time or cooking inclination, take some shortcuts!
Instead of baking the tofu from scratch, use store-bought baked tofu.
Teriyaki flavor works well here. Cut the slabs into cubes and warm in a skillet with a little oil or in the air fryer.
Instead of making rice from scratch, use store-bought frozen rice.
I get it at Trader Joe’s. Then just heat in the microwave.
Instead of making your own kale chips, use store-bought kale chips.
Or replace it with something super low fuss like steamed broccoli, made with pre-chopped broccoli florets.
Make it your own
It’s easy to personalize this tofu bowl by swapping out any of the various components.
It’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of meal, depending on your mood, preferences, and what’s in your refrigerator.
- Instead of baked tofu: Make a batch of roasted chickpeas
- Instead of kale chips: Use sautéed kale, sesame kale, broccolini, roasted cauliflower, roasted cabbage, sugar snap peas, or air fryer asparagus
- Instead of brown rice: Use cauliflower rice, quinoa, farro, or barley
- Instead of tahini dressing: Top with peanut sauce, vegan sriracha mayo, vegan ranch dressing, or creamy cashew dressing
- Add pickled or fermented vegetables: Pickled red onions, quick pickled jalapenos, sauerkraut, and/or vegan kimchi.
- Add seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds
Great for meal prep
This dish is great for meal prep, because you can make the separate components ahead of time. Then it’s just a matter of compiling them.
With rice, baked tofu, and tahini dressing ready to go at a moment’s notice, this meal comes together quickly.
Plus, you can use those same components for other dishes.
- Use leftover cooked rice for pineapple fried rice or air fryer stuffed peppers.
- Leftover baked tofu can be used in spring roll wraps or as a topping on vegan ramen noodles.
- Leftover tahini dressing is great on vegan chick’n wraps or brown rice bowls with cauliflower.
How to store and reheat
I recommend storing all of the components separately in the refrigerator. Except for the kale chips, which should be stored in a paper bag at room temperature.
The tofu and rice will last 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. The kale chips are best at 2 or 3 days. The tahini dressing will last about 5 days.
When you’re ready to reheat, warm the rice and tofu in the microwave. The kale chips can be re-crisped in the air fryer by cooking at 300 for a couple minutes.
The tahini dressing will thicken over time. Thin it with a splash of water, if necessary.
Baked tofu bowls with kale chips & tahini dressing
Ingredients
For easy baked tofu
- 2 teaspoons tamari
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 16 ounces vacuum-packed super firm tofu cut into roughly one inch squares
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- Dash of salt
- Dash of pepper
For bowls
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1 batch kale chips
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1 avocado sliced
- 2 handfuls snow pea shoots or sprouts (optional)
- 1 batch vegan tahini dressing
Instructions
To make easy baked tofu
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a baking dish, combine extra virgin olive oil and tamari. (The baking dish should be around 8 x 8 inches or a little larger.) Lay the cubed tofu evenly across the dish, taking time to coat each side with tamari and olive oil.
- Put into oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Flip the tofu cubes and cover evenly in lemon juice. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Bake for an additional 20 minutes and remove from oven.
- If all of the lemon juice hasn't been absorbed yet, flip the tofu cubes again. Then bake an additional 5 minutes, until all of the liquid is gone.
To make bowls
- While the tofu is baking, make the other bowl elements. Cook brown rice, make a batch of kale chips in the air fryer, grate a carrot, slice an avocado, rinse snow pea shoots (or sprouts), and make a batch of tahini dressing.
- In serving bowls, include a scoop of brown rice, cubed tofu, a handful of kale chips, a scoop of grated carrot, and a few slices of avocado. Add some (optional) snow pea shoots or sprouts, if using. Top with vegan tahini dressing.
Notes
Nutrition
Content, recipe, and photos updated March 2, 2022. Originally posted September 4, 2013.
Bobbie {the vegan crew}
“In addition to seeds, they imagine it’s all tofu, rice or barley, carrots, tahini, sprouts, avocado, and kale chips…” Of course those aren’t even close to being ALL I eat or enjoy, but they are still some of my favorite foods!
This entire bowl looks absolutely delicious, and I’ll definitely have to try the simple tahini dressing. We are always on the lookout for new ways to dress up our greens.
Cadry
I agree, those are some of my favorite foods too! Especially when it comes to avocado, any meal is made better by its inclusion!
Let me know if you try the tahini dressing! It’s kind of nice to have a simple sauce that doesn’t require dirtying the blender.
veganinbrighton
This looks like one of my favourite bowls but I’d never considered doing kale chips instead of steamed kale – such a great idea!
Cadry
It’s fun having an added crunch of texture!
Sarah De la Cruz
Love it! There are times that I have a big bowl of barley with tofu and kale too and Irving always teases me for being so granola! I know he’s secretly jealous that he didn’t ask me to make enough for him!
Cadry
How cute! You’ll have to make extra for Irving next time around, so that he doesn’t feel left out. There’s enough tofu and barley for everybody! 🙂
Kylie - FotV
I love Flore – they have some pretty amazing cupcakes and a great brunch!!
Cadry
Excellent! We regularly went on Sundays for brunch or lunch when we lived in LA. It was also a good place to go after a hike in Griffith Park.
Annie
I was wondering where the birdseed story was going! Nice!
Cadry
Thanks, Annie!
ameyfm
yum! I have to say, you are one step ahead of me because I just cannot get behind green smoothies. But, I did have an entire batch of collards (steamed) and an entire head of cauliflower (roasted) with noochy queso and tofu ricotta for lunch… so, there’s that! And, this meal looks totally glorious to me. I would love it. And I love that it’s got so many flavors and textures going on, and is super healthy. 🙂 perfect!
Cadry
First the breakfast burritos and now the green smoothies… Are you sure you’re a California vegan? Well, I suppose if you’re still eating nutritional yeast flakes and tofu ricotta, we can let you keep your membership! 😉
Kelly @ Vegan Iowan
This looks great! I like the idea of kale chips instead of steamed or sauteed.
Cadry
I often do garlicky sautéed kale or collards too, but that extra bit of crunchy texture takes the meal up a notch! You’ll have to try it sometime!
Johanna GGG
That bowl looks like exactly that sort of thing I would love for dinner – I love all the crunchy granola vegan foods too – leaves more space for the chocolate cake 🙂
Cadry
I like the way you think, Johanna! 🙂
lymieeatingcoconut
this sounds like a perfect combo of things to make a bowl with.
Cadry
Thanks!
Joey
Yep, it’s true – I know it’s all stereotypical vegan stuff, but I go made for kale and tofu. I find myself craving dark green veggies and beans. If that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right. That bowl looks divine!
Cadry
I don’t want to be right either! Pass the kale, please!
VeganLisa
I’m with you…crunchy granola all the way!
Cadry
We might as well own it, right? 🙂
Mel
That looks like such a pretty bowl and I love the sound of the kale chips in it. And any meal with baked tofu get a big tick from me!
Cadry
Yeah, I generally use kale chips as a snack, but there’s something so satisfying about having that crunchy texture with the other softer foods in the bowl.
Ashley F.
Bowls are one of my all-time favorite meals! This looks so yummy!
Also, off topic, but I had to laugh at your ‘crunchy’ comment. I was once at an art festival in Minneapolis and there were a lot of meat vendors, and I said, “for so many crunchy people you’d think there be more vegan options” and the lady next to me started laughing so hard I thought she was going to pass out 🙂
Cadry
How funny! I love it when people are eavesdropping and can’t help but react like that.
luminousvegans
I love a good hearty and healthy bowl like this! Of course, it must be followed by vegan cookies. 🙂 I like to have a semi-balance between healthy and junky.
Cadry
They say it’s important to have a balanced diet. I can only assume that they mean a balance of healthy and junky. 😉
Susmitha - Veganosaurus
HAHAHA that birdseed story was hilarious. 😀
The ‘cliché vegan’ bowl looks super duper delicious to me!
Cadry
I love that name – The Cliche Vegan Bowl. Now I wish I would have called it that! 🙂
Andrea
Bird seed is probably OK, but just don’t get caught with a big bag of rabbit food!
I love food in bowls, and this dinner is exactly what I like to eat.
Cadry
Don’t get caught with lettuce & carrots? It’s probably a lost cause! 🙂
gigiveganville
Is feline TV the same as HBO? This is my favorite food ever, but to avoid the cliche you will never catch me wearing Birks, Crocs or the for the most part open toed shoes.
Cadry
I support people not wearing Crocs for whatever reason they choose. 😉
Maggie Muggins
I totally love a big bowl of hippy food from time to time, especially when it’s smothered in tahini sauce! I STILL have not made kale chips, I almost feel like a bad vegan for never trying such a popular recipe. One of these days…although I’m still kind of iffy about them for some weird reason.
Cadry
I had heard there was one vegan out there who had never made kale chips, but I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to meet her! 😉 But seriously, you should try them at least once. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete}
This looks great Cadry! I love tahini dressing and kale chips are one of my fave ways to eat kale. I will definitely have to try this bowl.
Cadry
Excellent! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think!
Jenn Murphy
This is the kind of thing I am trying to eat more of and I love how simple this recipe is. I will definitely be trying it out. Whenever I go to Flore, I can’t bring myself to get anything besides the Southwestern Seitan Quesadilla.
Cadry
Oh, I’ve never tried the Southwestern Seitan Quesadilla! I know how hard it can be to veer from a favorite. Their portobello mushroom tacos are also really terrific. Let me know if you give this a go! 🙂
veganmiam.com
Tahini dressing – I’m drooling! I love loads of cilantro in my tahini dressing to give it a bit of herb kick! Looks like a fantastic hearty bowl of goodness and love!
Cadry
Good idea! Cilantro would be great in this!
Hannah
It’s just perfection, you know? Sometimes the simple things are perfection.
Cadry
It’s so true! Sometimes just the combination of several favorites in varying textures makes for a meal that’s even better than the sum of its parts.
kendy
Nerds wearing a life jacket! 😛 Some BTF humor!
That looks simple but delicious! Sometimes all one needs is tofu and salad!
Cadry
Isn’t that a great movie? I was half considering just getting an orange life jacket when we were looking for costume pieces, because it was surprisingly difficult to find an orange puffy vest without down/feathers. Luckily, I was able to find this one online after some searching.
It’s true! Sometimes the simplicity of baked tofu, greens, and grains just feels right!
Autumn
Yum yum yum yum! I have to admit, when I first went vegan I didn’t like the crunchier vegan dishes but now I absolutely love them. I think it took some time for me to appreciate simpler dishes after coming from a greasy SAD. It never occurred to me to put kale chips in a bowl. That’s kind of genius!
This is exactly what I was craving today and I just happen to have all the ingredients on hand. Hooray!
Cadry
Good point! I’m sure when I went vegan, I wouldn’t have initially been excited about a meal of tofu and kale chips either. Now it’s the kind of food that I crave! I tend to use sautéed kale too in bowls, but the chips add a fun extra texture. If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!
Mandee
I agree, I like all the foods that people assume we eat, and why not, they are delicious after all! This looks like a lovely, tasty, and filling meal!
Cadry
Thanks, Mandee! 🙂
Randi (laughfrodisiac)
I love it! I pretend to be otherwise sometimes, but I am definitely partial to the crunchy granola style of vegan food! 🙂 This bowl looks like perfection. I definitely want to make it, and to try Flore!
Cadry
Thanks, Randi! It sounds like this bowl would be right up your alley. If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!
acookinthemaking
I think the bowl looks delicious! I am proud of my love for the “hippie” vegan foods 🙂
Cadry
Thanks! There’s something to be said about simple foods prepared in a way that lets their natural flavors stand out.
Pixie
This meal looks like heaven to me ^-^ Some days you want fancy, some days you want pizza (home-made, of course!) and others, all you want is nice big bowl of healthy, hearty comfort. I could really do with a bowl of that right now!
Cadry
You’re so right! There are some days when nothing sounds better than a big bowl of rice, tofu, and greens.
Lindsay
Yum. My favourite foods are “hippie foods” too then. This looks AWESOME and I have pinned it. Thanks for the recipeS — I’ve never baked tofu before!
Cadry
Oh, you’re in for a treat then! Baked tofu has such a great, toothsome texture. I hope you’ll really like it!