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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Vegan Tofu Recipes

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Maple-Balsamic Tofu

    Last Modified: Aug 22, 2019 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    Extra firm, pressed tofu marinated and baked in Maple-Balsamic Sauce is the star of this flavorful Strawberry Spinach Salad. #sponsored

    This recipe is sponsored by EZ Tofu Press. All opinions are 100% my own.

    This flavorful Strawberry Spinach Salad stars Sticky-sweet Maple-Balsamic Tofu. It's a perfect dish for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight meal.

    overhead photo of strawberry spinach salad with maple balsamic tofu in a white bowl

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Maple-Balsamic Tofu

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Maple-Balsamic Tofu is a perfect side or even main dish that's easy enough for a regular weeknight but fancy enough for a weekend brunch or a dinner party.

    You make the tofu for this recipe using the method I created for my Twice-Baked BBQ Tofu. Baking your tofu twice makes it chewier and gives the tofu more time to soak up the flavor of the sauce without having to marinate.

    Instead of BBQ sauce, you're using homemade, three-ingredient maple-balsamic sauce.

    Maple-Balsamic Tofu, in a baking pan, fresh out of the oven
    Maple-Balsamic Tofu, fresh out of the oven and ready to top that salad!

    Maple-Balsamic Tofu with the EZ Tofu Press

    Making this salad couldn't be easier. Simmer your 3-ingredient sauce on the stove. Press your tofu with your EZ Tofu Press to get out the extra liquid, then cube it up, toss in your sauce, and bake it twice.

    Pressing Tofu in the EZ Tofu Press

    Pressing the tofu is so important in this recipe. You want super firm tofu to top your Strawberry Spinach Salad, so make sure you don't skip this step.

    Getting the water out of the tofu makes room for it to soak in that flavorful, 3-ingredient sauce (twice!). The result is toothsome, sweet-yet-savory tofu that pairs perfectly with succulent strawberries and earthy spinach.

    bowl of salad with dressing in a jar next to it

    Let's Cook!

    While the total cooking time for this recipe is close to an hour and a half, you don't have to be there for a lot of this time. One of my favorite things about baking tofu is that it's very hands-off.

    While it's in the oven, you don't have to do a thing.

    Even cooler: you don't have to make a separate dressing for this salad recipe. Reserve that leftover maple-balsamic sauce for drizzling, if you feel like your salad needs it.

    A good bit of the sauce clings to the tofu, so depending on how "dressing-y" you like your salads, you may not even need to add more.

    Extra firm, pressed tofu marinated and baked in Maple-Balsamic Sauce is the star of this flavorful Strawberry Spinach Salad.

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Maple-Balsamic Tofu

    This flavorful Strawberry Spinach Salad stars Sticky-sweet Maple-Balsamic Tofu. It's a perfect dish for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight meal.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: strawberry spinach salad
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 262kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    For the Maple-Balsamic Tofu

    • 1 block extra firm tofu - pressed and cut into 1" cubes
    • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil - (Optional. Use an extra tablespoon each of vinegar and maple syrup, for an oil-free version.)

    For the Strawberry Spinach Salad

    • 8 cups baby spinach
    • 1 cup sliced strawberries
    • ½ cup roasted pecans

    Instructions

    Make the Maple-Balsamic Tofu

    • Preheat the oven to 400F.
    • Balsamic Sauce: In a small saucepan on medium-high heat, combine the vinegar, maple syrup, and olive oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. 
    • Toss the tofu cubes with the Balsamic Sauce in an 8"x8" glass baking pan. Remove the tofu cubes, leaving any excess sauce behind, and arrange the cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven. Do not turn the oven off.
    • Put the baked cubes back into the glass pan and toss again in the reserved sauce. Stick the glass pan into the oven, and bake for another 30 minutes.

    Make the Strawberry Spinach Salad

    • Divide the spinach between four bowls. Top each bowl with ¼ cup strawberry slices.
    • Use a slotted spoon to divide the tofu between your four bowls, reserving any leftover sauce from the pan. That leftover sauce is your dressing!
    • Top each bowl with 2 tablespoons of pecans, and serve.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Maple-Balsamic Tofu
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    262
    % Daily Value*
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    More Vegan Tofu Recipes

    • Vegan crispy tofu
    • Vegan tofu ricotta (nut free!)
    • Easy Vegan Quiche Lorraine
    • Crunchy Panko Tofu (baked or air fryer)

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sarah De la Cruz

      May 14, 2018 at 5:13 pm

      Oh man! I love your BBQ Tofu so much—especially since it is so easy! Love that you use the same method with this salad! Can't wait to try!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        May 16, 2018 at 8:35 pm

        Thank you, Sarah! I am glad that you love that technique as much as I do!

        Reply
    2. Katie

      May 14, 2018 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      This is my perfect summer salad! I can't wait to make it. Thanks so much!!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        May 16, 2018 at 8:36 pm

        Hooray! Enjoy it, Katie!

        Reply
    3. Dianne

      May 07, 2018 at 11:40 am

      I LOVE strawberries and balsamic vinegar together, so I bet this salad is amazing! I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        May 16, 2018 at 8:38 pm

        Thank you, Dianne! It is such a classic flavor combo.

        Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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