We love brunch, but sometimes it’s hard to find savory plant-based options that are both easy to make and bursting with flavor can sometimes feel like a challenge.

That’s where tofu scrambles come in. They’re a brunch favorite, but let’s face it, not all tofu scrambles are created equal. Without the right recipe, they can end up tasting bland and uninspiring, more like a sad egg substitute than a mouthwatering dish in their own right. But fear not! Our easy veggie tofu scramble is here to change that perception.

An Easy Introduction to Tofu

Scrambles were one of the first ways I learned to cook tofu. It’s not fussy and doesn’t require marinating or a lot of advanced planning. And, once you’ve made it a few times, you don’t necessarily even need to follow a recipe. You can just add whatever you’d like to the pan and start cooking.

My recipe has evolved quite a bit over the years, and in it’s current iteration, this veggie tofu scramble is one of my all time favorite breakfast foods.

Versatility & Convenience

Scrambles are a great option to keep in mind to get a little extra protein in your diet without a lot of advance planning. As long as you have the proper seasonings in your pantry and a block of tofu in the fridge, this recipe can be quickly thrown together last minute. It’s an amazing dish on it’s own, so any extra veggies you have are just a bonus!

If like having a hot breakfast before work, but you’re not a morning person, the uncooked mixture can also be prepped in advance and cooked when you need it. Otherwise it’s also quick enough to just throw together in the morning for a nice protein boost.

Tofu Selection

Always get extra firm tofu. Firm tofu can work in a pinch, but it will need to pressed or cooked longer since it contains more water. Name brand tofu tends to have a more pleasant texture in scrambles, while the store brand tofu options are sometimes less firm than indicated on the package. It’s also important to get refrigerated tofu. The shelf-stable “silken” tofu is something entirely different.

Making the Scramble

While you can definitely break the tofu apart in the pan and mix in the seasoning while it cooks, I find it much easier to mix everything in a bowl ahead of time. Break the tofu apart into 1/2-1 inch pieces, then continue to break it apart as you mix in the additional ingredients and as you cook the scramble. I usually aim for a bit of variety in the finished scramble, with the largest chunks at about 1/4 inch.

The goal with cooking tofu scrambles, as well as most other methods of preparing tofu, is to remove a lot of the moisture during the cooking process. Stirring it fairly regularly will help keep the texture consistent, so you don’t end up with dry, crust bits around the edges. Better quality tofu makes this easier to accomplish, as the store brand tofu options sometimes have a crumbly texture and fall apart when you try to stir them.

Veggie Tofu Scramble Variations

While our veggie tofu scramble is absolutely delicious plain, in a breakfast sandwich, or served over roasted potatoes, it’s also super easy to add in whatever veggies you like. Root vegetables and cauliflower take longer, and will probably require oven-roasting, but I’ve included some optional veggie add-ins in the recipe notes that can easily be cooked in the same pan as the scramble. Just sauté the veggies first, set them aside in a bowl before cooking the scramble, then add them back in towards the end of the cooking process.

After you’ve made the veggie tofu scramble recipe once or twice, you probably won’t need to keep measuring the ingredients, which will make it even easier to just throw together. Once you’ve tasted it and have a good handle on what each ingredient adds to the dish, you can just eyeball most of the ingredients, sprinkling your spices directly onto the scramble or change the spices entirely. The vegetable base, turmeric and nutritional yeast are the most essential flavors in this recipe (and also have some awesome health benefits). The rest is up to you.

Ingredients & Equipment

You don’t really need any special equipment for this recipe. A tofu press is always helpful, but not 100% necessary for scrambles. However, if you make a lot of stir-fry or other tofu dishes, having one on hand will save you an incredible amount of time.

The ingredients should be available at most grocery stores, as long as you know where to look for them. In case you have any trouble, I’m including links for liquid aminos, tahini and nutritional yeast, which are all reasonably priced online. If possible, I would recommend finding Better Than Bouillon at your local grocery store, since it’s somewhat pricey online.

If you’ve made this Veggie Tofu Scramble, or if you have any questions, please share in the comments, and don’t forget to tag us on social media at @we_make_pretty! Also check out our Tempeh Bacon BLT for a delicious vegan bacon option. Enjoy!

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