It has been a long time (3 years?!) since I posted what I like to call a Blue Plate Special – a plate of goodness that usually includes a protein like tofu, tempeh or beans, and two or three sides. I have made so many over the years and they are on full repeat in my kitchen that I didn’t think I could come up with another combo. But I have and it’s a good one!
A while back, I saw an ad for a new menu item at a restaurant called Dig here in the city for a spicy citrus salad. I loved the colors and the list of ingredients – cara cara oranges, watermelon radishes, mandarin oranges and jalapeños – so I created my own version in my kitchen. I added scallions and lime juice to the ingredient list and it is really good. I had it in the rotation a lot before the world changed, and I started making a lot of salads, but I decided to bring it back this week.
It is such a good combination! The tofu. The onions. The sautéed spinach. The citrus salad. And, the longer the salad sits, the mellower the jalapeños become and the softer and more tender the radishes become. It’s a healthy, delicious and colorful meal!
Blue Plate Special #65: Seared Tofu with Spicy Citrus Salad and Slow Roasted Red Onions
The title speaks for itself!
Ingredients
Seared Tofu
- 1/2 package extra firm tofu, pressed for 10 minutes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Spicy Citrus Salad
- 2 Cara Cara oranges, cut into chunks
- 1 can Mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 watermelon radish, thinly sliced on a mandoline
- 1 jalapeño, finely diced
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Roasted Onions
- 1 red onion, cut into thick rounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tamari
Sautéed Spinach
- 1 bunch fresh spinach
- Salt, a pinch
Instructions
Roasted Onions
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Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the onion rings with oil and tamari. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the onions are browning around the edges and tender.
Spicy Citrus Salad
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Combine all of the ingredients and let sit to marinate. The radishes will soften and become really tasty.
Seared Tofu
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Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. When it is shimmering, add the tofu and season with salt and pepper. Cook on the first side until it starts to brown. Flip and cook the second side.
Sautéed Spinach
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Add the spinach to a dry skillet and cook until wilted. Season with salt.
To Serve
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Plate the whole thing up and enjoy!