Creamy Vegan Tofu Noodles

Ingredients

• 0.75 tsp kosher salt (plus more for pasta water)
• 12 oz thick Chinese wheat noodles
• 14 oz firm tofu (broken into pieces)
• 2 garlic cloves (sliced)
• 0.5 tsp granulated sugar
• 0.5 tsp five-spice powder
• 0.5 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems (finely chopped, plus a few sprigs for serving)
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• toasted white sesame seeds (for garnish)
• 2 tbsp Chinkiang vinegar (black vinegar) (or substitute 4 tsp rice wine vinegar plus 2 tsp soy sauce)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chile oil or chile crisp (such as Chiu Chow chile oil)
• 1 scallion (finely chopped)
• 0.5 inch fresh ginger (peeled and finely chopped)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. 2

   Add the noodles and cook according to package instructions until the noodles are just tender, about 6 minutes.

3. 3

   Drain the noodles, rinse with cold water, and drain well again.

4. 4

   As noodles cook, prepare the topping: Add vinegar, soy sauce, chile oil, scallion, ginger and 1 tablespoon water to a small bowl and stir to combine.

5. 5

   Place the tofu, garlic, sugar, five-spice and ¾ teaspoon salt into a blender or food processor.

6. 6

   Blend the tofu mixture, adding about 6 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. Depending on the moisture content of your tofu, you may need up to 12 tablespoons of water.

7. 7

   Place the cooked noodles in a large bowl and pour the tofu sauce on top.

8. 8

   Add the chopped cilantro and sesame oil, and toss until the noodles are thoroughly coated.

9. 9

   To serve, divide the noodles among bowls. Top with the spicy soy-vinegar sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro sprigs.

Notes

Be sure to use firm tofu for this recipe as it provides the necessary body for a hearty sauce. For a variation, silken tofu can be used (you will likely need less or no water during blending). Some cooks prefer using starchy noodle cooking water instead of plain water to blend the sauce for better adhesion.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegan
• vegetarian
• dairy-free
• noodles
• tofu
• quick-meal