The Perfect Tofu Scramble

It's safe to say that tofu is the king of the vegan food pyramid--and rightly so!  I've loved tofu ever since I first became a vegetarian at 13.  When I made the transition from vegetarianism to veganism at age 16, I was worried I would miss eggs, especially scrambled eggs at breakfast time.  I obsessed over perfecting my tofu scramble to satisfy my craving.  Now, four years down the road, I think I may have finally done it--simplicity of spices is the key here, so if you're going to get fancy, make sure you have a good flavor going first!  This recipe is great for breakfast, but it's also versatile enough to serve at lunch or dinner time.

The Perfect Tofu Scramble

1 block organic tofu (extra firm-non GMO!)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (a.k.a. "nooch")
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper (use white pepper if you have it)
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp allspice (trust me.)
a pinch of salt (use black salt if you can get your hands on it--its mildly sulfurous odor compliments the "eggy" flavor)
(optional: herbs like thyme or rosemary, sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, diced tomatoes, etc.)

First thing's first--drain your tofu!  If you're a tofu novice, here are the steps:  cut open the package and tip the water into the sink.  Place your block between two plates with something heavy (like a phone book, if those still exist) on top.  Leave your tofu to press for 15-20 minutes and tip the water into the sink.  Bam!  You're ready to make some scramble!

Heat the olive oil in a skillet on medium.  Crumble your tofu with your fingers and drop it into the pan.  Add half of the nutritional yeast and all of your spices (except salt)--sauté for 5-10 minutes, until it's starting to get golden.  It should develop a little bit of a spice coating--if you'd prefer it to be a little more "saucy", you can turn down the heat and add a couple tablespoons of water.  Add the rest of the nutritional yeast and the salt.  Cook for another two minutes or so.  Add your "optionals" if you're using, and serve hot!