Breakfast, possibly my favorite meal of the day! Like most people when I think of breakfast the first things that come to mind are animal products: eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, sausage, bacon....and the list goes on. How can you even begin to consider going vegan when all these foods are simply perfect for a hearty breakfast? I won't lie, it's not easy. I still indulge in a homemade yogurt parfait every once in awhile, but then again I'm not suggesting you go vegan over night. Modifying your diet to vegan is a huge change and more successful (and easier) when done in steps. So why not start with the first meal of the day?
Before considering a vegan, let alone vegetarian, diet I was super hesitant to try tofu. All I heard was that it had zero flavor. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to eat something tasteless. While the critiques of tofu being plain are accurate, you can certainly still create a fabulous dish full of flavor. The great thing about this product is that it takes on the taste of whatever else you decide to cook it with! Trying to find protein sources for vegetarians/vegans can be difficult, but with this fast and simple tofu scramble recipe you're on a good start for the day.
Veggie Tofu Scramble
Makes: 1 serving I Prep Time: 5 min I Cook Time: 10 min
INGREDIENTS
1/2 tsp coconut oil
3.5 oz firm or extra tofu (about 1/4 block)
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup chopped asparagus
2 tbsp chopped onion
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper
1 tbsp nutritional yeast*
1 tbsp hemp seeds**
DIRECTIONS
Chop up all veggies and set aside. While you heat oil in a small pan.
Once oil is hot add all chopped veggies to the pan.
Let veggies cook until onions are translucent and zucchini/asparagus tender. About 6 min.
Crumble tofu into pan, add turmeric, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined and cook for another 3 min.
Pour all that deliciousness onto a plate and top with hemp seeds. Enjoy!
*Nutritional yeast is a vegan's best friend for a quick cheesy fix. It looks like yellow flakes and has a kinda odd smell. It doesn't taste quite like cheese but it's a great substitution. If you can't find it or aren't ready to try it, no biggie just leave it out. Nutritional yeast can be found at health food stores or upscale grocers. I got mine at sprouts.
**Hemp seeds are another a great source of protein and gives dishes a slightly nutty flavor. Small bags can go for as much as $11 so don't stress if you can't find any, leaving it out won't hurt the dish. However, I was able to find a bag at Trader Joe's for just $5.99!