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Vegan recipes from my kitchen

Curried tofu salad: Quick & easy vegan lunch

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Text: Curried tofu salad. Vegan & gluten-free. Bowl of tofu salad on wood block with napkin.

Curried tofu salad comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s filled with raisins, shredded carrot, and nutty pistachios for crunch. Serve it on its own, in a sandwich, or wrap. Vegan & gluten-free.

Blue bowl with tofu salad. Carrots, tofu, curry powder, and pistachios in background.

Somehow whenever I have an appointment, I’m left at the last second scrambling for something to eat that won’t take long to prepare.

Even when I think I’ve allowed plenty of time, it never fails that with ten minutes to spare I’m looking at a bin of produce and wondering how I’m going to turn that into lunch. Now.

At times like those, salad sandwiches are perfect. They’re filling and easy. They’re no cook meals made with pantry staples. And for the most part, anything goes.

Bowl with salad ingredients: tofu, curry powder, carrots, raisins, and pistachios.

I can quickly make vegan tuna salad, vegan egg salad, vegan chicken salad, or today’s curried tofu salad with vegan mayo as the base.

Then depending on the recipe, I’ll add celery, onion, shredded carrot, nuts or seeds, dried fruit, sliced grapes, diced pickles, stone-ground mustard, and/or spices.

Tofu salad sandwich with spinach.

Even better are the times when I’ve made a tofu salad ahead of time, like this curried tofu salad.

The flavors meld and deepen with time as it sinks into the blocks of tofu.

Every day it sits in the refrigerator, it just gets better. (I think this one tastes best on day two!)

When it’s already waiting and ready in the fridge, I can just add a couple of dollops into a tortilla, roll it up, and hit the door.

This dish is based on one of my favorite prepared salads at my local Co-op. With carrots, onions, and raisins, it has a wonderful mixture of sweet and savory flavors.

Which curry powder to use?

For spices, this recipe uses a simple curry powder. 

I have three favorite curry powders. I like two from Penzey’s – sweet and hot. I am also a fan of S&B.

For this lunch offering, I use the sweet one from Penzey’s. Then I add cayenne to taste for a bit of added kick.

If you have a favorite curry powder, by all means, use it. Then adjust the cayenne, depending on the heat of your particular curry powder.

Ways to eat it:

  • In a sandwich
  • Rolled into a tortilla
  • Spread onto crackers
  • Stuffed into a tomato
  • In a lettuce leaf
  • Right out of the bowl alongside a green salad

Blue bowl with tofu salad seasoned with curry powder on table.

Blue bowl with curried tofu salad. Carrots, tofu, curry powder, and pistachios in background.

Curried Tofu Salad

With carrots, onions, and raisins, this dish has a wonderful mixture of sweet and savory flavors. Eat it on its own, put it in a sandwich, or add it to a wrap.
4.5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Indian, Vegan
Keyword: easy lunch, no oven
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 327kcal
Author: Cadry Nelson

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces super-firm vacuum-packed tofu cut into 1/2 inch cubes*
  • 1 stalk celery chopped small
  • 1 small carrot grated
  • 2 Tablespoons yellow onion chopped small
  • 2 Tablespoons raisins
  • 2 Tablespoons pistachios
  • 3 Tablespoons vegan mayo Vegenaise is my favorite.
  • 2 teaspoons sweet curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon plain unsweetened non-dairy milk I use cashew milk.
  • 1/4 teaspoon agave syrup
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Put tofu, celery, carrot, yellow onion, raisins, and pistachios in a medium sized bowl.
  • In a separate small bowl, combine vegan mayo, sweet curry powder, non-dairy milk, agave syrup, and cayenne.
  • Pour the mayo mixture into the bowl with the tofu and thoroughly combine, being careful not to break up the tofu too much. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • The tofu salad can be eaten right away. However, for best results, cover and refrigerate it and allow flavors to meld for several hours or overnight. The flavors will continue to deepen. I like this tofu salad best after two days.

Notes

*I like to use the Wildwood or Trader Joe's vacuum-packed tofu, because it doesn't need to be pressed before using. If you use water-packed tofu, press it first. Here's more information on how to press tofu.

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 5125IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3.1mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @cadryskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #cadryskitchen!

Originally posted December 2014. Content updated May 2019.

This tasty curried tofu salad is delicious as a side, in a sandwich, or stuffed into a wrap. It's vegan & gluten-free. | cadryskitchen.com

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Posted On: May 16, 2019
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Comments

  1. Becky Striepe says

    December 19, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Ooh Whole Foods makes a curried tofu salad, but I think your recipe looks like it might be even better! The tofu in theirs is deep fried, I’m pretty sure.

    Reply
    • Cadry says

      December 22, 2014 at 9:41 am

      Thanks, Becky! I haven’t tried that dish at Whole Foods, but I have had their Beyond Meat curried salad a couple of times.

      Reply
  2. Kathy says

    September 6, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    4 stars
    Have been looking for a curried tofu salad recipe because it’s the perfect thing to take to work for lunch. Protein and flavor! I didn’t have celery so substituted radishes. Didn’t have pistachios so subbed sliced almonds. Used golden raisins instead. Everything else the same. It came together quickly and it is delicious! I rolled mine up in a beet wrap. This recipe is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Cadry says

      September 7, 2018 at 8:50 am

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kathy!

      Reply
  3. Kelly says

    February 4, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    5 stars
    Our friend made this and shared it with us. Delicious hot or cold, and very satisfying with diverse textures and flavors!

    Reply
    • Cadry says

      February 9, 2019 at 10:25 am

      I’m so glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know, Kelly!

      Reply

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Welcome

Hi, I'm Cadry Nelson. I'm the recipe creator, writer, and photographer behind Cadry's Kitchen.

Cadry's Kitchen is a vegan food & travel blog. It features plant-based comfort food classics that are ready in about 30 minutes.

You can also find travelogues & recommendations on where to eat vegan while traveling - even in unlikely places!

Contact me at cadryskitchen@gmail.com.

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