High Protein Vegan Pasta Salad

High Protein Vegan Pasta Salad
Servings: 6–8
Total Time: 35 minutes active (+2 hours marinating, optional for best flavor)

Ingredients
Tofu “Feta” Marinade
1 block firm tofu (sliced into 4 vertical slabs)
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp miso paste (or 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp oregano or Italian seasoning
¼ cup salted water

Pasta Salad
12–16 oz pasta of choice (whole grain or protein pasta works best)
1 cucumber, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 container baby tomatoes, halved
¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
1–1 ½ cans olives, sliced (optional)

Oil-Free Dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup water
1 tbsp maple syrup
½ tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 avocado
Salt, to taste

Optional toppings: black pepper, nutritional yeast, extra Italian seasoning

Instructions
1.Prepare the tofu “feta.”Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add tofu slabs and boil for 5 minutes. Drain.
2.In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, miso (or bouillon), soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano/Italian seasoning, and salted water.
3.Crumble tofu into a jar or container. Pour marinade over tofu. Let sit at least 2 hours or overnight. (For quicker use, microwave for 2–3 minutes to help it absorb flavors.)

1.Cook pasta. While tofu marinates, keep the water boiling and cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse.
2. Chop veggies. Dice cucumber, bell peppers, and onion. Slice olives (if needed).

1.Make the dressing. In a blender, combine lemon juice, red wine vinegar, water, maple syrup, garlic powder,  avocado, and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Save the Italian seasoning until after everything is blended. 

Assemble salad.
1.In a large bowl, combine pasta, potatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, onion, and olives.
2.Pour dressing over salad and toss well. Season with black pepper, nutritional yeast, and extra Italian seasoning as desired.
3.Add tofu “feta.” Crumble marinated tofu over the top before serving.