Asian Tofu Salad w/ peanut dressing

Asian Tofu Salad w/ peanut dressing
#GlutenFree, #Vegetarian

I first had a variation of this salad at a friends house, using chicken, slightly different salad toppings and a store bought dressing.  Although it was very good, I thought to myself this could definitely be done as a vegetarian dish, with all whole foods and an easy homemade dressing. If you are someone that wonders "what do I do with tofu?", this is a great dish to use that ever illusive ingredient!
It is one of my favorite salads to make and something that can be thrown together easily on a week night.  I will admit that my kids won't eat the spinach (without a lot of gagging) so I typically give them the tofu, rice noodles and mandarin oranges and they will eat it all up.  I also have served it with pot stickers.  I found frozen all organic vegetarian ones that are quick to make a go really well with this salad.    

Ingredients:

Salad

• 1 block Extra Firm Tofu, drained and cut into small blocks
• 2 Tbs gluten free soy sauce
• 1 can mandarin oranges (packed in juice, not light syrup)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 -1/2 package rice noodles
• 5oz package of organic spinach

Dressing
Wisk together the following:

• Gluten Free Soy Sauce
• Sesame oil
• Olive oil 
• Peanut butter
• Rice wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Soak rice noodles in water for 10-15 minutes
2. While noodles are soaking, heat 1 Tbs Olive Oil in pan.  Add tofu and cook on each side for 4-5 mins until brown.  
3. Add rice noodles and soy sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes
4. Place spinach in bowl and add almonds, mandarin oranges, rice noodles and tofu.  
5. Toss with peanut dressing

Why it is good for you:

• Spinach: Contains 23 vitamins and minerals.  Is one of the highest foods in vitamin K (blood clotting, bone health) and vitamin A (anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory) .  However raw spinach contains a compound call oxalic acid, which blocks the absorption of calcium and iron.  One way to solve this problem is to pair it with foods high in vitamin C.
• Mandarin Oranges- High in Vitamin C
• Tofu- High in calcium and a great source of vegetarian protein.  
• Almonds- Vitamin E (anti-oxidant), fiber, magnesium, and potassium.