Vegan Vietnamese Bún Bowls

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 16 oz package vermicelli noodles
• 1 14 oz block medium-firm tofu, cut into ½ inch cubes
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 4 tbsp palm sugar
• 1 lime, juiced (plus extra limes cut into wedges for garnish)
• ½ cup basil leaves, chiffonade
• ½ cup bee balm or mint
• 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced into rounds
• 4 carrots, sliced into ribbons with a vegetable peeler
• 1 cup green beans, chopped
• 3 red beets, thinly sliced into rounds (using a mandolin or vegetable peeler)
• 1 snap peas, chopped
• 3 green Bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
• Coconut oil
• Lime wedges for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 3 tbsp palm sugar
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1 Thai chili, minced (or one teaspoon hot chili sauce)

Instructions

• 1 Boil water in a pot or hot water kettle and submerge the noodles for 3-5
  minutes, until the noodles are slightly transparent and tender.
• 2 Drain them and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Reserve for plating.
• 3 In a medium-sized bowl, combine the tofu, garlic, fish sauce, palm sugar, and
  lime. Allow this mixture to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. (This can also be
  done ahead of time and marinate overnight).
• 4 Take the tofu out of the marinade, dry on paper towels, and reserve the liquid.
• 5 Heat a large sauté pan over moderate heat and coat with coconut oil.
• 6 When the oil glistens, add the tofu to the pan in a single layer.
• 7 Do not touch or move the tofu, allow to cook for 3-5 minutes on this side, until
  you start to see a golden browned color peeking around the edges.
• 8 Flip the tofu and continue to cook until all sides are golden brown, about 3-5
  more minutes.
• 9 Add the reserved marinated liquid to the tofu and toss to combine. All the tofu
  should be coated in the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until little
  no liquid remains.
• 10 Serve the tofu with the chopped vegetables, cold noodles, Nuoc Cham sauce, and
  extra lime wedges for garnish.
• 11 Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
• 12 Reserve for noodles and vegetables. 

Nutrition Info