Homemade Vegan Breakfast Recipes

Vegetarianism and vegan lifestyles are becoming more and more common. Some people choose to boycott meat and meat products for reasons of cruelty and others for reasons of health. My mom was diagnosed as being lactose intolerant about 7 years ago and, since then, dairy products have been extinct throughout my parents’ house. At first I had some reservations about having limited supplies of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream but over time I got over it. We started looking for vegan meal kits instead to meet our dietary requirements and fulfil our nutritional needs. I even started eating some of the vegan foods my mom would prepare! The meals have less calories and use seasonings other than salt to make them taste good. The secret about tofu is that it has virtually no taste until you season or marinate it. So how do you cook vegan meals? Here are just a couple of recipes for breakfast time for the vegan in you.

The first part of breakfast is usually scrambled eggs, but instead let’s try scrambled tofu.

1 pound firm tofu, patted dry and mashed1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup of vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, onions, or tomatoes
(I like to use fresh mushrooms and sweet onions)

Lightly oil (vegetable oil preferred) a good sized frying pan (or sauté pan). Cook tofu in oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. Cook for about 6 or 7 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked and the tofu is thoroughly heated.

Next let’s try some french toast.

12 oz package silken tofu
1/2 cup soymilk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 to 6 slices of whole wheat bread
Strawberries, sliced (optional)

Combine all ingredients except the bread and strawberries in a blender. Blend until smooth and there are no lumps. Pour mixture into a bowl big enough to dip the slices of bread in. Carefully dip each piece of bread in the mixture until well coated. Lightly oil griddle or frying pan and brown each slice of battered bread on each side. Serve immediately and top with sliced strawberries and maple syrup, if desired.

Of course with every good breakfast there are home fries.

3 or 4 red potatoes, scrubbed clean
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika or chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oil (vegetable or olive)

Preheat oven to 350. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Do not peel the potatoes! Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. In a large bowl combine potatoes with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well or until potatoes are evenly coated with oil and seasonings. Pour contents of bowl onto cookie sheet and spread out into one single layer. Cook in the oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through, turning gently every 5-10 minutes. For crispier potatoes, cook approximately 10-15 minutes longer.

Finish up the breakfast with some fresh fruit and/or whole grain toast and you have a delicious, vegan-style, healthy breakfast! Enjoy!