Tofu and Kale Salad With Avocado, Grapefruit, and Miso-Tahini Dressing Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Jan. 03, 2023
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Crispy tofu, avocado, and grapefruit form the backbone of this salad. J. Kenji López-Alt

Why It Works

  • Slow-cooking the tofu gets it extra crisp.
  • The combination of crispy tofu, creamy avocado, and fresh grapefruit gives this salad great texture and flavor contrast.

I've been making versions of this salad with crispy tofu, avocado, and grapefruit, flavored with za'atar and topped with a miso and tahini dressing, on and off for the last couple of months, each time tweaking the ingredients a bit, substituting different greens, altering the ratio of dressing components, et cetera. I've come to the conclusion that the base is great no matter what you do with it. Add some chopped raw kale and chickpeas? Delicious. Add a splash of fish sauce (for a non-vegan version) and some toasted pita bread croutons? Fantastic. Toasted pine nuts and roasted beets? It works.

March 2016

This recipe was cross-tested in 2022 and lightly updated to guarantee best results. For crisper, golden brown tofu, we increased the cooking time by 5 minutes.

Recipe Facts

4.7

(3)

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Active: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • 1 (14 ounce; 396g) block firm tofu, cut into 1- by 2- by 1/2-inch squares

  • 5 tablespoons (75ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 3/4 ounce (3 tablespoons; 22g) za'atar, divided

  • 1 large grapefruit (357g; 12.5 ounces), cut into segments, juice reserved separately

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) tahini

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) white or yellow miso paste

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) juice from 1 lemon

  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) honey or agave nectar

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 large avocado, cut into 1/2-inch chunks (about 1/2 cup)

  • 5 ounces (about 5 cups; 142g) greens, such as baby kale, spinach, or arugula, see note

Directions

  1. Place tofu in a large colander and set in the sink. Pour 1 quart boiling water over tofu and let rest for 1 minute. Transfer to a paper towel–lined tray and press dry. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add tofu and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp on all surfaces, about 15 minutes total. Sprinkle with half of za'atar and toss to coat. Transfer tofu to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Scrape remaining contents of pan into a medium bowl and set aside to cool slightly.

  2. Add 2 tablespoons reserved grapefruit juice, tahini, miso paste, lemon juice, and honey or agave nectar to bowl with reserved oil from cooking. Add 1 more tablespoon olive oil. Whisk until smooth, adding more grapefruit juice or water as necessary to achieve a smooth, pourable consistency about the texture of heavy paint. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  3. Add tofu to a large bowl. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil and remaining za'atar, season with salt, and gently fold together.

  4. Add greens and half of dressing and gently fold to combine. Add grapefruit segments and avocado and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately, drizzling remaining dressing on top.

Notes

Feel free to mix up the base of the salad if you're bored of salad greens. Roasted vegetables, like beets or cauliflower, work great, as does kale or heartier winter lettuces.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
446 Calories
33g Fat
30g Carbs
14g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 446
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 43%
Saturated Fat 5g 24%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 634mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 7g 26%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 63mg 313%
Calcium 377mg 29%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 695mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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