Recipe: Ginger Mandarin Rice with Cashew Tofu. Sweet.

Tofu and rice doesn't have to just be tofu and rice.

Take it to the next level with fresh flavors and healthy ingredients. This recipe is super easy, vegan comfort food.

Canned Mandarins. Who Knew?! This recipe uses a can of mandarin oranges as a main ingredient - both the fruit and the canning juice are used to flavor the tofu and plump the rice. High in vitamin C and sweetly healthy, I love the delicate flavor of mandarins.

Smells Healthy! No surprise: rice and tofu is a healthy dish. But you can easily make it super healthy and super flavorful by adding in a few antioxidant-rich, wellness food flavors like garlic and ginger. This G & G combo will go right to your nose and perk up the gloomiest of days. Cashew nuts add an extra dose of nutrients and healthy fats. And don't forget the tofu! High in vegan protein, tofu makes any dish divine and satisfying.

Click ahead for this incredible (and incredibly easy) recipe...

Ginger Mandarin Rice with Cashew Tofu
vegan, serves two

1 cup white or brown rice
1 ½ cup water
1 can of mandarin oranges (in natural juice)
1 tablespoon agave syrup
2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup cubes tofu, firm
2 tablespoon salted cashews
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (opt'l)
fresh black pepper
*4 umeboshi plums, if available

Rice:
In a soup pan bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil.
Ad rice and 1 teaspoon garlic salt.
Stir well.
Reduce heat and cover pan.
Let simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
Stir well.
Add in ¼ cup of the mandarin juice, the chopped ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon agave syrup, 3 whole mandarin slices and a dash of black pepper.
Stir ingredients into rice.
Cover pan and continue to heat for a few minutes until liquid is absorbed again.
Remove lid and saute rice on high for about a minute.
Move to bowl and toss with rice vinegar.
Cover to keep warm.

Cashew Tofu:
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan.
Heat to high.
Add chopped tofu, remaining garlic, 3 tablespoon mandarin juice and 1 teaspoon garlic salt.
Cover lid and let heat and steam for a few minutes.
Continue sauteing ingredients until tofu looks fluffy, but not too browned.
Add cashews and recover pan for a few more minutes to cook.
When tofu is browned and fluffy and cashews begin to darken, your tofu is done.
*make sure all the liquid is absorbed.

Serve:
Spoon tofu over rice and garnish with raw mandarin orange slices.
Add fresh ground black pepper.
*If available, top with two umeboshi plums
Serve hot in a nice little bowl.
Enjoy!