Tofu Noodle Soup Shweta In The Kitchen

My kids love this Tofu Noodle Soup!! I often made the chicken noodle soup, especially during the cold season but my husband is a vegetarian and couldn’t eat it so I decided to make the vegan chicken noodle soup which off-course doesn’t have the chicken but the tofu instead. It was an instant hit!!

What is Tofu Noodle Soup

Tofu Noodle soup is a light, healthy, and low-fat broth-based soup just like its classic version “The Chicken Noodle Soup”. Most importantly, it’s an easy one-pot throw everything together kind of meal which has been my go-to these days. I love making this noodle soup in my Instant Pot but you can also make it on stove top. This tofu noodle soup has a base of vegetarian broth flavored with garlic, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, oregano, thyme, and lemon. It’s loaded with tons of veggies which also impart their taste to this soup and make it hearty. Last but not least, it has some extra-firm tofu for proteins and pasta/noodles for carbs. Overall a complete one-pot nourishing meal that is comforting, light yet satisfying and doesn’t make you feel heavy after eating!!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy and customizableReady in 30 mins A complete one-pot nourishing mealVegan and can be made gluten-freeHealthy and delicious

Health Benefits

With the seasons changing, the cold cough, and flu are common sights in most homes. My younger one is in daycare which means passing germs to each other is a breeze. She often comes home with a runny nose or a minor cough. My meal plan immediately changes to this Tofu noodle soup. This soup has ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and lemon - a combination known for fighting cold and flu symptoms. Also, it has the right balance of vegetables, carbs, and protein and is light on the stomach. I find my kids sleep better at night as this helps loosen up some of the congestion and provides the needed boost of immunity to fight the symptoms. So without further ado, let’s see how to make tofu noodle soup.

Recipe Ingredients

Noodles - I have used egg noodles(egg-free) but you can use any noodles or pasta of choice. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or noodles. Veggies - Traditional chicken noodle soup uses basic veggies like onion, celery, and carrots. In addition, I’ve used a few more that my family likes - red bell pepper, corn, and green peas. Use veggies of your choice. Aromatics - Ginger and garlic are a must. They add a nice depth of flavor to this soup. Spices - I love using turmeric, black pepper, oregano, thyme, and salt to flavor this noodle soup. You can definitely experiment and add species of your choice. Broth - You can use broth of choice or simply use water. I prefer using water mixed with better than bouillon vegetable base to create my broth. But you can use your favorite one or gluten-free option. Tomato Paste - I like a subtle hint of tomato in this soup that a tablespoon of the paste provides without overpowering it. It can be skipped too. Tofu - Use extra firm tofu. Instead of Tofu, you can also add paneer or some canned chickpeas or take it back to the basic chicken soup (not vegan) by adding chicken thighs or for faster cooking, rotisserie chicken. Oil: Some canola or olive oil for cooking. Cilantro and Lemon juice - Last but not least, some cilantro and lemon juice to bring this recipe together. Please refer to the recipe card for exact measurements of ingredients.

Step by Step Method (Instant Pot)

Please check the recipe card for the stovetop method. Prep work: Chop and assemble all the ingredients needed since this soup is very quick to make so have everything prepped. 1 - Start the Instant Pot on saute mode and add oil followed by ginger garlic. Saute for a few seconds. 2 - Add in the onions and cook till they are slightly translucent. 3 - Add turmeric and red pepper flakes (optional, I skipped it) and saute for 30 seconds more. 4 - Now add all the veggies (carrot, celery, green peas, corn, and red bell pepper), tomato paste, bay leaf, spices - salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme. Mix well. Turn off the Instant Pot. 5 - Layer the noodles evenly on top of the veggies. 6 - Add vegetable broth or water. Make sure the noodles are beneath the water (press them down). 7 - Finally, add the tofu pieces and close the Instant Pot lid with the vent in sealing position. Pressure cook on Manual (or Pressure Cook), High for 3 mins. Once cooking completes, wait for 5 mins and do a quick release (manually release the steam). 8 - Stir in the lemon juice and chopped cilantro. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Tofu Noodle Soup is ready to be served!!

Serving Suggestions

Serve Tofu Noodle soup immediately hot topped with some hot sauce (for adults) and more freshly cracked black pepper or sometimes red pepper flakes or both. It is a complete meal on its own but if you like you can pair it with a salad, sandwich, or cheesy garlic bread too. The noodles have a tendency to soak up the liquid so if you are not serving this soup immediately the liquid may dry up and the noodles may swell. If that happens, add some more liquid/water/broth, heat, and serve.

Recipe Tips and Variations

This soup is super customizable - You could make it a completely vegan and/or gluten-free noodle soup by replacing the egg noodles with any chickpea or gluten-free pasta or noodles. Similarly, use veggies of choice. The cooking time and liquid quantity will vary based on the variety of pasta used. For Instant Pot, you can derive pasta cooking time by using the formula - (time mentioned on pasta pack -1) and that value is halved. So if the time mentioned is 11 mins, I’ll set the timer for (11-1)/2 =5 mins. Also, make sure the pasta is submerged in liquid. Spice the soup to your preference - you can change the spices to your preference and availability but don’t skip ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and lemon especially if you are feeling under the weather. This combination will help soothe cold and flu symptoms. If you are unable to find oregano and thyme, use 1 teaspoon of dry Italian seasoning blend instead. To make spicy crispy tofu noodle soup - make the Spicy Tofu on the side while the soup is cooking and add it to the soup while serving, so delicious!!!

More Soup Recipes

Hope you enjoy this Easy Tofu Noodle Soup !! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ on the recipe card. Thank you ❤️! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!