Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (2024)

Breakfast | Oil-Free | Tofu Recipes | Vegan Recipes

ByKarissa

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If you’re looking for a protein-packed vegan breakfast to replace your morning eggs, you’re going to love this tofu scramble. This dish has 19 grams of protein per serving.

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (1)

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If you’re new to veganism or looking to eat more plant-based meals, you may have a very common question: What can I eat for breakfast as a vegan?

I get it. A lot of vegan breakfasts center around oats or smoothie bowls. If you prefer savory breakfasts like me, those just don’t cut it all the time. Thankfully, there are a ton of savory vegan breakfast options to try.

When I’m looking to indulge in some comfort food, my go-to is vegan sausage gravy and biscuits. For a healthier option, I love a good potato hashor toast with tofu scrambled eggs.

Tofu scramble is an easy, high-protein vegan breakfast idea. 1 serving (half of this recipe) has a whopping 19g of protein. It’s a great way to fuel your body and start your day, especially if you add in veggies like tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, zucchini…whatever you love.

Ingredients

This is a flavor-packed recipe thanks to a few important dried spices.Reminder:You can find the printable, detailed recipe in the recipe card below.

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (2)
  • Extra-Firm Tofu. There’s no need to press your tofu for this recipe, which makes it extra quick and easy. Extra-firm tofu gives you the best texture and a ton of protein.
  • Turmeric. This is more for color than flavor, so if you don’t have it on hand, you can omit the turmeric.
  • Onion and garlic powder. These add a deeply savory flavor to the scramble without any chopping.
  • Parika. For a bit of a kick.
  • Nutritional yeast. The secret to cheesy vegan tofu scramble without any dairy!
  • Salt. For a real eggy flavor, there’s nothing better than Kala Namak black salt. It’s actually more pink in color and smells of sulfur, but it totally hits the nail on the head in the flavor department. You can use regular salt instead.

How to Make Tofu Scramble

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (3)
  1. Drain the tofu, then break it apart using your hands or a couple of forks, until it resembles egg scramble. (There is no need to press the tofu for this recipe. In this case, we want to keep the liquid!)
  2. Mix together the tofu, nutritionalyeast, garlic, onion, salt, turmeric, paprika, and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes to let the flavors sink in.
  3. On medium-low heat, sauté tofu until hot, about 8-10 minutes. I use a nonstick pan to cook my scramble, so I don’t find oil is necessary, but you can cook in 1-2 teaspoons of oil.

Storage

Tofu scramble is also a great make-ahead vegan breakfast recipe. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a skillet to crisp the tofu up again.

For an all-protein breakfast, enjoy your scramble as-is. Or add a side of toast to round out the meal.

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (4)

Substitutions & Variations

  • Other flavors. You can substitute the dried seasonings with any of your favorite spices or seasoning blends.
  • Spicy scrambled tofu. For more heat, add crushed red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce.

Veggie Add-Ins

Add any diced veggies to amp up the nutrition and flavor in your breakfast. My favorite add-ins include:

  • Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell Peppers
  • Onions
  • Zucchini

For vegetables that take longer to cook, like mushrooms and onions, you will want to sauté these in oil before adding in your tofu. On the other hand, soft vegetables like spinach or tomatoes can be tossed in toward the end of the cooking process.

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (5)

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Tofu Scramble

Karissa Besaw

Vegan tofu scramble made with extra firm tofu and seasonings like nutritional yeast, Kala Namak salt, and paprika. You can add your favorite veggies for some added nutritional benefit and tastiness.

5 from 38 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Resting Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 2

Calories 147 kcal

Ingredients

Optional veggie add-ins

  • 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

Instructions

  • Drain the tofu, then break it apart using your hands or a couple of forks, until it resembles egg scramble.

  • Mix together the tofu, nutritionalyeast, garlic, onion, Kala Namak, turmeric, paprika, and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes to let the flavors sink in.

  • On medium-low heat, sauté tofu until hot, about 8-10 minutes. I use a nonstick pan to cook my scramble, so I don't find oil is necessary, but you can cook in 2 teaspoons of oil.

Notes

  • If you like a wetter “egg” scramble, sauté with 2 tablespoons of water.
  • Don’t like nutritional yeast? Go ahead and leave it out.
  • You can use regular table salt in place of kala namak.

Nutrition

Calories: 147kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 19gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 127mgPotassium: 474mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 123IUCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg

Did you try this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Best Tofu Scramble Recipe: High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How much protein is in tofu scramble? ›

Nutrition Information
NutrientsAmount
Added Sugars included0 g
Protein12 g
Vitamin D0 mcg
Calcium218 mg
10 more rows

Is tofu scramble better than eggs? ›

In case you're wondering which is healthier, eggs or tofu, the match-up is surprisingly close. If you compare them per serving (1 egg to a 3.5-ounce serving of tofu), the tofu has a similar amount of calories and slightly more protein. Here's how they stack up: Calories: egg = 78 | tofu = 70.

How long does tofu scramble last in the fridge? ›

How to store tofu scramble. Unlike scrambled eggs, once the tofu is scrambled it will sit happily in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. It might dry out a little so add a splash of plant based liquid such as soy milk or coconut milk when reheating it.

Is scrambled tofu good for weight loss? ›

Low calorie density: Tofu is a low-calorie food, with around 80-90 calories per 100 grams, making it a good choice for people trying to lose weight. High in protein: Tofu is a good source of protein, with around 8-10 grams per 100 grams.

How much tofu is equivalent to 2 eggs? ›

Boiled egg alternative: To mimic the protein and texture of hard-boiled eggs in salads and sandwiches, dice extra-firm tofu (2 ounces tofu for each boiled egg you're replacing) and use as you would chopped hard-boiled eggs. Ready-to-eat baked tofu and white beans are other great options.

How much tofu equals one egg? ›

Tofu is great for egg substitutions in recipes that call for a lot of eggs, such as quiches or custards. To replace one egg in a recipe, purée 1/4 cup of soft tofu. It's important to keep in mind that although tofu doesn't fluff up like eggs, it does create a texture that's perfect for “eggy” dishes.

What is the best type of tofu to eat? ›

Firm and extra-firm tofu are most commonly used in Western recipes, as the mostly solid texture is easy to cut, easy to fry, easy to grill and easy to eat.

What are the pros and cons of tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

Which tofu is best for you? ›

Tofu Nutrition

For relatively similar serving sizes, the nutrition differences between silken and firm tofu are pretty big. Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

Is tofu OK to eat every day? ›

Similarly, the American Cancer Society sees no dangers from eating soy. "For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said.

Can I freeze tofu scramble? ›

Freezer: Tofu scramble is freezer friendly and freezes well for up to 2 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer safe containers (affiliate link). Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags, squeezing out all the excess air.

How do you know if tofu has gone bad? ›

Use all your senses to tell if a food has gone bad by looking, touching and smelling the tofu. Spoiled tofu tends to have a darker color of tan or even brown. Mold may form on the surface or you may see discoloration. Tofu that has gone bad also tends to be slimy and have a sour or rotten odor – fresh tofu has no odor.

Is tofu good for losing belly fat? ›

If you are eating tofu that is processed with sugar, salt, or preservatives, then it may not be healthy for you. But if you are eating it that has been processed in a way that preserves its nutritional value, then tofu can help you healthily lose belly fat.

Will I lose weight if I eat tofu everyday? ›

Tofu is a cholesterol-free, low-calorie, high-protein food that's also rich in bone-boosting calcium and manganese. Tofu may help you to lose weight by keeping you fuller for longer on fewer calories than meat. It may reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when swapped for saturated fat-heavy animal proteins.

What has more protein chicken or tofu? ›

If you're looking for something specific, though, each protein has its own pros. Chicken is significantly higher in protein than tofu, clocking in at more than double the amount.

Is tofu a good source of protein? ›

With 10 grams of protein in a 3/4-cup (100 grams) serving, tofu is an excellent plant protein source. The high protein is one reason people who follow a vegetarian or vegan meal plan favor bean curd as an alternative to meat.

Is tofu scramble good for you? ›

Head to head, tofu scramble and scrambled eggs are nutritionally comparable and both healthy choices. They are complete sources of protein, providing all essential amino acids; are low in calories; and relatively low in saturated fat.

Is tofu protein better than egg protein? ›

Well, unfortunately when considering protein, eggs are the clear winner. Tofu has less essential amino acids, less BCAAs, and 68% the BV of eggs. You have to eat nearly double the amount of tofu in order to get the same protein effect as you do from eggs.

How much protein is in one thing of tofu? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, half a cup of firm tofu offers 21.8 grams of protein with 181 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is of the healthy polyunsaturated kind. The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat.

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