Everything you love about egg salad, made vegan with crumbled tofu. A simple technique gives this vegan "egg" salad loads of flavor. This post is sponsored by Soy Connection and the United Soybean Board; all opinions are my own.
If you've been following TBG for a bit, you already know my love for tofu. A versatile plant-based source of protein, tofu can star in almost any dish from vegetarian cobb salad to tofu curry to sushi burritos.
I love tofu marinated, grilled, pan-fried, and roasted. With hot noodles, cold noodles, curried noodles and *as* noodles in miso soup. And I've even been known to sneak bites of it raw, enjoying its clean taste and cheese-like texture.
Today I'm sharing yet another way to prepare this functional vegetarian staple: curried tofu salad.
Tofu "Egg" Salad
I’ve been making variations of this vegan tofu "egg" salad for about 15 years. The base recipe comes from Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, which I've merged with some of my favorite egg salad ingredients.
The result is an über-flavorful dish that you can dip, spread, or layer. It travels beautifully to picnics, parks, hikes, road trips, and campouts. Use it as a dip for crackers and veggies, spread it on rice cakes for a snack, or smear it on toast or bread for sandwiches or tartines.
Ingredients & Substitution Suggestions
- Firm or extra-firm tofu makes a hearty base that offers a complete source of plant-based protein.
- Celery adds crunch. Feel free to swap or add in other crunchy vegetables such as carrot, radish, fennel, or bell pepper.
- Vegan mayonnaise adds richness.
- Fresh herbs add flavor and substance. I used dill, chives, and parsley here, but feel free to use just one or two, or any other soft herbs you have on hand. Marjoram, chervil, and tarragon are all nice too.
- Garlic, mustard, and curry powder deepen the flavor and give the salad a pretty golden hue. You can use a smaller amount of turmeric if you prefer.
- Capers and vinegar add brightness. You can use chopped pickles and pickle brine if you like.
How to Make Curried Tofu Salad
Step 1: Break the tofu into chunks and wring it out in a clean kitchen cloth to remove excess moisture. This helps the tofu absorb flavor and prevents the salad from getting watery.
Step 2: Crumble the tofu into a bowl and add the other ingredients.
Step 3: Stir and mash to combine. Serve right away, or chill for a day or two. Leftovers keep well for to 2 or 3 days.
Vegan "Egg" Salad / Sandwich
Try this tofu "egg" salad:
- as a dip or spread with veggies, crackers, or rice cakes
- as a sandwich between slices of bread with sprouts, grated carrots, sliced cucumbers, lettuce, or other fixings
- on toast for tartines topped with sprouts, radish slivers, olive oil, and herbs
- scooped over greens for a nourishing main-dish salad
Try one of my homemade bread or cracker recipes to pair with tofu "egg" salad:
Gluten-ful & Whole-Grain:
Gluten-Free:
However you serve it up, I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
Tofu Facts
How is Tofu Made?
Tofu is made from soybeans that have been blended with water to make soymilk. A coagulant is then added to bind the curds together, similarly to making cheese. Excess moisture is pressed out leaving behind the protein curd.
If you'd like a fun project, try making my friend Sarah's Oboro Tofu from scratch! It's delicious and so magical to watch the process happen.
Is Tofu Good for You?
Yes! It has folate, potassium, and fiber and it's naturally gluten-free.
Does Tofu have Protein?
Tofu is a good source of plant-based protein. Depending on the brand of tofu, a serving contains about 6-8 grams of protein. Tofu also contains all nine essential amino acids, making it comparable to animal protein.
Is tofu gluten-free?
Tofu is naturally gluten-free! If you are highly sensitive to gluten, check labels to make sure the tofu you're buying has "gluten-free" on the label.
Is tofu vegan?
Plain tofu is naturally vegan. It's made from just a few ingredients: soybeans, water, and vegan-friendly coagulants (the most common of which are derived from salts).
What does tofu taste like?
Tofu has a mild, neutral, clean taste that makes it suitable for soaking up all kinds of delicious flavors from spices, marinades, and sauces.
*Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this vegan "egg" salad recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.*
Vegan "Egg" Salad with Tofu
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 10 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu
- ½ cup finely diced celery
- ⅓ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives or scallion greens
- 2 tablespoons chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or celery leaves
- 1 large garlic clove, put through a press
- 1 ¼ teaspoons curry powder, or 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon capers, drained and chopped, or chopped pickles (or both!)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon fine or kosher salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Break the tofu into large chunks. Place in a clean kitchen towel and twist to squeeze out excess liquid.
- Crumble the dry tofu in a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mash everything together with a fork.
- Taste, adding more salt, spices, herbs, or vinegar if you feel the salad needs it.
- Serve right away or chill for a day or two to allow the flavors to blend.
Lauren Haywards says
Looks so yum and super healthy too. I am going to try this recipe as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing. Also, you have explained the procedure and details very well. I need to check more delicious and healthy recipes from your recipe collection!
Alanna says
Aw thanks for saying so. Please let me know if you try the recipe!
Jeannie says
I have made this 4 times since you posted it. My husband loves it as much as I do. He’s going sailing tomorrow, and guess what I’m packing for his lunch 😊
Thank you for the recipe…I do have Deborah Madison’s book, and had a look, but I prefer your version. The dill, so good.
Soon I will be making another favorite, Maple Pumpkin Pudding Chômeur.
So delicious!
Really enjoy your blog!
Alanna says
Aw thank you for trying my recipe and for the sweet note! I'm so glad you love the recipe, and the chomeur too. That's a favorite here too. Feel free to leave a star rating if you like!
Helen says
This is delish! I added a couple of tablespoons of finely chopped red onion and also dried cranberries. Thanks for giving me a new go-to tofu egg salad.
Alanna Taylor-Tobin says
Yay so glad you liked it! Cranberries must add such a nice sweet-tart flavor. Yum!
Jeannie says
On regular rotation. I have shared the recipe with several friends. People in Scandinavia are making it!
So good 😊
Alanna Taylor-Tobin says
Aw I'm so glad it's a hit. Thank you for sharing my recipe!