Tofu Scramble
Tofu Scramble with Sauteed Onions and Portobello Mushroom
Last night Teddy Girl asked us how to make a tofu scramble. Tofu scrambles are something Jane prepares often. I love them, and she prepares them in a myriad of ways, so she's never bored cooking them. We consider them a staple.
So here's how we prepare our scrambles: First, remove from package and drain the tofu. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium flame. Put tofu in the skillet and break it up with spatula. Sprinkle 2-4 Tbs nutritional yeast (and additional spices to taste, generally ¼ to ½ teaspoon of each) over tofu and continue to cook until the tofu is golden in color. If you're using firm tofu, or have cubed it, cook until it just begins to brown on flat edges. Note: It really doesn't matter what type of tofu you use... If you use firm or extra firm tofu your scramble will generally retain a more cube-like shape. If you use soft tofu it will resemble scrambled eggs in texture.
So what do I mean by "additional spices to taste?" Jane makes our tofu scrambles in a variety of different ways, and each time is different. She varies the spices she uses based on the additions or sides she's making.
Here are a few of our favorite tofu scramble mix-ins:
- chopped asparagus, dill
- sauteed onions and spinach, oregano and/or paprika
- sauteed onions and mushrooms, thyme
- sun dried tomatoes, basil, onion powder and garlic powder
- chopped apples, almonds, garam masala
- chopped soy chorizo and corn, cumin; with a side of guacamole and a tortilla
As for sides - we always have a green salad along with our dinner. When we have a tofu scramble we often have a bagel with Tofutti cream cheese. (Buy the Tofutti in the yellow container - does not have trans fats.) Jane will also often make vegan bacon or sausage links, or some kind of veggies... grilled asparagus. Sometimes Jane will make hash browns, or potatoes and onions. Tonight we had sauteed onions and portobellos on the side, along with a bagel and ½ an avocado, and of course, a salad.
There's almost no way to do this "wrong." But here's a tip... We find the nutritional yeast really makes a difference. The tofu scrambles all taste better when Jane uses it.
Related Information:
Thank you for the instructions! I haven’t prepared a tofu scramble (besides throwing the frozen Amy’s one into the microwave) so this was really helpful!
First of all, thank you for your blog–I am a regular reader and enjoy it very much. That said, I just needed to vent to someone who would understand. Two things happened at work today (mind you–I do not go around preaching my vegan lifestyle, but several people I work with are aware of it).
1. My boss, after learning I was running to Vitamin Cottage for my lunch, said, “I hate to break it to you, but what you’re doing isn’t having the slightest bit of effect on the situation (animal cruelty). It took all I had not to tell her that her comment was evidence of her ignorance.
2. A co-worker who knows I like beer, said, “Are there organic beers? How do you know that the hops and barley you are drinking in your Coors Lite weren’t sprayed with pesticides containing animal products? So you’re vegan except for your beer?” Oh my god, at this point is when I needed to come vent.
Thanks for listening and thanks for blogging!
Sue
Hi Nicole,
Glad to be of help. And let us know how you fare…
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the kind words.
As for your boss… This is one of the more frustrating things about “outing” yourself. People always seem to see it as a challenge, to knock you off your “morally superior perch. Notice the quotes around “morally superior.” That means they think you think you are morally superior, not that you actually believe that yourself.
Over time I’ve learned to respond to the 2 comments you mention above. To point 1, I say — I can only be responsible for my own actions. Perhaps by doing what I think is right, I will have an impact on other people and they might consider changing their behavior. Or
To point 2 I reply – I do the best I can. Living in this society there is no way for me to be 100% vegan.
As for the beer… we have two links to vegan liquor on the Vegan Resources page under General Information. Hope that helps.
And feel free to vent. Sometimes being vegan can be a lonely road.
Thank you!!!
I’ve never tried doing this but thanks for the tip about the nutritional yeast! It just makes sense but I would have never thought of it.
Hi Vegan,
It’s also a sneaky way to get in a bit of B12.