Vegan Rice Bowl with Maple Tofu and Smoked Tomato Sauce
Bowls of grains topped with vegetables, protein and some sort of dressing are not only healthy but can be flavoursome and deeply comforting. This vegan rice bowl with its smoked tomato sauce is particularly good. It’s especially so when topped with tofu marinaded in a pure maple syrup dressing then fried in coconut oil.
The Delights of Bowl Food
I was lucky enough to win a copy of At Home in the Wholefood Kitchen by Amy Chaplin a couple of months ago. At about the same time I also borrowed a copy of Anna Jones’s A Modern Way to Cook from the library.
These two books have completely won me over to the delights of bowl food. Luckily my request to Santa for the latter book was rewarded at Christmas, so I can now be inspired by all the other nutritious but tasty recipes it contains.
I’ve already posted this quinoa bowl with broccoli and pumpkin three ways that I made last month; I’ve made several similar ones since. Nutritious and tasty is my kind of food, as long as it’s not too complicated or fussy. This vegan rice bowl is quite simple, but it does make rather more washing up than a one or two pot dish. It’s worth it though.
Vegan Rice Bowl
With a vegan rice bowl in mind I made sure I had some suitable ingredients for this month’s Suma recipe. I always look forward to my Suma order and this month I had a lovely Christmas surprise, with a sweetly scented bar of orange and cinnamon soap, some coconut shampoo and a Suma bag.
For my rice bowl, I’d ordered some short grain brown rice, smoked paprika, tamari, black sesame seeds, nori seaweed flakes and flax seed oil. In the end, I didn’t use the black sesame seeds in this recipe, but I made good use of them in another one.
The idea with my vegan rice bowl is to cook the rice, a green vegetable and a colourful one and then dress them with a tasty raw sauce and serve along with some kind of protein. I had some broccoli waiting to be used up and also some of the braised red cabbage I made before Christmas. This kept really well and tasted just as good on day seven as it did on day one.
The smoked paprika was a revelation and transformed a good tomato sauce into an extraordinary one. It also helped make the marinaded and fried tofu pieces into an utter delight. I made the tomato sauce in a Froothie Power Blender.
Other Vegan Rice Bowl Recipes You Might Like
- Aubergine rice bowl
- Black bean tomato carrot curry bowl with brown basmati rice
- Sushi bowl
- Teriyaki rice bowl with tofu and brussels sprouts
I have plenty more Tin and Thyme recipes which feature tofu as a main ingredient. And for even more ideas, head over to my tofu Pinterest board.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this vegan rice bowl with smoked tomato sauce, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more vegan recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Vegan Rice Bowl. PIN IT.
Smoked Maple Tofu Rice Bowl – The Recipe
Smoked Maple Tofu Rice Bowl with Smoked Tomato Sauce
Equipment
- power blender
Ingredients
Smoked Tomato Sauce
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 1 tsp tamari (affiliate link)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp flaxseed oil (or use a good quality cold pressed olive oil)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Smoked Maple Tofu Rice Bowl
- 180 g short grain brown rice (6oz)
- 280 g firm tofu (I used organic)
- 2 tsp maple syrup*
- 1 tsp tamari (affiliate link)
- ½ tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 3 tsp coconut oil
- 3 servings cooked green vegetable of choice (I used steamed broccoli florets)
- 3 servings cooked colourful vegetable of choice (I used braised red cabbage)
- 2 tsp nori seaweed flakes
Instructions
Smoked Tomato Sauce
- Whizz all ingredients briefly in a food processor or blender, but not for too long if you want to keep some texture. I used my blender and initially pulsed the tomato and garlic to chop it up, then added the remaining ingredients and pulsed for 5 seconds.
Smoked Maple Tofu Rice Bowl
- Rinse the rice well, cover in twice its volume of water and bring to the boil in a covered pan. Turn the heat down and simmer gently for 20 minutes, turn off the heat and allow to steam for a further 10 minutes.
- Whilst the rice is cooking, place the tamari, rice wine vinegar, maple syrup and smoked paprika into a large flatish bowl and mix.
- Cut the tofu into 24 largish rectangular chunks and place in the bowl, turning to cover them all.
- Leave to marinade for at least 5 minutes, but the longer the better.
- Heat the coconut oil in a non-stick frying pan until hot, then add the tofu pieces and fry over moderate heat for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Divide the rice between 3 bowls and top with the tomato sauce, which can be stirred in at this stage if liked. Top with the warm vegetables and tofu pieces. Scatter the nori flakes over the top and tuck in.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
This vegan rice bowl is my second recipe for the Suma Bloggers Network.
It also goes to Jac over at Tinned Tomatoes for Meat Free Mondays
The post contains affiliate links. Buying through a link to a Froothie blender will not cost you any more, but I will get a small commission. This helps to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging. Opinions are, as always, my own.
love the maple tofu!! so good!
When it comes to tofu, maple tofu is still my favourite.
This is a wonderful vegan dish and can be meal prepped for lunches very easily. The maple syrup marinade is a great way to flavor the tofu.
Thank you for your feedback Joshua. That marinade is a firm favourite with us.
This looks lovely – I’ve missed tofu a lot while feeding Harry and bowl food is my favourite. Definitely one to try. And soon.
Ah, is soya a no-no when breast feeding Penelope? I didn’t know that.
That tofu looks incredible, I’m going to make that for sure!
It really is good Poppy – my new favourite way of cooking tofu 🙂
Tofu is so tasty if cooked right, it can have a really delicious texture and taste. I always try to press out as much as the water before cooking it. I also find freezing it, and then defrosting it seems to benefit the texture too. Maple syrup is a massive treat in our house, will have to try this 🙂
Thanks Amy. Pressing out the water seems to depend on the type of tofu used – some seem to be much more watery than others.
I love bowl food, a well put together bowl is so comforting. This looks so lovely.
Thanks Helen. I eat lots of bowl food, but doing it this way is still a bit of a novelty.
I’m quite a big fan of bowl food. It is somehow deeply comforting, no matter what healthy ingredients you use. I think the idea of piling things up and picking through them as we eat is very appealing. As is this very tasty looking bowl. That smoked tomato sauce – swoon!
I couldn’t agree more Kellie. Apparently bowl food is going to be THE thing this year. The tomato sauce was delicious – it all was 🙂
That looks amazingly good Choclette. I would liove to dip into it right now! Thanks for submitting it to Meat Free Mondays.
Thanks Jac. I’m really into bowl food at the moment, though to be fair I think I probably have been for a long time 😉
I love the idea of this – lots of goodness and so much flavour in a bowl. I’m not a fan of tofu, so would maybe add some legumes or fish/meat on top (sorry I know you’re veggie!).
Do you not like tempeh either Ceri? That would have been my preference, but I can’t get it where we live and sadly CT no longer makes it.
Great recipe, I need to try harder with tofu. I like the idea of maple flavouring.
Thanks Janice. Tofu is never my first choice, but it was rather delicious in this recipe, even CT was keen.
Now that looks interesting and very vibrant! A very nice New Year bowl of goodness! Karen
Thanks Karen. It made a nice change from our normal soups, stews and stir-fries.
Oh gawd, yes please! Haven’t even read the recipe through yet but got all excited at the name and gorgeous pictures! Can I invite myself round to lunch anytime soon…? 😀
Janie x
Please do Janie. As an added bonus, it’s dairy free 😉
Smoked maple tofu – this I have to try!
Not being a huge fan of tofu, I can definitely recommend this Jan 🙂
This bowl of goodness looks so colourful and really hearty. I love the sound of the smoked tomato sauce.
Thanks Nayna, the sauce was delicious and really made the dish.
I’m loving the sound of this, especially the quick and easy from-scratch tomato sauce!
Tomato sauce with smoked paprika is my new favourite thing – sometimes I really love being a food blogger 🙂
This is a beautiful bowl of goodness! I love meals like this. That tomato sauce sounds divine!
Thanks Sus. The tomato sauce was rather good and will be repeated 🙂
I seem to have a bit of a love hate relationship with tofu, some dishes I have loved it but others I found so underwhelming it was like eating a damp dish sponge! Your tofu looks very tempting though – and I like the idea of maple syrup to flavour it. The whole dish looks very appealing, healthy and lots of bright colours to liven up winter!
P.s. I bought black sesame seeds on a whim the other day – really liked them on our weekend dinner sprinkled over!
Yes, I’m with you on the tofu, it can be quite horrid. I’m glad to say that this was quite delicious though. Ha, co-oncidence, I’ve used the black sesame seeds on a few things now, I really like them.
This look so appealing and healthy. I’m not usually a big fan of tofu, but you make it look irrestistible!
Thanks Kacie. I’m not the biggest fan of tofu either, but this was really good.
Yum! This looks so delicious and so healthy. I love this style of cooking/eating. The marinade for the tofu sounds especially nice. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Eb. I don’t often cook with tofu, but when it’s done like this I wonder why I don’t use it more often.
This looks so good Choclette! I’m never quite convinced to try these beautifully arranged bowls… they look amazing but I tend to go for one pot meals whenever I can due to general kitchen laziness 🙂 However that tofu sounds just amazing.
Yes, we mostly cook one pot meals too Rachel, but this makes a nice change and apart from the washing up, is quite quick and simple.
Excellent, something healthy I can make for Veganuary – I’ve been making pizza and jacket potatoes and have been looking for something a bit lighter – here it is, thanks!
Glad to have helped Cathy, though I must say a jacket potato sounds mighty tempting 🙂
that just looks stunning! I love the crispy tofu and the use of maple syrup… i’d never thought of that and I bet The Viking would love this. Beautiful x
Thanks Dom. Tofu is never at the top of my thoughts when cooking, but it was really good done this way and hopefully the Viking would approve too 😉
Oh my, this looks delicious! I am a huge fan of bowl dinners, in front of the telly on a Friday night and this looks perfect! I’m forwarding your recipe to my vegan boy because this is right up his street too 🙂
Bowl food is my latest fun thing to make – and eat! And yes, great for your son too.
That Tofu looks particularly good……. I haven’t used tory for ages, but this recipe really makes me want to go out and get some…….. The tomato sauce sounds really flavoursome too….. In fact, can I eat the whole bowl please?!
But of course you can Kate, I’d be delighted 🙂 Tofu is rarely in my thoughts when cooking, but this was particularly tasty and I shall be making it again for sure.
I loved Anna’s book, too! I haven’t seen her newest one yet, though. Love your version of the vegan bowl. It is basically what we eat most of the time, too.
Thanks Janet. I’ve not see Anna’s first book, but I really should check it out as I’ve heard so many speak highly of it.
sounds delicious – i spent some time in a bookshop browsing that anna jones book and really wanted to buy it but was trying to be good about keeping my book purchases down – but now you make me wish for it – and love the sound of this bowl – I am very fond of anything with smoked paprika in it
I made a rule not to buy any more cookbooks Johanna, but I sneaked this one in by getting someone to buy it for me 😉 Weirdly, smoked paprika is a new ingredient for me and I love it.
I’m going to have to try this! I’ve yum’d it for later x
Go for it Sisley – simple delicious nutritious food, it’s hard to beat.
Ooh the tomato sauce sounds amazing. I love dinner bowls like this – so tasty, and really easy to make healthy!
Yes Becca, tasty, filling, comforting and healthy – hooray for dinner bowls.
This looks delicious Choclette! This kind of food makes me really happy 🙂 full of goodness and yummy flavours!
Thanks Nadia, I know just what you mean – happy food 🙂
All of it looks delicious but I absolutely love the sound and look of that smoked maple tofu!
Thanks Kavey. Tofu is not my favourite kind of vegan protein, I prefer tempeh, but I have to say doing it this way made it quite delicious.