Baked Tofu with Lime Nectar Vinaigrette Salad

Being on a Cleanse Diet doesn’t mean you have to be a martyr when it comes to flavor as this Baked Tofu with Lime Nectar Vinaigrette Salad proves. It’s chock-full of nutrients and with plenty of flavor to boost!

One day last month we went out to eat with friends. We’re so lucky that our local pizza joint, Waldo Pizza, not only provides vegan pizza, it offers a gluten-free crust and two types of vegan cheese. Did you read that correctly? Yes, you did. Two varieties of vegan cheese! As you can imagine it’s on our list of favorite Kansas City restaurants. And it’s another reason I was flabbergasted to read The New York Times article A Vegetarians Struggle for Sustenance. First of all, I can’t imagine anyone “struggling” to sustain themselves in any Midwest city. However, this article was focusing on what the reporter referred to as limited vegetarian options for KC (and Midwest) diners.

I do agree with the article that too many restaurants cater to meat-only eaters. Go down your list of favorite Mexican restaurants, call them, and see how many of them prepare their beans without lard. Forget it. I’ll save you the hassle. The answer is not many. At least not that I’ve seen. And Kansas City is known for its barbeque which is a tough joint for a vegetarian to get by in; even the side dishes usually come with meat. Seriously.

But by in large, we’ve been very pleased with the plethora of vegetarian options in Kansas City, both locally owned (my favorite criteria for dining) and chains. In fact, I’ll share with you a list at the bottom of this post of some of my favorite restaurants in KC that provide vegetarian options. Of course, we’re vegan, which makes it even harder and still we’ve found most of these places offer something to our liking.

So back to my story. It’s distressing how easily I can be distracted!

We were eating out with friends. James always order the lunchtime buffet which comes with a trip to the salad bar. He sat down with his first plate full of spinach and toppings and drizzled with a creamy dressing. It looked so good that I knew a fabulous salad was soon to be in my future. And here it is.

Of course by the time I got around to the salad, I was already knee-deep in this Cleanse Diet. That meant no croutons because I’m not eating gluten. What could I do besides the typical crouton? And that’s when I thought of slow-baking some tofu with thyme and sage. You know, the same flavors you would find in those yummy croutons.

I also realized I would need to make the dressing at home because many store-bought dressings come with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. These are both no-nos on my present-day detox diet. A little bit of lime and agave nectar filled the bill here.

To this I added chunks of avocado, lightly steamed broccoli and sliced yellow peppers.

With food like this, I may never need to leave this Cleanse Diet.

I guess that’s the idea of cleansing in the first place. To discover new and healthy ways to eat food you love…that leaves you feeling refreshed and energized!

And here you go. A list of some of my favorite Kansas City restaurants. Some are exclusively vegetarian. Others are more omnivorous but provide excellent vegetarian and vegan options.

Kansas City Restaurants for Vegetarians and Vegans

• Eden Alley Cafe – a vegetarian, organic cafe featuring locally grown produce
• FÜD - a locally owned vegan, organic cafe that boasts both cooked and raw food entrees
• Blue Bird Bistro – an organic, sustainable and locally-owned restaurant that uses locally grown produce and features vegan and vegetarian options
• Mud Pie Vegan Bakery – yes, that’s right. Kansas City has a vegan bakery. Take that NY Times article dissing KC vegetarian restaurant options!
• Waldo Pizza – a locally owned pizza joint that offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free pizzas, desserts, and beer.
• Blue Koi – Another locally owned restaurant that offers what I consider to be some of the best vegan dining in the area. If you go there, be sure to try the Tofu with Black Bean Sauce. I have yet to meet someone who hasn’t fallen completely in love with this dish. They’ll even prepare it for you gluten-free!
• Blue Nile Cafe – An Ethiopian restaurant that provides many vegan entrees. Vegetarians usually fair well at any ethnic restaurant.
• Jerusalem Cafe – This cafe boasts felafel sandwiches, hummus and pita, and a lentil soup to die for!
• Bo Lings – This locally owned Chinese restaurant provides many vegetarian options. If you see a meat-based entree you’d like to try with tofu instead, they’re usually very flexible and will work around your dietary needs.
• Cirque d’Alex – Offers a veggie friendly menu offers vegetarian hot dogs topped with a variety of tasty options
• The Foundry – try the Cheat Lover’s Pizza which is topped with vegan Italian sausage and vegan cheese.
• Conventionally Natural – Don’t have time to cook your own meals at home? This vegan meal delivery service will bring you a week’s worth to your door. They also provide gluten-free versions of their food as well.
• Veggie burger anyone? I’m pleased with these national chains that offer a veggie burger option for their customers – 54th Street Grill and Chili’s Grill.
• Other national chains with veg-friendly options: Noodles & Company, Chipotle, PF Changs China Bistro, Panera Bread, and Bravo!

I have to also mention the Main Squeeze. It’s not in Kansas City, but it’s right in the heart of Missouri in Columbia. If you’re ever sauntering on I-70 and find yourself neary Columbia, head over to some of the best vegetarian and vegan eating around. I have to confess this restaurant got me through more than one marathon study days in graduate school!

Do you have any others you’d add to this list of Kansas City (or Midwest) vegetarian restaurants?