BBQ Tofu Quinoa Bowls

Crispy, saucy BBQ tofu is the star of these BBQ Tofu Quinoa Bowls! It is served up with quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, avocado and a purple cabbage slaw that I could put on everything. Finished off with some lightened up vegan ranch – this is a bowl that you will want to have on a constant rotation!

Step One: Prep the Quinoa & Slaw

There are only a couple of tips I have for making delicious quinoa:

• Rinse the quinoa before adding it to the pot – this will help it cook correctly.
• Cook the quinoa in broth – it adds so much flavor!

Add the rinsed quinoa and broth to a pot and bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.

Once the quinoa is going, work on making the cabbage slaw. This slaw is super simple, but I was eating it straight out of the bowl – it is that good!

To make it you will need:

• purple cabbage 
• red onion
• jalapeño 
• corn
• cilantro
• smoked paprika
• salt & pepper
• lime juice

Combine the slaw ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Step Two: Vegan Ranch

I am no stranger to vegan ranch. It is one of my favorite dressings. And over the years I’ve locked down a recipe that is not only super tasty, it is also a lighter version. The key is using a mix of vegan mayo & vegan yogurt.

In a bowl, mix together:

• vegan mayo
• non-dairy yogurt
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• dried parsley
• dried chives
• dried dill
• pepper
• apple cider vinegar

Step Three: Cook the Tofu

I used high-protein tofu for this recipe. It is great because it doesn’t require any pressing – it is already super dense. Just take it out of the package and pat it dry.

Cube the tofu and add it to a large bowl. Sprinkle with corn starch and some dry seasonings. Toss to coat evenly. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu and spread in an even layer.

Cook until browned on 2-3 sides, tossing every few minutes. Once it is browned, lower the heat and pour in the BBQ sauce. Toss until the tofu is coated and the BBQ sauce is heated through.

Step Four: Serve

I know that the recipe list looks long, but most of it is dry seasonings. Other than a little chopping and couple steps on the stove, this recipe is fairly simple.

To assemble layer each bowl with quinoa, tofu, beans, slaw, tomatoes & avocado. Drizzle with the vegan ranch and top with some chopped cilantro.

These bowls make great make ahead lunches or a filling weeknight dinner!