Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu

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Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu:

These Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu are the perfect healthy and flavorful recipe. This recipe features fresh veggies and plant-based protein and is perfect for both lunch and dinner. This recipe is: vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

Ingredients For These Banh Mi Noodles:

These vegan banh mi noodles are great because they are made with super simple ingredients that you can pick up at your local grocery store.

For The Noodles:

Brown Rice Noodles – Any variety of rice noodles will work perfectly for these Banh Mi Noodles. I personally use thicker-cut noodles because I think they have the best texture for a mixed salad like this. However, vermicelli noodles are also a great option. If you are gluten-free, make sure to use vermicelli rice noodles. You can also use low-calorie noodle varieties like Miracle Noodles or kelp noodles for a grain-free, raw, or weight-loss substitute.

English Cucumbers – You can use any cucumber variety. However, I recommend using English cucumbers. They peel into strips much better than other cucumber varieties, have a less bitter taste, and are the perfect crunchy cucumber.

Raw Carrots – Carrots add the perfect crunch to this recipe. I always try to find the largest carrots because they are much easier to peel into strips. I also recommend buying large carrots organic, because the taste is much different. If you can find pickled carrots, I’d recommend using those.

Water Chestnuts – Adds the perfect crunch to this noodle salad. You can use either water chestnuts or daikon radishes. I personally would recommend using the daikon radish. However, it can sometimes be hard to find in stores (Asian markets usually carry it!).

Fresh Cilantro – If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can leave it out. However, I strongly recommend that you keep it in this recipe. Cilantro is one of the key flavors in these noodles, and adds some extra greens to the mix. Feel free to chop it as finely as you want. I personally love cilantro, so I prefer the larger pieces.

Jalapeños – Add as many, or as little jalapeño slices as you like. The level of spiciness in this recipe is totally up to your personal preference.

For The Smoked Tofu:

Extra Firm Tofu – Whenever I am cooking with tofu I always use the extra firm variety (the one that comes wrapped in plastic, not in a plastic container). If you’re running into the problem of your tofu falling apart when you’re cooking with it, this could be why. I also recommend pressing your tofu to get rid of any excess water.

Smoked Paprika – Smoked Paprika is one of my favorite spices to cook with in any recipe. It has a strong smokey and savory flavor that goes well with so many recipes. If you’re looking for one spice to add to your plant-based protein to achieve a better flavor, I recommend using smoked paprika.

Garlic Powder – Another great spice for flavoring plant-based protein is garlic powder. It goes well with everything, and a little goes a long way.

Liquid Aminos – If you’re unfamiliar with liquid aminos, they are essentially just lower-sodium soy sauce. Compared to soy sauce which contains about 1000mg of sodium per serving, liquid aminos only contain about 300mg and taste the exact same.

Vegetable Broth/Oil – This recipe can be made oil-free, or with oil depending on how you want to cook the tofu. If you want it crispier, use toasted sesame oil, if you want it with fewer calories, use vegetable broth.

For The Creamy Sriracha Dressing:

Aquafaba – Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. I know it sounds crazy to use chickpea liquid as the base of a dressing but trust me on this one. It whips up and has the perfect flavor for this dressing. Both low-sodium and regular chickpeas will work. Make sure not to use unsalted. I love using aquafaba because it achieves a similar texture to vegan mayo except it is extremely low calorie.

Raw Cashew Butter – makes up the creaminess of this dressing.

Sriracha – You can use regular or extra-hot sriracha for this dressing. I love True Made Foods sriracha because it is free of refined sugars and contains added vegetables. The best part is it tastes the same as traditional sriracha.

Apple Cider Vinegar – The tiniest bit of apple cider vinegar ties this dressing together. It gives it the perfect kick.

Garlic Powder – Even though sriracha contains garlic powder, I like to add a little extra to elevate the flavor of this dressing even more.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How To Make These Banh Mi Noodles:

These Banh Mi Noodles are one of my favorite quick, easy, and healthy meals to make. It’s a delicious meal packed full of vegetables and only takes about 15 minutes to make. All you’ll need is a cutting board, a knife, a julienne peeler, a blender, and a large bowl.

1. Begin by boiling a pot of water and cooking the brown rice noodles according to package instructions.

2. Marinate the tofu by combining the liquid aminos, garlic powder, and smoked paprika together in a shallow small bowl or plate. Mix the marinade until smooth. Cut the tofu into triangles, place in the dish, and flip a couple of times to marinate.

3. While the brown rice noodles are cooking and the tofu is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Use the julienne peeler on the carrots and cucumbers, cut the jalapeños into thin slices, strain and rinse the water chestnuts, and roughly chop the cilantro.

4. Cook the tofu with either vegetable broth, or sesame oil in a medium saucepan set to medium heat, flipping once the tofu is crispy on each side.

5. Make the dressing by combining all dressing ingredients together and blending until smooth.

6. Add the noodles, vegetables, and tofu together in a large bowl. Cover with the dressing, and serve the banh mi bowls. Enjoy!

Hint: The longer the tofu marinates the deeper the flavor. If you can remember I recommend marinating it the night before!

@theallnaturalvegan

🌟Banh Mi Noodles 🌟 Happy Friday friends! I’ve got the perfect quick, easy, and healthy noodles for you guys! If you’ve ever had a Banh mi sandwich, then you know how delicious these noodles are, if you haven’t, you HAVE to check it out. It’s spicy, creamy, and so freaking delicious! This recipe is: vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and can easily be made oil-free. You can find the full recipe on my website: theallnaturalvegan.com (link in bio), or head to my story high for a direct link! I used my favorite @wildernesspoets SPiN cashew milk base to make the ultimate creamy dressing that is just 🤌. As always my code “VEGAN10” gets you $10 off your purchase (link in bio). Enjoy 💕 #veganuary #veganrecipes #veganfood #veganrecipes #healthyvegan #healthyveganfood #cleaneating #banhmi #wfpb #plantbased #plantbasedfood #wfpbno #oilfreevegan #glutenfreedairyfree #dairyfree #noodles #healthynoodles #easyrecipe #plantbasedmeals

♬ Dancing In The Moonlight – Jubël

Substitutions:

There are a couple of easy substitutions that can be made to these banh mi noodle bowls if needed. Here are some common substitutions:

Rice – You can replace the noodles with rice. Rice is one of my favorite foods so I will often do this. I recommend using jasmine rice.

Bean Sprouts – You can add a handful of bean sprouts to replace the water chestnuts, or in addition to the water chestnuts.

Mint – If you love the fresh herbs in banh mi sandwiches, you can replace the fresh cilantro with fresh mint for a flavorful substitution.

Variations:

If you’re looking for new ways to spice up this banh mi noodle recipe, be sure to try out some of these variations.

Pickled – The traditional Vietnamese sandwich features a variety of pickled veggies. You can make my Quick and Easy Pickled Veggies and throw them on top of the noodles for a delicious kick!

Tofu – Add a little sriracha to the tofu marinade for a spicy variation, or make this sticky miso tofu for a sweet and salty variation.

Veggie Packed – There are plenty of vegetables that can be included in these banh mi noodles. I love adding spring onions, bell pepper, green leaf lettuce, etc. for added nutrients and volume.

What You Need To Make These Banh Mi Noodles:

These banh mi noodles are great for home chefs of all levels because they require hardly any equipment. Here’s what I recommend using.

Medium Saucepan – I recommend using some sort of nonstick pan to prevent the tofu from sticking to the pan.

Chefs Knife/Cutting Board – Any knife and cutting board will do.

Julienne Peeler – I absolutely love my Julienne peeler. It makes it so easy to get the perfect vegetable strips.

Blender – Any blender will work. You can also use a whisk and a medium bowl, however, it’s much easier just to use a blender.

Large Bowl – You will need a large bowl to serve these banh mi noodles in.

Storage:

This recipe is great for easy meal prep because you can individually package each bowl into the perfect on-the-go lunch!

If you have leftovers simply store the noodles in an airtight container. However, if you are planning on meal prepping, I recommend assembling each bowl with ingredients independently and then storing the sauce on the side This will ensure the fresh vegetables and noodles will stay fresh. If stored correctly this recipe will keep for a full week.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are These Banh Mi Noodles Good For Weight Loss?

These Banh Mi Noodles are one of my favorite vegan weight loss meals, because they’re high in fiber and volume, yet they’re low in calories. If you make these noodles with low calorie noodles they’re even better for weight loss, because they’re extremely low in calories.

The dressing is slightly high in calories, but this should not be something you should worry about since the noodles and vegetables are so low in calories. The dressing is full of healthy fats and whole foods plant-based ingredients.

Related Vegan Pasta And Noodle Recipes:

Looking for more delicious vegan noodles and pastas? Make sure to check out some of the other recipes on my website!

If you try this Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu recipe, I’d really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Make sure to share it on social media and tag @theallnaturalvegan to be featured! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!

Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu

Katie

These Vegan Banh Mi Noodles With Tofu are the perfect healthy and flavorful recipe. This recipe features fresh veggies and plant-based protein and is perfect for both lunch and dinner. This recipe is: vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Course Main Course, Pasta, Salad

Cuisine Asian

Equipment

1 julienne peeler

Ingredients

For The Noodles:

1 package rice noodles can sub low calories noodles such as miracle noodles, or kelp noodles.

2 english cucumbers

4 medium carrots

2 cans water chestnuts

½ bunch cilantro

½-1 jalapeño

For The Smoked Tofu:

1 package extra firm tofu

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon garlic

3 tablespoon liquid aminos

For The Creamy Sriracha Dressing:

⅔ cup aquafaba or the liquid from one can of chickpeas

½ cup raw cashew butter

4 tablespoon sriracha

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Begin by boiling a pot of water and cooking the brown rice noodles according to package instructions.

Marinate the tofu by combining the liquid aminos, garlic powder, and smoked paprika together in a shallow small bowl or plate. Mix the marinade until smooth. Cut the tofu into triangles, place in the dish, and flip a couple of times to marinate.

While the brown rice noodles are cooking and the tofu is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Use the julienne peeler on the carrots and cucumbers, cut the jalapeños into thin slices, strain and rinse the water chestnuts, and roughly chop the cilantro.

Cook the tofu with either vegetable broth, or sesame oil in a medium saucepan set to medium heat, flipping once the tofu is crispy on each side.

Make the dressing by combining all dressing ingredients together and blending until smooth.

Add the noodles, vegetables, and tofu together in a large bowl. Cover with the dressing, and serve the banh mi bowls. Enjoy!

Keyword Banh mi, Banh mi noodles, healthy lunch, noodles, rice noodles

More Tofu Recipes:

If you love tofu you have to check out some of the delicious vegan tofu recipes on my website!