Tofu Scramble

This tofu scramble is fast, flavorful, and a wonderful egg-free savory breakfast. Made with spinach, curry powder, nutritional yeast, garlic, and onions, this is the version we’ve been making for years!

Tofu Scramble

Tofu scramble — two words that trigger visions of 70s-era hippie cookbooks, but also the college town vegetarian cafes of the 80s and 90s. And I’m here for it. Still! After all these years. A tofu scramble is a great savory breakfast or brunch option, and deservedly more popular than ever. There are endless variations out there, but more often than not, I stick close to the spinach-flecked version I’ve been making most of my adult life. It is flavor-packed with curry powder, starts with a simple onion-garlic base, and comes together in no time.
tofu scramble with skillet potatoes in a bowl

A Bit of Context

As someone who has lived nearly my whole life in coastal California, tofu scrambles have always been around. Or, that’s how it has felt. I associated the tofu scramble with the vegetarian and vegan diets popular among hippie communities of the 1960s and 1970s. Over the years, tofu scramble recipes were published in niche cookbooks and counter-cultural books that became immensely popular - for example, Diet For a Small Planet, Rebar: Modern Food Cookbook, The Tassajara Recipe Book, The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen, and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Newspapers and magazines increasingly published tofu scramble recipes in the 1980s and 1990s and the popularity of the preparation expanded. Then the internet came along and boosted the reach to new audiences more rapidly through blog posts and socially networked videos, and here we are!

Why are tofu scrambles increasingly popular?

People seem to be looking to replace what is familiar to them with meat-free alternatives to traditional breakfast dishes. As people aspire to increase the number of plant-based meals into their lives, an eggless scramble is a satisfying, hearty, and versatile vegan breakfast option that can be customized to suit a wide range of taste and dietary preferences. It’s high in protein, delicious, and (when done well) packed with flavor.

Switch it up!

Think of it this way, a tofu scramble is a great vegan alternative to scrambled eggs. If you miss the taste and feel of scrambled eggs, a tofu scramble can be a great alternative. The word “scramble” is misleading in this context, because you’re not scrambling eggs in this case, but you get the idea. Even if you do eat eggs, this recipe is worth a try. It’s a versatile alternative, and an all-around crowd-pleaser. But, honestly, you don’t need to think of it as an alternative to anything. It’s just a delicious something to eat in its own right. And! It’s a great one-pan camping recipe, and clean up is a breeze.
spinach and tofu ingredient on plates

Secrets To Making a Great Tofu Scramble

For this tofu scramble recipe, there are a few things to pay attention to.

  1. Buy extra-firm tofu: For this recipe, go with extra-firm tofu. Keyword is extra.
  2. Press the tofu: The goal here is to confidently press as much liquid from the tofu as possible. Wrap the tofu in a clean towel, or bundle of paper towels until all the extra moisture is gone. Some people have  If you the patience to let the tofu sit under a press for a long time, but typically that’s not me. Sourcing extra-firm tofu, and a quick press is all you need for this scramble.
  3. Use strong seasoning: Perceived blandness of the tofu is one of the common criticisms leveled against a tofu scramble recipe. Tofu can be a beautiful ingredient, simply prepared on its own, but in this case we’re looking to super-charge it with color and flavor. Use a favorite curry powder, and be sure to season the scramble to taste prior to serving with salt. This little step makes all the difference.
  4. Add seasonal vegetables: One of the great things about a tofu scramble is the versatility. In this recipe I feature spinach as the vegetable. It brings, color, nutrition, and diversity to the scramble, but I encourage you to use what is available and in season. You can all other quick cooking vegetables along with the spinach or in place of it. Asparagus, broccoli florets, cabbage, cauliflower florets, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes are all great options.

tofu scramble ingredients on a table

Key Tofu Scramble Ingredients

  • Tofu: This recipe calls for extra-firm tofu. It crumbles into curd-like clusters, mimicking the shape and texture of a well-cooked scrambled egg. There is an argument for experimenting with silken tofu here. Silken tofu lends a creamier, loose texture to a scramble. There is a technique to cooking a tofu scramble with silken tofu, I hope to feature here in the near future. For this recipe, extra-firm is the key.
  • Spices & Seasonings: No one loves a bland scramble. Spices and seasonings are the key to a great tasting version.

chopped onions and garlic cooking in a large skillet
I made this scramble the other morning while we were camping. It's the sort of one-pan meal I love when I'm cooking on a small stove.
onions, garlic, curry powder cooking in a skillet
Here you see the onions and garlic cooking in the hot pan. The curry powder is sprinkled into the pan and it smells absolutely amazing!
tofu scramble ingredients cooking in a skillet
Then the tofu is added. You can see the size of the crumble here in this picture. How large or small you crumble the tofu is up to you. I like some larger pieces, they simulate some of the texture you get with traditional scrambled eggs.
tofu scramble with added spinach in a hot skillet
In goes the spinach. The leaves will collapse quickly as you stir and flip the mixture.
smashed skillet potatoes in a skillet
Once the scramble is cooked, I like to use the same skillet to make a side of smashed skillet potatoes from potatoes I boiled the night before.
tofu scramble served on a plate on a picnic table

What To Eat with Tofu Scramble

One of the things I love about a tofu scramble, it the versatility. Many of the things you can do with a traditional egg-based scramble, work nicely with tofu scramble as well. Here are some favorites:

  • Potatoes: smashed skillet potatoes are a favorite accompaniment. Pictured throughout this post.
  • Tacos: use the scramble as a component in breakfast tacos.
  • Breakfast sandwiches: smear bagels, toast, or English muffins with avocado or another favorite slather. This will help hold the scramble in place. Start with good bread, make it toast, and go from there.
  • Breakfast burrito: use the scramble as a component in a breakfast burrito. Beans, avocado, salsa, and whatever else you love to put in your morning burrito.

tofu scramble in a bowl with skillet potatoes

More Favorite Tofu Recipes

More Camping Recipes

 

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Tofu Scramble

4.8 from 5 votes

This makes a family-sized skillet. If you’re cooking for one or two, or if you’re using a smaller skillet, cut the recipe in half. Use your favorite curry powder here. I’ve used a range of Sri Lankan and Indian curry powders here over the years, each one lending something special. You can use more spinach than called for here, just add it in batches, allowing the leaves to collapse before adding more.

Ingredients
  • 1 pound extra-firm tofu
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 3 big handfuls of spinach leaves, stemmed
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, plus more if needed
  • For serving: chives, hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
  1. Drain any water from the tofu, press it between a couple of paper towels to release excess moisture, then crumble into small pieces.
  2. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, add the garlic and onion, and saute for just a few minutes, until they soften up. Stir in the curry powder and then the tofu. Cover and cook for 4-5 minutes, until the tofu is thoroughly heated. Stir in the nutritional yeast and then add the spinach. Stir for a minute or so, until it wilts and collapses, then stir in the salt. Taste and adjust for seasoning. If you want a brighter curry flavor to come forward, sprinkle with more curry powder. If the flavors aren’t quite popping, add more salt a couple pinches at a time.

Notes

Serves 4 to 6.

This recipe is an updated variation on the Curried Tofu Scramble published in Super Natural Cooking (2007).

Serves
5
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
 
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Comments

Heidi, I've been making your tofu scramble - the one with onions, garam masala, nuts and raisins for at least 15 years! The nuts and raisins fell by the wayside pretty early. Now I use whatever veggies are around - sometimes spinach or chard, other times bell peppers. Always ready quickly, even for packing kids' lunch boxes in the morning if I don't have enough dinner leftovers. This is literally my go-to meal for when we need something nutritious last minute. Add some roti or bread and dinner/lunch/breakfast is sorted. Love it for last meal at home before leaving for a trip because it makes exactly enough for one meal with no leftovers, is quick and needs minimal cleanup.

Nivedita

    Thanks Nivedita! Love this note. I agree, it's a great go-to for us on the regular too. Love that it has stuck in your rotation this long. xo!

    Heidi Swanson

Wow, this tofu scramble recipe sounds delightful! I've always been on the lookout for a flavorful vegan breakfast option, and this seems perfect. The use of curry powder and nutritional yeast is intriguing. Can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!

Enigma Wanderlust

Hi Heidi! I was wondering if silken tofu will work in place of firm tofu? Have you ever tried it? I feel like it might make it more 'eggy' but wanted to get your take. Thanks!

Sonya

    Yes! Give it a go - there are a number of versions out there that use silken tofu for a creamier egg texture. Totally a personal preference. I might do a dedicated write up at some point doing a scramble with the silken tofu to talk through the differences. xx!

    Heidi Swanson

Hey:), delicious like always. I have been following your blog since 1 year and I wanted to say that I am big fan of your recipes.I share them on social media and receive positive feedback. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

Louis Delata

    Thanks for the nice note Louis!

    Heidi Swanson

I cannot wait to make this! There is a brand, Amy's? that made a gluten free wrapped scrambled tofu that I adored. But I can't find it anymore so I figured I'd recreate it. Not so easy. But this recipe sounds like her tofu scramble. So exciting, for me. My husband despises tofu. Will make it when he is out! Thank you so much for this!

Alene

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