This pasta salad has a creamy, tangy sauce with crunchy vegetables and a perfect protein punch thanks to delicious marinated tofu. This one will surely enter into your regular rotation as it is a perfect side dish or a meal!
Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1/2 cup cucumber, grated about 1/2 cucumber
- 1 cup vegan yogurt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon zested and juiced about 2 tbs of lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced or pressed
- 2 tbs fresh dill, finely minced or 1tbs dried
- 2 tsp salt
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta of choice (I used penne) 200g
- 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup black olives
- 1 cup cucumber, cut in half moons
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
Marinated Tofu
- 14 oz tofu
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbs lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbs water
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Be sure to thoroughly salt the water. Drain and drizzle with olive oil and mix to ensure that it doesn´t stick together.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the tzatziki sauce. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together all of the ingredients of the tofu marinade.
- Press the tofu to squeeze as much water out as possible by wrapping it with a clean kitchen towel and squeezing it with your hands. Then cut the tofu into 3/4 inch cubes.
- In a flat bottomed container, add about 1/4 of the marinade, then add the tofu and pour the rest of the marinade on top. Close the container and allow it to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- In a large bowl, add the pasta, tzatziki suace, and the rest of the pasta salad ingredients. Mix well.
- Cook the marinated tofu: In a large flat-bottomed pan, heat 2 tbs of olive oil on medium-high heat and then add the tofu. Allow to cook on each side for a few minutes until nice and browned. Add the tofu marinade and toss to combine and allow to absorb into the crispy tofu.
