A quick and easy Chinese tofu salad made with tofu noodles, fresh cucumbers, carrots and a spicy tangy dressing. This flavourful tofu skin salad is packed with nutrition and plant based protein! (Vegan + Gluten Free option)
So many classic combos with banana: chocolate banana? yum. peanut butter banana? yesss. strawberries and banana? sign. me. up.
What is Tofu Skin?
Tofu skin is a type of tofu that is compressed into sheets (think pressed tofu, but even more pressed). You can buy them fresh or dried at most Asian grocery stores. They’re perfect for stir fries, stuffing for baos and salads! Unconventional, but I also like to cut them up and use them in pasta, ramens, noodle soups, hot pot and more.
You can also find tofu skin cut into noodles (called tofu strips, tofu noodles or shredded tofu). They come in a wide range of widths from super thick, medium and strands like spaghetti.
Ingredients (+substitutions)
This tofu salad is more of like a guide, I rarely ever measure out the ingredients and just kind of eyeball it. It’s also easily customizable and you can swap around ingredients depending on what you have in your kitchen! For the base, here’s what you’ll need:
- Tofu Skin: Also sold as bean curd skin, tofu noodles or tofu strips. Find these are your local asian grocery store in the refrigerated or dry section!
- Cucumbers: Super refreshing and pairs so well with the chili oil but you could also use other fresh vegetables like lettuce or zucchini.
- Carrots: Add texture and a nice sweetness to it. Bell peppers or celery are also great options.
- Ginger & garlic: You can omit or add more of either if preferred. Sometimes when I’m lazy, I’ll just use granulated garlic powder.
- Chinese black vinegar: I love the malty flavour this vinegar gives but rice vinegar can also be used.
- Soy sauce: Make it gluten free by swapping it for tamari.
- Maple syrup: for a subtle sweetness.
- Sesame oil: gives a bit of aroma.
- Lao gan ma (chili crisp oil): Adds spice and mega flavour.
- Garnishes: scallions, cilantro, penuts, sesame seeds
How to make it
One of my favourite things about this dish is that it comes together in minutes, especially if you use the tofu skin thats already cut up into noodles.
- First, slice the tofu skin into strips. I find it easiest to roll it up first (see photo).
- Next, make the sauce by combining everything in a bowl.
- Add the tofu strips, cucumbers and carrots, and toss everything together. Garnish and serve!
LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY COME OUT. Perfectly swirled. Perfectly fluffy. Perfectly tall. Kinda (really) mesmerizing.
More tofu recipes to try:
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- Kimchi Tofu Scramble
- Crispy Coconut Crusted Tofu
- Asian Tofu Beef Bowls
- Sticky Lemon Tofu
If you recreate this Spicy Tofu Skin Salad recipe let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging me on Instagram @Okonomikitchen, I love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
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Tofu Skin Salad
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients
Instructions
- 7oz tofu skin / bean curd skin (about 175-200g)
- 2 Lebanese cucumbers, cut into thin strips (100-125g)
- 1 small carrot, julienned (50-60g)
- 1 – 2 tsp fresh ginger (4-8g)
- 2 -3 garlic cloves, minced (6-8g)
- 2 tbsp Chinese black vinegar (30ml // or rice vinegar)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (30ml // or tamari for gluten free)
- ½ tbsp maple syrup (10ml // or coconut sugar)
- 1 tsp sesame oil (5ml)
- 1-2 tbsp lao gan ma, to taste (15-30ml)
Garnish
- Scallion
- Cilantro
- Toasted peanuts
- Toasted sesame seeds
Notes
- Roll up the bean curds and then slice into noodles. If you have pre-sliced bean curd noodles, skip this step.
- Add the lesser amounts of ginger, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil and lao gan ma to a bowl and stir to combine. Add the bean curd strips, cucumbers and carrots and toss until everything is well coated. Taste and adjust accordingly to desired flavour. Garnish with scallions, cilantro, peanuts and/or sesame seeds.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: vegan, gluten free, chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 298
- Sugar: 6.4
- Sodium: 2381
- Fat: 15.2
- Saturated Fat: 1.9
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 24.7
- Protein: 16
- Cholesterol: 0
SAVE IT FOR LATER! ↓
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This is so good! I had this at a X’ian restaurant and I loved it. This is much cheaper for more portions 🫶🏽, honestly I could’ve eaten the whole 2 portions happily 🤭
AMAZING!!! I used what I had on hand for crunchy veggies – red bell pepper and cabbage. I also used her miso chili oil for the dressing. Seriously, this will be a regular dish I make! So damn good!!!!
This was my first time using these tofu sheets and I was pleasantly surprised. I noticed with my brand that they came in kind of a viscous fluid so I gave them a rinse before using.
The salad was suuuuper filling and absolutely delish! I loved it.
My latest obsession. Made this recipe three times this month. Easy, refreshing, spicy. My favourite kind of food.
this is so good! definitely recommend making 🙂