Pad Thai

  Ingredients

     Sauce

• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• ¼ cup water
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium tamari
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon tamarind paste
• 1 teaspoon sriracha
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

     Noodles and Vegetables

• 6 ounces extra-firm tofu
• 6-8 ounces brown rice noodles
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and julienned
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• ½ red onion, sliced
• 3 cups chopped broccoli florets
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• 1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
• 4-6 green onions, chopped
• 3 to 5 garlic cloves, minced

     Toppings

• ½ cup chopped peanuts
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)

‍ Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes and arrange them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tofu thoroughly with the sauce (reserve the remaining sauce for the vegetables).  Bake until golden, 15-20 minutes. 
4. While the tofu is baking, cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the carrot, bell pepper, red onion, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, sprouts, green onions, and garlic in a small amount of water until the broccoli is bright and tender, about 5to 8 minutes. Add the reserved sauce and continue cooking until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
6. In a large serving bow, toss the pasta, tofu, and vegetables together. Garnish with the peanuts and cilantro and serve with the lime wedges, if desired. 

✏️ Tips & Hints

• Don’t hesitate to try different veggies in this dish.  I like the variety and color of the ones I use here, but you can choose your own favorites. 
• Tamarind paste (a sticky sour fruit paste) can be found in the Asian section of most large supermarkets; Whole Foods Market carries this product as well.  But if you can’t find it, you can substitute 1 pitted date.