Low Carb Vegan Air Fried Tofu Salad With Creamy Tahini Dressing

Everyone loves a good salad! Salad is also a staple for the Vegan Keto dieter as it is a blank canvas for protein and a variety of vegetables. This low carb salad made up of delicious, nutritious dark green Lacinato kale, fresh, crisp English cucumbers, and sweet cherry tomatoes. However, what makes this salad a superstar (and Paleo!) is the ultra-crispy, slightly spicy, air fried tofu that studs the bed of kale. Then the final mixture is drizzle with the most luscious creamy, tahini, garlic-lemon dressing that makes this the ultimate salad. This will be a go-to Keto vegan recipe for you as it can be easily adjusted to include other toppings instead. Also, it would make an easy Keto lunch or Keto dinner.

What is tahini?

Tahini is a nut butter made with roasted sesame seeds. It has a very nutty, slightly bitter taste that is very addictive and makes for a very creamy salad dressing. Feel free to take this dressing recipe and use it on other methods like a dip for chicken or toss these air fried tofu into:

https://www.carbmanager.com/recipe/low-carb-spicy-glazed-crispy-air-fryer-tofu. Be sure to grate the garlic for the dressing as it disperses it the best.

What other toppings can I use?

Bell peppers, zucchini noodles, various nuts, coconut flakes, celery, thinly sliced red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower are just some of the few toppings you can add to the base of kale and crispy tofu. Feel free to change up the kale to mixed greens, baby arugula, or spinach. The options are endless! Don’t forget other fun add-ons like artichokes or Kalamata olives.

What do I do if the tahini dressing thickens before I add the water?

Have no fear! Tahini tends to do this after lemon juice is added to it. Once you add the water and give it a good whisk, the tahini will blend into a smooth dressing. If you find the dressing is a bit too thick to drizzle on a salad, add ½ tbsp of water at a time to loosen it.

Can I prep this salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep the salad ahead of time. If you like your kale leaves softer, feel free to dress the salad with the dressing and allow it to sit in the fridge overnight or for couple hours ahead. If you like your greens crunchy, dress the salad right before serving, but the rest of the mixture can be assembled ready to go.

Serving suggestions

Pair this salad with delicious creamy avocado ice cream to end the meal with a little sweetness.

https://www.carbmanager.com/recipe/Keto-vegan-avocado-ice-cream

Net Carbs

9.1 g
Fiber

4.7 g
Total Carbs

13.9 g
Protein

15.8 g
Fats

21 g

297 cals

Quantity

Serving Size

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Vitasoy Usa Organic Nasoya Extra Firm Tofu

1 pound
Avocado Oil

2 tablespoon
Coarse Kosher Salt by Morton

¾ tsp
Sambal Oelek Paste Of Chili by Rooster

2 teaspoon
Vegetables Leafy Greens Organic Lacinato Kale by Freshdirect

4 ounce
Cucumber

½ medium
Cherry Tomato

16 cherry
Chives

2 tablespoon
Spearmint, Fresh

1 tablespoon
Cilantro

2 tablespoon
Tahini

¼ cup
Coarse Kosher Salt by Morton

¾ tsp
Lemon Juice

2 tablespoon
Water

3 tablespoon
Garlic

1 clove

Step 1

Slice the extra-firm tofu into even slices and then cut them the other direction to make small cubes. The cubes should be about 1” x 1”. Place the cubed tofu into a medium-sized mixing bowl and toss the tofu with the avocado oil, ¾ tsp kosher salt (you want them to be kinda salty which makes them so delicious!) and the sambal paste. Please omit the sambal paste if you do not like spice. Toss it all together well using a spoon.
Step 2

In the bottom of an air fryer, add the air frying tray and then dump the coated tofu cubes into the basket. Set the air fryer to 400 F and cook the tofu for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes have elapsed, take the basket out, and give it a good shake. Place the basket back into the air fryer and give it another 10 minutes at 400 F. At this point, the tofu should be nice and crispy. If you do not have an air fryer, you can do this same thing in a conventional oven, it will just take longer in time at 400 F with several more stirs needed.
Step 3

While the tofu is cooking, wash the kale and remove any fibrous stems. Any tender stems can stay in the kale. Then slice the kale very thin and place it in a large salad bowl. Chop the chives into 2” pieces and tuck inside the sliced kale. Also, chop the cilantro and tuck it in. Top with cucumber that has been sliced into thin circles, about ⅛” thickness. Also, top with cherry tomatoes cut in half. Tuck a few pieces of fresh mint into the salad as well.
Step 4

At this point, the air fried tofu should be done and crispy. Place it on top of the salad right down the middle. The tofu will gently fall where it will want to go if you place it in the center.
Step 5

In a small mixing bowl, combine the tahini, ¼ tsp kosher salt, lemon juice, water, and 1 grated clove of garlic. The consistency should coat the back of the spoon. If you run your finger through the coating on the spoon the line should not run back together or run together slowly. This will be the right consistency of dressing for a salad.
Step 6

Drizzle the finished salad with the tahini dressing and serve immediately! Take a look at the introduction to this recipe if you are looking to prep this salad ahead of time.