Almond Soba Noodles Recipe (with Tofu and red curry paste)

Serves 6-8 as a side, less as a main.
You might want to add a touch more curry paste if you like your noodles on the spicy side. On the other hand, if your curry paste is on the spicy side, you might want to go for a bit less - it is to taste really. As I was eating this I couldn't help but think that some blanched broccoli would be a nice addition or substitution for the pea spouts.

2 teaspoons red curry paste
1/3 cup unsalted almond butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
very scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
6 - 8 tablespoons hot water
12 ounces dried soba noodles
12 ounces extra-firm nigari tofu
4 ounces pea shoots (or other greens, or tiny pieces of broccoli)
12 leaves fresh basil, slivered
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Make the almond sauce by mashing the curry paste into the almond butter. Stir in the lemon juice and salt. And then whisk in the hot water one tablespoon at a time until you have a pourable dressing that is about as thick as a heavy cream. The dressing thickens as it cools, so feel free to thin it out with more water later on if needed. Taste, and add more salt or more curry paste if you like.

Cook the soba in plenty of rapidly boiling salted water just until tender, then drain and rinse under cold running water. Drain and shake off as much water as possible.

While the pasta is cooking, drain the tofu, pat it dry, and cut it into matchsticks or 1/2-inch cubes. Cook the tofu, along with a pinch or two of salt, in a well-seasoned skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes, until the pieces are browned on one side. Add a tiny splash of oil if needed to prevent sticking. Toss gently once or twice, then continue cooking for another minute or so, until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy. About 15 seconds before the tofu has finished cooking, add the pea shoots to the hot pan.

In a large bowl combine the noodles with 2/3 of the almond sauce. Toss well, be sure all the noodles get coated. Arrange the tofu and pea shoots on top of the noodles, drizzle with the remaining sauce, and garnish with the slivered basil and toasted almonds.

Zucchini Noodles, Veggies & Spicy Almond Butter Sauce

Almond Butter Sauce ingredients:
• 1 cup almond butter
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• ¼ cup tamari
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 teaspoons fresh, grated ginger
Noodle Ingredients:
• 4 medium zucchini, peeled and cut in half
Veggies:
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1 red bell pepper, julienned
• 1 cup snow peas, halved lengthwise
Garnish:
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, minced

Place all the ingredients for the Almond Butter Sauce in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator, Almond Butter Sauce will keep for five days.
Transform the zucchini into noodles using a vegetable peeler or spiral slicer. Toss the zucchini noodles and veggies with enough Almond Butter Sauce to coat well. Garnish with minced cilantro and serve immediately

Tofu and Quinoa with Almond Butter Sauce

Serves 4.

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 450g package of firm tofu, cubed
2 zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3/4 cup of peas (fresh or frozen)

sauce
2 tbsp almond butter
3 tbsp tamari sauce
2 tbsp water
2 tsp hot chili sauce (less if you don't like spicy--I like spicy! Or more if you like very spicy)
1/2 tbsp rice vinegar

Method
Rinse quinoa, and put in a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 min until cooked. Fluff with a fork when ready to serve.

Meanwhile, heat your cast-iron pan or wok at medium-high heat and add your tofu. Sear on each side, then add your diced veggies and let them cook for about 5-10 minutes.

While the veggies are cooking, add all of the sauce ingredients into a blender and whir. (Or, use a jar and just whisk them together really well.) Add the sauce to the veggies and tofu and cook for another minute or so.

Serve sauce mixture over the quinoa.