Teriyaki-Glazed Tofu and Veggie Bowl

Name: Teriyaki-Glazed Tofu and Veggie Bowl
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4-6
Cuisine: American

The Taylor Farms Teriyaki Sauté Kit provides a simple way to quickly whip up a dish packed with broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, carrots, red cabbage, peas, and chewy Yakisoba noodles tossed in a rich teriyaki sauce. Meanwhile, this recipe offers you a way to add seared tofu with a teriyaki glaze and rice to the dish, along with a bit of green onion and sesame seeds for even more flavor and texture. Put it all together, and you’ve just created these show-stopping Teriyaki Glazed Tofu and Veggie Bowls loaded with protein, perfect for a quick weeknight meal — or really any time you’re craving a tasty, Asian-inspired dish ready in under half an hour. Wasn’t that easy?

Total TIME

20 minutes

SERVINGS

4-6

Ingredients

1 Taylor Farms Teriyaki Sauté Kit
1 block of firm tofu, drained and pressed
Cooked rice (enough for 2 servings)
2 Tablespoons of sesame seeds
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil

Teriyaki sauce ingredients for tofu (optional):

1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons mirin
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (for thickening)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Cut the tofu into cubes or slices, whichever you prefer.
In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, grated ginger, and minced garlic to make the teriyaki sauce for tofu.
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu to the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
Pour the teriyaki sauce over the tofu and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove the tofu from heat and set aside.
Follow the instructions on the Taylor Farms Teriyaki Sauté Kit for sautéing the vegetables. Once the vegetables are cooked, add the provided teriyaki sauce from the kit and stir well to coat the vegetables evenly.
Place a serving of cooked rice on each plate. Arrange the teriyaki-glazed tofu on top of the rice. Spoon the teriyaki-glazed vegetables over the tofu.
Sprinkle sesame seeds generously over the dish. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

Note: If preferred, you can skip the homemade teriyaki sauce and add the tofu to the pan with the vegetables before adding the sauce from the Teriyaki Sauté Kit.

Mirin: Beyond the Teriyaki

The teriyaki sauce you just made in this recipe uses mirin, a Japanese rice wine that adds a unique sweetness and depth of flavor to dishes. Mirin is made from fermented glutinous rice, along with koji mold and sometimes distilled alcohol. It has a lower alcohol content compared to sake and has more of a mild sweetness and slightly tangy flavor profile.

In Japanese cuisine, mirin is a staple ingredient in various savory and sweet dishes. Its primary role is to enhance the umami taste of foods while providing just a bit of sweetness at the end. Here are just a few of the most common ways to use mirin (outside of teriyaki sauce):

Sushi Rice: Mirin is often added to sushi rice seasoning, along with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. It gives the rice a delicate sweetness and glossy sheen, which is essential for making authentic sushi rolls and nigiri.
Stir-Fries and Sauces: Mirin can be used to add depth of flavor to stir-fries and sauces, such as yakitori sauce or sukiyaki broth. Its sweetness perfectly balances out the saltiness of soy sauce and complements the savory ingredients in the dish.
Marinades and Glazes: Using mirin in marinades and glazes enhances the flavor of meats, seafood, and vegetables. You can also combine it with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings to create amazing marinades for grilling or broiling.
Dressings and Dipping Sauces: Try adding mirin to salad dressings, dipping sauces, and marinades for a touch of sweetness and complexity. It pairs quite well with citrus, sesame oil, and chili peppers!