A Spicy—and Filling—Salad
Discard any belief that an all-vegetable salad can’t be filling. While the tofu and edamame salad at Steamed in Madison isn’t precisely a heavy meal, it’s toothy and full of flavor—and also comes in a remarkably large serving for $6 and change. The marquee stars are, of course, the edamame and the tofu (a smoked, very-firm-but-not-remotely-rubbery cubed tofu), but it’s the supporting scallions and chili-seasoned oil that put this over the top. I can only identify a few of the warming spices in this salad, but whatever is in there is doing a heck of a job. It’s possibly a little too spicy for some palates (hint: If that’s you, don’t eat the chili pepper chunks), though most will do fine (I recommend the hardcore add a spoonful of Steamed’s chili paste). Steamed regularly rotates its trademark steamed bun options and most other menus items regularly, though I’ve seen this salad available more often than not. Steamed (203-779-5628, www.steamedct.com) is at 670 Boston Post Road, Madison. —Brian Boyd