Scrambled Tofu

As you know, I've been trying to come up with some more interesting breakfast dishes and I drew one recipe out of my memory bank - Scrambled Tofu. This is a dish that goes back to the Hippie Days, which I just missed, but a lot of vegetarian restaurants continued to serve this dish and I was always quite delighted to find it. The last time I had it in a restaurant was in Fairhaven, Washington, which is near Bellingham.  I cooked it often when my kids were little, but it's been such a long time since I've made it.  And, I had a package of tofu languishing in my fridge, so I decided to make this dish and was once again delighted at how it turned out. The tofu becomes quite yellow because of the Turmeric and it's designed to make the tofu look like scrambled eggs and I've had versions where they have used Curry Powder instead, but I like the simplicity of these mild flavors. It's very filling and I find it very nourishing too. I know some people will be thrown off by the idea of eating tofu for breakfast, but this dish is full of protein and in Chinese Medicine, tofu is considered cooling, which is great for these hot days and it detoxifies the body. Plus, when it's cooked right- it's delicious too!

Scrambled Tofu

1 pound firm Tofu, drained

2 Tablespoons Oil

1/2 small Onion, minced

1 Carrot, peeled, and cut into fine mince

1 Celery Stalk, trimmed and cut into fine mince

1 teaspoon Turmeric (or Curry Powder)

1/2 teaspoon each Onion Powder and Garlic Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 - 2 Tablespoons Tamari

Optional:  Minced Red Pepper, Chopped Tomatoes, Minced Green Onion, or Minced Zucchini

In a large frying pan, heat oil and add onion, carrot and celery (and any other vegetables you like).  Cook until it just starts to brown (about 4 minutes) and add in Turmeric.  Then add Tofu, crumbling it with your fingers.  Add Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt and Tamari. Cook until tofu is hot, stirring frequently. Serve with Toast or Hash Browns.

Five Element Analysis

Tofu is a Metal food and the onions and the Turmeric, Onion and Onion Powder and Garlic Powder add even more.  The Celery adds the Wood Element, the Carrot contributes the Fire Element and the Tamari and Salt bring in the Water Element. The Earth and Fire Elements are missing in this version so be sure to add an Earth ingredient, like the Zucchini and a Fire Ingredient like Tomatoes or Red Pepper or serve with some potatoes or toast with jam or sweetened berries to add both elements at once.