Brown rice-tofu salad satisfies

(Brown rice and tofu in this salad make a perfect protein meal)

Brown rice makes a wonderful base for a salad spiked with fresh broccoli, snow peas, grilled tofu and crunchy toasted almonds.
For me, this is a meal in a bowl, and I often make variations on this theme to provide lunches for a hectic work week.
In the dead of winter, with temperatures in the single digits here in the Northeast, this salad provides a taste of garden goodness. The brown rice and tofu combine to make it a perfect protein meal.
Cook up the brown rice in advance and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to toss it together.
Top the salad with some spicy hot pepper sesame oil to give it a kick.

(Fresh snow peas were begging to be bought at the market in winter)

Brown Rice Salad with Grilled Tofu, Broccoli and Snow Peas

1. 1 cup long grain brown rice
2. 1 pound extra firm tofu
3. Fresh broccoli, cut into florets
4. Fresh snow peas
5. Almonds
6. Tamari
7. Toasted sesame oil
8. Olive oil
9. Lemon juice
10. Rice vinegar
11. Salt, pepper
    

• Rinse the brown rice and cook in two cups of water until fluffy; this takes about 45 minutes.
• While the rice is cooking, squeeze as much of the water out of the tofu as you can. Slice it into rectangles and arrange on a plate. Drizzle some Tamari and sesame oil on each side of the rectangles and let them sit on the plate for a while to absorb all that goodness (about 20 minutes).
• Grill the rectangles on a hot, nonstick skillet until both sides are nicely browned. Set aside to cool; then cut into cubes.
• Steam the broccoli florets until crisp-tender, and then shock them in ice water to keep them nice and green and crisp. Do the same to the snow peas; julienne them if you like.
• Toast about 1/2 cup of whole almonds in the oven until browned. Let cool, then give them a good chop.
• Combine all ingredients into a big bowl.
• Drizzle with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, rice vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss well.
• Drizzle hot pepper sesame oil on top before serving.

You'll feel better about winter after eating a nice big bowl of this crunchy salad!