Tofu Steak Salad with Easy Vegan Caesar Dressing

A wonderful Easy Vegan Caesar Dressing enhances the taste of this beautiful and healthy salad.  This was inspired by the salad I found in Bloglovin which used beef steak and a lemon yogurt dressing.  I wanted a vegan version so instead of beef steak, I used an equally flavorful Tofu steak prepared easily in a pan with only three ingredients, soy sauce, garlic and black pepper. The resulting tofu is so delicious you would not miss the beef.  Instead of putting everything in my pantry and fridge in the salad, which they did in the one featured in Bloglovin, I observed restraint and stuck to cucumber, tomatoes, avocado and croutons.  

The dressing uses no cheese and anchovies and yet it can compete with the very best Caesar dressing.  The secret is the Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard added plus the lemon and garlic to give the saltiness and tang one obtains from the traditional Parmesan cheese and anchovies.  This is irresistible.  .  

Tofu Steak Salad with Easy Vegan Caesar Dressing

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Tofu Steak

• 1 block firm tofu (previously pressed off its liquid and cut into 2 inch x 1/4 inch strips)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp black pepper

The Easy Vegan Caesar Dressing

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 tbsp vegan mayo, low fat
• 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

Salad

• 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce or the greens of your choice
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and cubed
• 1 avocado, pitted and diced
• 1/2 cup bread croutons

1.  To prepare the Tofu Steak:  Mix the soy sauce, garlic powder and black pepper in the saute pan.  Place the tofu strips in the mixture. Allow the liquid to gradually evaporate using medium heat while stirring the tofu until the strips are browned but not burnt. You can adjust the seasoning by adding more garlic powder or soy sauce if you like.

2.  To prepare the dressing: Mix all the ingredients in a small food processor or blender and blend till mixture is homogeneous.

3.  To assemble the salad:  Place a bed of greens on the bottom of a large shallow bowl.  Place the Tofu steak in the middle of the greens.  Arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and bread croutons around the tofu steak. Serve the salad with the dressing on the side.