I first made this sandwich over the summer when Nikhil was heading off to camp, and it has since earned a permanent spot in my lunchbox rotation. Nikhil loved it so much that it immediately became one of my reliable go-to recipes. There’s honestly nothing more satisfying than opening a lunchbox that’s come back completely empty, followed by the question, “Can I take that again tomorrow?”

This recipe came to me through a trail of food blogs. Both Nupur from One Hot Stove and Spicy Chili mentioned it, which eventually led me to Tasty Palettes, where I found the original version. I followed that recipe almost exactly, and the results were excellent.

I also ended up experimenting a little. In one variation, I cooked the tofu mixture lightly with extra onions and tomatoes, skipped the dressing, and turned it into tofu bhurji (scrambled tofu). Nikhil loved that version too, especially when served with chapathis. So, in the end, this one idea gave me two solid lunchbox and meal options.

Ingredients

  • Firm tofu – 1 lb
    (I used the Nasoya brand)
  • Red bell pepper – 1/4 cup, finely diced
  • Celery – 1/4 cup, finely diced (optional)
  • Carrot – 1/4 cup, finely diced
  • Red onion – 2 tbsp, minced
  • Scallions – 2, finely chopped (white and green parts)
  • Cilantro – 2 tbsp
    (Mint or parsley can be used instead)
  • Ginger – 1 tsp, grated
  • Green chili – 1, minced

Dressing

  • Sesame oil – 4 tbsp
  • Dijon mustard – 1 tbsp
  • Red wine vinegar – 1 tsp
  • Soy sauce – 1 tbsp
  • Salt – to taste
  • Pepper – to taste

Method

1. In a bowl, mix all the dressing ingredients well.

2. Squeeze the tofu thoroughly to remove excess water. Crumble it using your hands or a fork.

3. Add the dressing to the crumbled tofu and mix gently.

4. Add all the chopped vegetables, herbs, ginger, and green chili. Lightly mix with a fork until everything is evenly combined.

5. Let the mixture rest for 15–20 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.

Serve this as a cold salad or spread it between two slices of bread to make a tofu sandwich.

A simple, protein-packed lunchbox option that’s versatile, flavorful, and easy to adapt—this tofu sandwich has definitely earned its place as a repeat favorite.