Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

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Kimchi Tofu Scramble features chunks of tender tofu scrambled with kimchi, kale and green onions for a tangy flavor filled, healthy vegan breakfast, lunch or dinner! It’s quick, easy and ready in 15 minutes!

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (1)

Now thatkimchihas been added to the recipe collection, it’s time to experiment with this spicy, tangy mixture.

And what better way to use it than to make a kimchi tofu scramble. Tofu at times can use a little help, and kimchi is a perfect addition to whip your tofu into shape!

This is my vegan version of a recipe I saw for a kimchi scramble using eggs. This tofu interpretation came out amazing and if you’re a kimchi lover and tofu appreciator, then I think you’ll agree!

I first made this kimchi tofu scramble with spinach (which tasted great, of course!) but ultimately decided to use kale here as we try to use the most nutrient dense foods whenever we can. I loved the kale, it cooks down beautifully adding a nice pop of green.

The seasoning is super simple, letting the kimchi shine through. Use your most fermented batch of kimchi, the ripened flavors will work best when cooking with kimchi.

Looking for more great tofu scramble recipes? Be sure to check out this Southwest Tofu Scramble, Veggie Tofu Scramble, or Tofu Scramble Stuffed Poblanos for a nice change!

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2)

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Ingredients You’ll Need

In this easy recipe, crumbled tofu is cooked with kale, tamari and garlic powder, then kimchi is added at the end and gently cooked until warmed through for tangy, spicy and absolutely delicious tofu scramble.

Here is everything you will need:

  • Sesame oil– or your favorite oil.
  • Organic tofu – use regular firm or extra-firm.
  • Kale – use full-grown or baby kale. I used pre-cut for ease. Sub with spinach or chard.
  • Green onion
  • Tamari– or soy sauce, coconut aminos or nama shoyu.
  • Garlic powder
  • Nutritional yeast – optional, but adds a savory, umami, cheesy flavor.
  • Vegan kimchi – make homemade Vegan Kimchi or use your favorite store bought.
  • Cilantro– for a fresh herby finish.
  • Sesame seeds – toasted, black or white.

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (3)

How To Make Kimchi Tofu Scramble

  • In a large wok or skillet, heat oil on medium-high, add tofu, crumbling it between your fingers, and cook for about 2 -3 minutes (above left).
  • Next, turn heat to medium, add tamari and garlic powder, give a good stir. Add kale and most of the scallions, cook, stirring occasionally until kale becomes soft and wilts, about 5 – 7 minutes.

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to use your fingers to crumble the tofu, you can always use the back of a fork or break it up with your cooking utensil. Feel free to break the tofu down to your desired texture, chunky or smaller bits. I usually break it up on the chunky side, and after stirring and mixing, it tends to break down on its own just right.

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (4)

  • Lastly, add the kimchi with juices, mix and cook just until kimchi has warmed through, about 1 minute. We don’t want to overcook the kimchi or it will destroy some of the health benefits of the probiotics.

Once it’s all cooked and ready to go, you are ready to serve it however you like!

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (5)

Serving Suggestions

This tasty kimchi tofu scramble is great alone, but can also be served in a variety of ways! Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Tacos: Make kimchi tofu scramble tacos using corn or flour tortillas (this is tops!).
  • Hot sauce: Add a little sriracha, sambel olek or garlic paste for extra heat.
  • Cream: Try adding a drizzle of this Garlic Miso Cashew Sauce, or for extra heat try this Dynamite SauceorSriracha Cashew Cream. You can control the heat when adding the spice to each of these condiments.
  • Grain: Serve with white rice, brown rice or black rice.
  • Soup: Serve with a bowl of this Garlic Miso Soupor Simple Miso Noodle Soup.
  • Wash it down: For breakfast serve with green tea or lemon water. If you’re a beer drinker, when making for brunch, lunch or dinner an Asian or Mexican beer would be great (Kirin Ichiban, Sapporo, Corona and Dos Esquis are all vegan friendly).

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (6)

More Easy Breakfast Recipe

  • Easy Vegan Waffles (a fan favorite!)
  • DIY Muesli
  • Everyday Oatmeal

If you try this kimchi tofu scramble recipe, please let me know!Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

KIMCHI TOFU SCRAMBLE

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (7)
Print Recipe
★★★★★5 from 1 review

Kimchi tofu scramble is another way to enjoy your kimchi for breakfast, lunch or dinner. So easy and delicious!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Vegansita
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 3
  • Category: Breakfast, Entree
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil, optional
  • 1 block (14 – 16 oz) organic tofu, firm or extra-firm
  • 12 tablespoons tamari
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 45 large leaves of kale, center stem removed and julienned
  • 3 scallions, sliced (divided)
  • 12 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
  • 1 cup kimchi

To Serve, optional

  • cilantro sprigs
  • sesame seeds (toasted, black or white)
  • lime wedges
  • 6 corn or flour tortillas

Instructions

Open and drain tofu. No need to press the tofu.

In a large wok or skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add tofu, crumbling between your fingers, cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 -3 minutes.

Turn heat to medium, carefully add tamari and garlic powder, give a good stir. Add kale and 2/3 – 3/4 of the scallions, cook, stirring occasionally until kale becomes soft and wilts, cover partially to help with the process, about 5 – 7 minutes.

Lastly, add the nutritional yeast and kimchi, mix and cook just until kimchi has warmed through, about 1 minute or so. We don’t want to overcook the kimchi or it will destroy some of the health benefits of the probiotics.

If making optional tacos, heat the tortillas. I like to heat mine carefully over a gas burner until lightly charred in spots. Use your preferred method. Layer tortillas with the scramble mixture, add a few sprigs of cilantro, some of the reserved scallions, a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime.

Serves 3

Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, in a covered container.

Notes

Use spinach in place of kale.

Use ripened kimchi, the flavors will be more pronounced. You may prefer fresher kimchi, in which case use your favorite.You may like to chop your kimchi a bit before adding it to the tofu. I kept it as it was but it’s an option.

Try adding a drizzle of this Garlic Miso Cashew Sauce, or for extra heat try the Dynamite Sauce or Sriracha Cashew Cream. You can control the heat when adding the spice to each of these condiments.

Keywords: kimchi tofu scramble, tofu scramble recipe

Updated: Kimchi Tofu Scramble was originally published in October 2014. It has been updated with new photos and helpful tips in January 2020.

FOLLOW TSVonFacebook,Instagram,PinterestorRSSfor more updates and inspiration!

Kimchi Tofu Scramble (Quick + Easy Recipe) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

FAQs

How long does tofu scramble last? ›

Store leftover tofu scramble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can reheat the tofu scramble in the microwave, heat for 60 to 9o seconds. You can also place the tofu scramble back into the skillet and reheat on the stove.

Why is tofu scramble healthy? ›

Scrambled tofu is a rich source of protein, with a serving (about ¼ block) of tofu containing around 8-10 grams of protein, which is nutritionally comparable to one egg. Similar to eggs, tofu is considered a “whole” protein food, meaning it contains a full complement of essential amino acids.

Can you freeze a tofu scramble? ›

Freezer: Tofu scramble is freezer-friendly and freezes well for up to 2 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers (affiliate link). Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags, squeezing out all the excess air.

What's healthier, eggs or tofu? ›

In case you're wondering which is healthier, eggs or tofu, the match-up is surprisingly close. If you compare them per serving (1 egg to a 3.5-ounce serving of tofu), the tofu has a similar amount of calories and slightly more protein. Here's how they stack up: Calories: egg = 78 | tofu = 70.

Can you eat tofu every day? ›

Similarly, the American Cancer Society sees no dangers from eating soy. "For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said.

Is there a downside to eating tofu? ›

Contains antinutrients

Like most plant foods, tofu contains several antinutrients. These compounds are naturally found in plant foods and lower your body's ability to absorb nutrients from food ( 6 ).

What does tofu do for your gut? ›

General Gut Health

One study found that consuming soy products led to an increase in the healthy bacterias bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut. Both of these bacteria have been found to help decrease risk of chronic diseases.

Is tofu good for belly fat? ›

If you are eating tofu that is processed with sugar, salt, or preservatives, then it may not be healthy for you. But if you are eating it that has been processed in a way that preserves its nutritional value, then tofu can help you healthily lose belly fat.

Can I use tofu instead of eggs? ›

For breakfast dishes, use a firm or extra-firm tofu to prevent it from liquifying in the cooking process. Scrambled eggs have a slightly creamy yet firm texture. To achieve this consistency with tofu, you will need a few other ingredients: A liquid, like water or a nut-based cream.

Why does tofu say not suitable for freezing? ›

While the original packaging is airtight, it's also filled with liquid. If you freeze tofu in the original packaging, you'll likely end up with a funky, frozen block of tofu water.

Can you eat tofu scramble cold? ›

Serve it with Sheet Pan Breakfast Potatoes, Blender Waffles (recipe coming on Friday) with a Blueberry Sauce, Breakfast Sausages and fresh fruit. You can serve it many different ways. If I batch prep it for the week I like to heat it up or serve it cold over a chopped salad.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Why pour boiling water over tofu? ›

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something you're trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

How to know if tofu is bad? ›

Use all your senses to tell if a food has gone bad by looking, touching and smelling the tofu. Spoiled tofu tends to have a darker color of tan or even brown. Mold may form on the surface or you may see discoloration. Tofu that has gone bad also tends to be slimy and have a sour or rotten odor – fresh tofu has no odor.

Can you keep tofu scramble in the fridge? ›

How to store tofu scramble. Unlike scrambled eggs, once the tofu is scrambled it will sit happily in the fridge for 2-3 days in an airtight container. It might dry out a little so add a splash of plant based liquid such as soy milk or coconut milk when reheating it.

How long does a breakfast scramble last in the fridge? ›

Scrambled eggs or cooked eggs that have been made into egg salad or a quiche should be refrigerated and eaten within 3 to 4 days.

How long does a tofu dish last in the fridge? ›

If it's opened, refrigerated tofu is generally good for 3 to 5 days, as long as you've stored it properly. Any more than that, and there's a risk it may have started to spoil, especially if the refrigerator door is opened frequently.

How long does tofu spread last in the fridge? ›

The tofu spread can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

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