Southwest Tofu Scramble

Southwest Tofu Scramble is a tasty egg-free breakfast. Vegan, high in plant-based protein and fiber, budget-friendly, great for meal prep

About Southwestern Tofu Scramble

If you are skipping eggs for any reason, this southwest tofu scramble is a great breakfast option!

Whether you follow a vegan diet, are allergic to eggs, or feel tired of eating eggs every morning, you'll enjoy this option for a nutritious & tasty breakfast.

Even if you think you don't like tofu, I recommend trying it like this because the cooking method makes it similar to the texture of scrambled eggs.

Plus, it's simple to make. Start by crumbling a bit of tofu into a skillet and season with spices.

Once the tofu has been lightly browned, add beans and salsa. Then enjoy!

You can top this easy scrambled tofu with avocado slices, nutritional yeast, shredded cheese, or anything you want.

If I am adding cheese, I like to add it to the tofu scramble while it's still in the skillet so it melts a little.

Want more egg-free breakfasts? Check out this list of Breakfast Recipes Without Eggs with over 30 ideas!

Ingredients

Tofu: All tofu types will work. It depends on the texture you want your scrambled tofu to be. If you prefer a soft-scamble texture, use silken tofu. For a more crumbled tofu scramble, use firm or extra firm tofu.

Spices: The tofu scramble seasoning for this southwestern tofu scramble includes chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, turmeric, and salt. See below for more details on each spice.

Salsa: Any type of salsa you like will be delicious in this scrambled tofu recipe. You can use store-bought salsa or make this super easy, homemade low-sodium salsa.

Beans: To add texture, flavor, fiber, and protein to this dish, I add beans. Any kind will be tasty. Black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, white beans, etc.

Toppings: Top the southwestern tofu scramble with your favorite scramble toppings like avocado, shredded cheese, nutritional yeast, or vegan avocado cilantro dressing.

Tofu Scramble Seasoning

Chili powder: Chili powder is the southwest tofu scramble seasoning base.

Cumin: For a smoky, complex, peppery flavor, add cumin.

Garlic powder: Garlic makes everything taste better, and garlic powder saves you from chopping fresh garlic.

Turmeric: To give it an egg-like yellow color, add a dash of turmeric. However, this is optional.

Salt: Salt enhances the flavor. Adjust the amount to your taste preferences.

Recipe Cost

• Tofu ½ cup: $0.51
• Chili powder ¼ teaspoon: $0.02
• Cumin ⅛ teaspoon: $0.02
• Garlic powder ⅛ teaspoon: $0.01
• Salt ⅛ teaspoon: $0.01
• Turmeric ⅛ teaspoon: $0.02
• Salsa ¼ cup: $0.19
• Beans ¼ cup: $0.14

TOTAL COST: $0.92/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2023)

Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

How to Make Southwest Tofu Scramble

Recipe Tips

*If you are not using a nonstick skillet, add a few teaspoons of oil (avocado oil, olive oil, or canola oil) to the skillet with the tofu to keep it from sticking.

Variations

Ingredient Options

Beans: All beans work well in this recipe. Black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, white beans, pinto beans, etc.

Flavor Substitutions

Spices: If you want a Mediterranean tofu scramble, omit chili powder and cumin. Add ⅛ teaspoon each of dried oregano and dried thyme. Top with pesto or salsa.

How to Make Allergy-Friendly

Southwestern tofu scramble is naturally gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. It is also vegan and vegetarian.

If you top it with cheese, it will no longer be dairy-free, so top the tofu scramble with nutritional yeast instead of dairy cheese if you need it to be dairy-free and/or vegan.

How to Fix a Mistake

Tofu sticks to skillet: Add a little water to the skillet and scrape up the browned bits.

Lacking flavor: Sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon of chili powder, garlic powder, and/or salt. You can also add ⅛ teaspoon of paprika or dried coriander.

Make-Ahead Ideas

This is great to make in advance. Simply prepare as directed and refrigerate until ready to enjoy. You can reheat in the microwave or on a stovetop.

Measurements For Meal Prep

• 1 tablespoon oil (optional)
• 2 (14-ounce) blocks of tofu, drained & crumbled
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon turmeric
• 1 ¾ cup salsa
• 1 (15-ounce) can beans

Makes 6-7 servings.

Be sure to use a very large skillet, preferably with high sides.

Storage Suggestions

Store leftover southwestern tofu scramble in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Since freezing tofu changes its texture, I don't recommend freezing leftovers.

Reheat:

• In the microwave: Put the tofu scramble on a microwave-safe plate or bowl, and heat in 30-second intervals at 100% power, stirring between each interval, until warmed through.
• On the stovetop: Transfer to a skillet with a teaspoon of oil, and reheat for about 3-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition Benefits

Tofu is full of isoflavones which have been associated with several health benefits; soy protein has been shown to improve bone health, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and possibly reduce the risk of diabetes.

It is an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, selenium, and Vitamin A.

Southwestern tofu scramble provides 16 grams of plant-based protein, 6 grams of fiber, 19% RDA of calcium, 17% RDA of iron, and 10% RDA of potassium.

It is a little high in sodium but you can easily decrease it by making your own low sodium salsa or by adding a diced tomato in place of the salsa.

What to Serve with Southwest Tofu Scramble

While this is a full meal, especially if you add toppings like avocado and cheese, it's great served with sliced fruit, cooked rice, or toast.

You can also double the recipe or add extra beans for more substance.

A pumpkin pie smoothie is another tasty pairing option for extra fruits, veggies, fiber, and protein.

Final thoughts:

This recipe serves one, and you can easily increase the measurements (and cook it in the skillet together) to serve more.

You can also prepare multiple servings for breakfast meal prep.

Southwest Tofu Scramble is a tasty breakfast recipe that is a great egg-free option.

I love that you can customize it and make it your own.

Plus, it's super budget-friendly at less than $1 per serving!

MORE VEGAN BREAKFAST RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

• Peanut Butter Potatoes
• Avocado Chickpea Toast
• Breakfast Quinoa
• Berry Green Dream Smoothie

Meme

This post was originally published on January 16, 2012. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.

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Southwestern Tofu Scramble Nutrition Facts

Tofu Scramble Calories

There are 183 calories in this recipe for Southwest Tofu Scramble.