Description
This Buffalo Tofu Salad with Creamy Hemp Ranch is a healthy, protein-packed, and flavor-loaded vegan salad featuring crispy baked buffalo tofu, crunchy fresh vegetables, and a dairy-free hemp-based ranch dressing. Perfect for a nutritious lunch, light dinner, or meal prep, this gluten-free and plant-based recipe balances bold spicy flavors with cooling creaminess for a refreshing and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
1 block tofu, pressed
3 tbsp buffalo hot sauce, divided
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or tapioca flour
½ cup hemp hearts
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt (or to taste)
Black pepper, to taste
Juice of ½ lemon
½ cup filtered water
½ tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 large head romaine lettuce
3 ribs celery, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 ½ cup frozen corn, thawed (or fresh)
1 carrot, grated
Prepared buffalo tofu
Prepared hemp ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Cut pressed tofu into bite-sized cubes.
- Toss tofu with nutritional yeast and cornstarch until evenly coated. Drizzle with 2 tbsp buffalo sauce and stir.
- Spread tofu on a greased or lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While tofu bakes, make the ranch: blend hemp hearts, onion powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and water until smooth. Stir in dill and parsley. Set aside.
- Flip tofu after 15 minutes, then bake for another 15 minutes until golden and crisp. Toss with the remaining 1 tbsp buffalo sauce.
- Char corn in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and fragrant.
- Assemble the salad with romaine, celery, cucumber, carrot, and corn. Top with buffalo tofu and drizzle with hemp ranch.
Notes
- Air fry tofu at 400°F for 12–15 minutes as an alternative to baking.
- Swap buffalo sauce for BBQ sauce for a milder version.
- Add avocado, chickpeas, or black beans for extra creaminess and protein.
- Store tofu and ranch separately; salad base is best assembled fresh.
- Ensure buffalo sauce is certified gluten-free if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
