Breakfast Stir Fry with Tofu & Vegetables

Breakfast does not have to begin with eggs, bread, or something sweet.

It can begin with a hot pan and vegetables.

The source recipe combines broccoli, celery, two colors of bell pepper, cashews, and tofu in a quick stir fry. Olive oil and toasted sesame oil form the cooking base, while soy-style seasoning, chili sauce, and oyster sauce provide the finishing flavor.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1/2 cup broccoli florets and stems, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup cashew nuts
• a dash of Bragg all-purpose seasoning, or another soy sauce
• a dash of chili sauce
• a dash of oyster sauce
• 1 cup medium tofu, cubed

The source recommends using tofu that is already marinated or otherwise well flavored.

Method

Heat the olive oil and toasted sesame oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat.

Add the broccoli, celery, bell peppers, and cashews.

Stir-fry for a few minutes.

Add a small dash each of the soy-style seasoning, chili sauce, and oyster sauce.

Cover the pan and let the vegetables steam for about 2 minutes.

Add the tofu, mix well, and cook for another minute.

Serve immediately.

Two oils, two roles

Olive oil provides part of the cooking fat.

Toasted sesame oil contributes much more aroma.

Using both keeps the sesame note present without asking it to carry the entire frying process.

That is useful in a quick stir fry, where the pan is hot and the cooking time is short.

Stir-fry, then steam

The method changes halfway through.

First the vegetables are exposed directly to the hot pan.

Then the lid goes on.

That brief covered stage lets trapped moisture soften the vegetables without requiring a large amount of extra oil or sauce.

After that, the tofu is added for only the final minute.

The sequence preserves the different needs of the ingredients rather than treating the whole pan as one cooking time.

Breakfast by function, not stereotype

The source presents this as a savory, filling alternative for mornings when eggs do not appeal.

That is perhaps the most useful idea in the dish.

Breakfast is not defined by a fixed list of foods. It is defined by what works at that moment of the day.

Vegetables, tofu, nuts, and a hot savory sauce can belong at breakfast as naturally as they belong at lunch.