Tofu Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
- 1- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil Leaves
- 1/2 cups Olive Oil
- 1/2 cups Grated Parmesan (I Used Grated Soy Parmesan)
- 1 whole Large Lemon, Zest And Juice
- 3 Tablespoons Red Or White Wine Vinegar
- 2 cloves Garlic, Roughly Chopped
- 1/2 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Pepper
- 1 package Extra Firm Tofu, 14-16 Ounce Package, Cut Into Small Cubes And Baked*
- 3/4 pounds Green Beans, Trimmed And Cut Into 1 Inch Pieces
- 1 cup Frozen Peas
- 1/2 pounds Whole Grain Farfalle (Bow Tie) Pasta, Or Any Other Short, Chunky Pasta
- 1 whole Medium Yellow Squash, Cut In Half Lengthwise And Sliced
- 3 Tablespoons Toasted Walnuts, Roughly Chopped
- *To cook tofu: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Drain tofu package and cut tofu into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Place cubes onto a baking sheet lined with a silpat mat or lightly oiled foil sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cubes are lightly browned.
- For the vinaigrette: Add basil, olive oil, parmesan, lemon juice, lemon zest, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper into a blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
- For pasta salad: In a large pot, bring 4 to 6 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Add green beans and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
- Remove beans from the water with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to dry.
- Add frozen peas and cook for 3-4 minutes, then also remove with slotted spoon and place in a bowl with green beans.
- With water still at a boil, add pasta and cook until al-dente, according to package instructions.
- While pasta is cooking, saute sliced squash in a pan with a dash of olive oil until browned.
- Place squash in the bowl with green beans.
- Drain pasta, shaking off excess water, and place in a large serving bowl.
- Add green beans, peas, sauteed squash, tofu and toasted walnuts to pasta.
- Add vinaigrette and toss (you may not need to use all of it but I did).
- Allow salad to rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then add salt and pepper to taste.
- Take photos of creation and send to friends and family members to ensure this recipe is made in all households!
- Enjoy!
fresh basil, olive oil, lemon, red, garlic, kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, green beans, frozen peas, grain farfalle, walnuts
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/tofu-pasta-salad-with-basil-vinaigrette/ (may not work)