Copycat Chipotle Sofrita and Cilantro-Lime Brown/Cauli-rice (vegan, meal-prep, oil and gluten free)

Hey babes,

Want to know a sign of true love? A partner that accommodates how you eat and your schedule. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when you have a partner that completely accepts your hours working, hanging with your kids, working out, writing, AND a plant-based life-style. Chef’s kiss.

So, in our less-than-vegan part of the world, our options are relatively limited on date night. I love cooking some of my plant-based treats for us, but sometimes, we just want to throw on some sweats, hop in the car, and keep it simple. The best thing for both of our gym-rat needs? Chipotle!

For him, a big burrito with steak, brown rice, pinto beans, lettuce, guacamole, queso, etc. For me, if everything is in stock, it’s a bowl with sofritas, brown rice, veggies, black beans, lettuce, some corn salsa, and some hot rojo salsa if I’m feeling particularly dangerous.

But, since we’re both avid meal-preppers, we try not to eat out too much outside of vacations. So, I started doing some research on how to make those delicious tofu sofritas at home, sans unknown entities, sugar, oil, etc. And, with a little help from the internet, I think I’ve found my perfect copycat. Perhaps a little saucier, and a LOT cheaper and healthier than the original, but perfectly accessible to any home cook that wants to take a crack at it.

Live, Laugh, Eat Tofu

Listen, I know people make jokes about tofu. It’s a tasteless, boring eraser. To that, I have my favorite rebuttal: have you ever tasted dry, unseasoned chicken breast? Pretty terrible, huh? Needs a little seasoning, marinade, and love to elevate. Tofu is the same, with a couple of added culinary benefits: it’s much harder to overcook, and when prepped right, it soaks up that delicious marinade all the way to its core.

On top of that, tofu is a superhero in the plant-based world. It’s minimally processed (you can make it at home if you’re feeling fancy), it comes loaded with protein, calcium, manganese, copper, selenium, and even a respectable amount of fiber, vitamin A, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, and zinc, all in a tidy, low calorie package. It also contains isoflavones, which have been linked to reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. There have also been studies that suggest it may help prevent bone loss and improve brain function. And of course it’s cholesterol-free, so that’s always a win in protecting your long-term health.

I’m a huge fan of tofu, as you may have noticed. I love using silken in my breakfast bowls, sour cream, sauces, and dips. Firm is perfect for sofritas, nuggets for the kiddos, stir fries, and more. I’ve even made mock salmon with it (and it was so freaking good).

When assembling in a bowl, you can of course go the traditional route, adding in the grilled peppers and onions, salsa, etc. But this week I found myself lacking in the bell pepper department, so instead I made my bowl with a cilantro lime brown/cauliflower rice combo, sofritas, black beans, corn, roasted broccoli with homemade taco seasoning, fresh radishes, a little tofu sour cream, and plenty of homemade salsa. But it works in lots of combos. Bowls, burritos, tacos, oh my! Let me know how you use them!