Curried Tofu Scramble With Spinach (Indian Style)
Looking for a delicious breakfast or brunch idea? Check out this Indian curried tofu scramble with spinach!
Breakfast or lunch? Let’s make it brunch! Best meal ever! Growing up in Delhi, my mom went all out for Sunday brunch. The love around the table was plenty with family and friends, and the brunch dishes she crafted were all made from scratch. Entertaining is in my blood and hosting brunch is a tradition that is gladly kept. Over time there have been lots of new recipes added to the Indian brunch spread, but one that will always show up is my curried tofu scramble.
What is Tofu Scramble?
If you have never heard about an Indian tofu scramble you might be a bit confused. The photo looks like eggs, but in fact ‘eggs’ are nowhere to be found on the ingredient list. This curried tofu scramble is high in protein, cholesterol-free, nutritious, and vegan, and you can pretty much add any of your favorite vegetables to it.
While they don’t exactly have an eggy flavor, they have the appearance of eggs. They include a beautiful blend of aromatic spices and tofu, and the bright color comes from…you guessed it, turmeric. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, but this tofu scramble is lit. Yes, I said lit! They are a wonderful addition to breakfast cuisine, especially for plant-based diets. However, even meat eaters will likely enjoy them if they are looking to round out their diet with more plant foods.
What is Indian or Curried Tofu Scramble?
The Hindi word bhurji means scrambled in English, and this tofu bhurji or Indian tofu scramble is an Indian-style scramble that is always on my Sunday brunch table. Using firm tofu and a mixture of turmeric, cumin, and other spices, this curried tofu scramble with spinach has the right balance of flavors that are sure to quench your taste buds.
These tofu scrambled eggs have all the typical curry spices including curry, turmeric powder, garlic powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and of course, some salt. This savory combo makes this easy curry tofu scramble perfect for any meal where you need some plant-based protein.
While you could use any chopped veggies that you have on hand in this tofu scramble recipe, I have chosen red bell peppers, onion, spinach or kale, and mushrooms. The colors look beautiful together in the eggs while offering plenty of nutrition. Feel free to include whatever leftover veggies you have in your kitchen, though, as scrambled eggs are the best for using up scraps in your fridge.
Instructions
While this tofu scramble recipe may seem complicated, it uses several easy-to-find ingredients. Here is what you will need to make them:
For the Scramble
- vegetable broth – or olive oil
- onion
- red bell pepper
- mushrooms
- tofu – firm or extra-firm
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kale – or spinach
For the Seasoning
- curry powder – store-bought or homemade curry powder
- garlic powder
- cumin powder
- coriander powder
- turmeric
- garam masala – store-bought or homemade garam masala
- Himalayan pink sea salt
-
water
Instructions
Making this vegan egg recipe may seem complicated, but it is actually quite easy. These are the steps you need to take to assemble a curried tofu scramble.
- To sauté the vegetables, in a large skillet over medium heat, add vegetable broth or olive oil and sauté the onions for about 5 minutes until they are wilted and translucent. Add the sliced mushrooms and diced red peppers to the onions and cook for about 5-7 minutes.
- To prepare the tofu, push the cooked veggies to one side of the skillet and add the block of pressed and drained tofu on the other side. Break up the tofu into chunks using a wooden spatula. Sauté tofu until hot, about 2-3 minutes.
- In the meantime, put all seasonings into a small bowl and add just enough water to be able to whisk it together. It should be more like a paste and not watery.
- Pour the seasoning mixture over the broken-up tofu and toss until each piece is coated well.
- To assemble the tofu scrambled eggs, combine the veggies and tofu while adding the kale or spinach. Cover the pan and cook until baby spinach or kale has wilted; this will happen quickly, about 5 minutes or so.
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Top with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
What Makes Curried Tofu Scramble Good for Breakfast or Brunch?
Curried tofu scramble is a staple for your next brunch with family and friends! It is such a flexible dish, if you know that the guests you are serving like things spicy, you can add some heat with chilis or red pepper flakes.
If you know ahead of time someone has an allergy you can tweak the recipe as needed. When preparing a beautiful brunch spread, it is important to have the right balance of protein (for this recipe 8 ounces has nearly 20 grams of protein), vegetables, sweet dishes, and appearance.
This tofu scramble with spinach is high in protein, packed with nutritious vegetables, and it looks pretty too.
What Are the Health Benefits from the Spices in Curry Powder?
The key to making a curried tofu scramble is good curry powder. Curry powder has become more popular over the years and can be found easily at your local grocery store or you can easily make it at home.
Here is my simple recipe for the most flavorful and amazing curry powder.
Curry powder is more than just a tasty addition found in many Asian and Indian dishes. It can contain coriander, cumin, ground turmeric, yellow mustard seeds, fennel, cardamom seeds, cloves, ginger, and ground nutmeg.
The combination of these spices is known to pack a punch with amazing health benefits. Here are a few that may surprise you.
- Fights Inflammation – Other herbs and spices in curry powder may aid in fighting inflammation in the body but one of the most important ingredients to pay attention to is turmeric. It contains a pigment called curcumin that has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Contains Antioxidants – Consuming antioxidant-rich foods can decrease the effects of oxidative stress and lower the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer. The combination of spices and herbs in curry powder has lots of antioxidants including curcumin, quercetin, pinene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
- Anti-Cancer – As far as the health benefits of curry powder go, this is a showstopper. Some of the common spices in curry powder, like turmeric, have anti-cancer properties.
- Protects Against Alzheimer’s – Recent studies suggest that curcumin may also help with the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Heart Healthy – The spice mix in curry powder might improve both blood flow and blood vessel function, which helps decrease the risk of heart disease.
What’s not to love about curry? Start incorporating this amazing ingredient into your dishes today.
Why Should I Make This Indian Tofu Scramble? Is It Easy to Make?
If you are not yet convinced, this Indian tofu scramble is by far one of the easiest dishes to make and is always on the menu when hosting brunch. Served alongside my Eggless Quiche, it is one of the first dishes to finish.
Before my girlfriends come over, the first thing they ask is I am making tofu scramble with spinach. In under 30 minutes, with a few pantry spices, and any vegetables you have in the refrigerator, this no-fuss brunch dish will impress even the kids at the table.
Ways to Serve Tofu Scrambled Eggs
While these vegan tofu scrambled eggs are super filling and hearty, you may decide that you would like to round out your meal with some other dishes or add them to other meals. Here are some serving suggestions:
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Serve them on top of avocado toast: If you love having mashed avocado on grainy toast in the morning, you can simply place some of these eggs on top for an extra delicious breakfast. The creaminess of the avocado will compliment the eggs perfectly.
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Add them to a buddha bowl: Every grain and vegetable bowl should have some quality protein added to it, so why not make it these eggs? Simply combine your favorite grains, greens, and vegetables in a large bowl and top them with some of the eggs and your favorite sauce. An herbed yogurt sauce or something like a raita would be delicious drizzled over the top.
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Add them to breakfast burritos: If you are a fan of breakfast burritos or wraps, you could add these eggs to a tortilla along with black beans and shredded vegan cheese. This would make them easy to grab and go in the morning when you are heading to work or school. Simply assembled a few of these for meal prep and place them in the fridge overnight. Then, you can reheat them in the microwave or oven in the morning.
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Serve them on English muffins: English muffins make a wonderful base for any egg recipe. Simply place the eggs on top with your favorite vegan cheese and vegan bacon for a delicious breakfast sandwich.
Variations
These curried scrambled eggs are perfect as they are, but just like more traditional scrambled eggs, they are easy to modify to your tastes as well. Here are some recipe variations to help you make this dish all your own:
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Give it a Cheesy Flavor – If you love the taste of cheese in your scrambled eggs, you can feel free to add you favorite vegan cheese to the eggs which will melt and have a similar texture to dairy-based cheese. Alternatively, you could also stir in some nutritional yeast if you are just looking for a cheesy flavor rather than a gooey texture.
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Make Mexican-inspired Tofu Scrambled Eggs – If you would prefer to change this recipe so it includes Mexican flavors, you definitely could! Rather than the curry spices, you could add chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, and garlic powder to the tofu mixture. Don’t leave out the turmeric, though, as it helps give the tofu an eggy appearance. In the case of vegetables, you could add chopped fresh tomatoes, black beans, and chopped onion to the eggs. For garnishes, this would be great with cilantro, hot sauce, and diced avocado for a combination of textures and flavors.
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Make Tofu-potato Scrambled Eggs – If you have roasted potatoes leftover from another meal, you could diced them up to add into this tofu scrambled egg recipe. This version would be great with chopped chives in lieu of the cilantro, and dried herbs and garlic instead of the curry spices.
How to Store Curried Tofu Scramble
If you are looking for tofu recipes for meal prep, this scrambled egg recipe will be a perfect option. You can easily make this recipe ahead of when you would like to eat it and place it in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, when you are ready to serve it, simply reheat it in a skillet on the stove. The mixture should keep well for up to 5 days.
Delicious Tofu Scramble with Spinach
Ingredients
Scramble
- 1 tablespoon vegetable broth or olive oil
- ½ onion, (medium, diced)
- 1 red bell pepper, (large, diced)
- 1 cup mushrooms, (sliced)
- 1 block tofu, (firm or extra-firm, organic, pressed, drained)
- 3 cups kale or spinach, (roughly chopped)
Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan pink sea salt
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add vegetable broth or olive oil and sauté the onions for about 5 minutes until wilted and translucent.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and diced red peppers and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- Push the cooked veggies to one side of the skillet, add the block of pressed and drained tofu on the other side. Break the tofu up into chunks using a wooden spatula.
- Sauté until hot, this will take about 2-3 minutes.
- In the meantime, put all seasonings into a small bowl and add just enough water to be able to whisk it together. It should be more like a paste and not watery.
- Pour the mixture over the broken-up tofu and toss until each piece is coated well.
- Combine the veggies and tofu while adding the kale or spinach. Cover the pan and cook until the greens have wilted. This will take about 5 minutes.
- Top with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.
Pro Tips & Meal Prep Ideas
- If you don’t have spinach or kale on hand, broccoli or tomatoes will also work great in this recipe.
- A couple of slices of fresh avocado on the side is a delicious addition.
- I like using extra-firm tofu for this recipe, using a softer texture that tends to crumble easily.
What are some of your favorite breakfast dishes? Leave a comment below and be sure to follow us @veggiecurean for more delicious recipes!
BON APPÉTIT!
FAQ
Using firm tofu or extra firm tofu is best for this recipe, as it holds up well and provides just the right texture. I don’t recommend that you use silken tofu as it has a much softer texture and won’t have that curd-like texture that the firmer crumbled tofu will have.
Yes, the tofu needs to be pressed or the scramble will be runny.
Whole-grain toast or gluten-free bread are great options, in addition, stuffing the curried tofu scramble in a tortilla makes a great tofu scramble wrap. My family also really enjoys leftovers with rice the next day.
It is best to store it in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator.
If you manage to have any leftovers, this dish can last up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
It is best to reheat curried tofu scramble in a pan on the stove-top or in the microwave.
Freezing raw tofu seems to be okay, as there is more surface area for spices, so the tofu is more flavorful. Freezing cooked tofu, however, never works the same.
The texture of the cooked tofu changes when frozen and the pores expand. However, if you freeze cooked tofu, because of additional pours in the tofu the scramble begins to taste bland.
Related
For more tofu recipes, check out these other dishes:
Leave a comment below and be sure to follow us @veggiecurean for more delicious recipes!
-BON APPÉTIT!
