Copycat Gluten Free & Vegan Buddha Bowl (Northstar Cafe)

When I left Ohio 5 years ago to move to sunny Tampa Florida, I left a lot behind. Friends, family, school, and of course food from some of my favorite gluten-free places! If you've ever been to the North East, you may be familiar with the restaurant, North Star Cafe. They have tons of gluten-free options that make dining out much easier. One of those being the Buddha Bowl. It usually comes with chicken but as someone who has been trying to eat less meat, I like to get tofu. It's full of flavor, veggies, brown rice, and the best of all, peanut sauce. It's one of my favorite dishes that I get every time I go back to Ohio which is why I had to find a way to create my own. This recipe is perfect for creating just that and one that you can now enjoy at home too.

Tofu ingredients:

• 1 cake firm tofu (16 oz.)

• 2 Tbs. peanut oil

• 3 Tbs. gluten-free soy sauce

• 1 Tbs. minced garlic

Bowl ingredients:

• 1 cup of brown rice

• 1/2 cup broccoli

• 1/2 cup of cauliflower

• 1/2 cup baby carrots

Peanut sauce ingredients:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter

• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp. honey

• 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. gluten-free soy sauce

Tofu directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Cut tofu into 1/2 inch cubes if not cubed already. Poke holes in tofu with toothpick. Place tofu and other marinade ingredients in a bowl that has a lid. Shake and let marinade. (You can let it sit for 1-2 hours if desired)

3. Line a pan with foil and spray with a non-stick oil. Place all tofu on pan and bake for 30 minutes. Do not over bake.

Bowl directions:

1. While your tofu is baking, get a pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil 1 cup of brown rice for 8-10 minutes.

2. Cut all broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots to prepare for steaming

3. Get a separate large pan and put on low heat. Place broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots in large pan. Cover with lid and steam for 8-10 minutes.

4. Dump brown rice into bowl. Top brown rice with your steam veggies and baked tofu.

Peanut sauce directions:

1. Blend all peanut sauce ingredients in a blender until well combined. If it is too thick, add almond milk by the tsp. until it thins out. Taste test to make sure it is not too "peanut buttery". Add more soy sauce if needed.

2. Add the peanut sauce to your bowl. Enjoy!

What's your favorite dish from a restaurant that you'd like to copycat as gluten-free? Comment below!