Vegan Eggs Benedict

This vegan eggs Benedict is the ultimate dish for breakfast or brunch! Made with toasted English muffins, juicy tomato slices, fresh baby spinach, pan-fried "eggy" tofu smothered in a creamy vegan hollandaise sauce, this veganized version of the American classic does not disappoint. And it's easy to make gluten-free too!

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front view of two tofu Benedicts on a white serving dish with the front one more in focus

Get ready breakfast and brunch lovers because this one's for you!

I'm convinced that there is no better start to your day than a hearty and flavorful meal.

Some of my favorites are this vegan broccoli quiche, this vegan egg and cheese sandwich and of course, this vegan eggs Benedict recipe we have here today. 😉

overhead view of two tofu Benedicts on white plate with side of hollandaise sauce with a spoon in it
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Ingredients you'll need

For the Hollandaise

  • Olive oil or vegan butter
  • Chickpea flour
  • Oat milk
  • Lemon juice
  • Dijon mustard
  • Turmeric (for color)
  • Salt
  • Cayenne pepper

For the "eggs" Benedict

  • English muffin of choice (can use gluten-free if needed such as Food For Life brand)
  • Extra firm tofu
  • Tomato slices
  • Baby spinach
  • Olive oil (some for the seasoning mixture and some for pan-frying)
  • Turmeric (for color)
  • Fine sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Kala namak (aka Indian black salt or Himalayan black salt) - Despite the name, black salt isn't all that salty. However, due to its sulfur compounds, kala namak helps give the tofu a slight "eggy" flavor. I used this brand of black salt.
bottle of kala namak on wooden surface

How to make tofu Benedict - step by step

Open the package of tofu and drain any excess water. If you have a tofu press, press the tofu for 20 minutes.

pressing tofu with a tofu press

If you do not have a tofu press, place the block of tofu in the center of a clean, absorbent kitchen towel on a sturdy plate. Wrap the tofu with the towel.

Place a heavy object, such as a large pot or some books on top of the tofu and press for 30 minutes.

pressing tofu with a large pot

While the tofu is pressing, make the hollandaise sauce (See the vegan Hollandaise post for instructional photos).

Heat olive oil or melt vegan butter over medium heat.

Once the oil is heated or butter is melted, whisk in the chickpea flour.

Whisk constantly until smooth and lightly golden in color but not burned (approximately 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds).

Whisk in the milk, lemon juice, mustard, turmeric, salt and cayenne pepper.

Bring to a boil, whisking constantly.

Once boiling, whisk for 30 seconds and then remove from heat.

vegan hollandaise in saucepan with a whisk

Cover and set aside until ready to use.

Use a fork to whisk together 1 teaspoon olive oil, kala namak, turmeric, salt and black pepper in a shallow bowl.

Slice the block of tofu in half lengthwise.

Then use a 3-3.1" cookie or biscuit cutter to cut two circles, one in each piece of tofu.

I used the 3.1" one in this cookie/biscuit cutter set.

Coat each all sides of each tofu patty in the seasoning mixture.

Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.

Cook tofu on medium to medium-high for 2-3 minutes per side, carefully flipping in between.

While the tofu is cooking, slice the English muffin in half and toast to your liking.

Place half of the spinach and one tomato slice on each of the English muffin halves.

When the tofu is done, place each tofu patty on top of the tomato slices.

Give the hollandaise a stir and then top each tofu patty with 2 tablespoons of the sauce (or more if desired).

dripping hollandaise from a spoon onto one of the tofu circles atop an English muffin half with spinach and tomato

If using, top with fresh chopped chives and/or paprika.

Serving

Enjoy this vegan eggs Benedict alone or with a side of our air fryer home fries and/or some fresh fruit.

This dish also pairs perfectly with a side of our air fryer asparagus topped with more Hollandaise.

front view of vegan eggs Benedict sandwich one a white plate with one behind it

Substitutions 

  • Tomato Slices: You can omit the tomato slices if preferred or replace them with our tempeh bacon.
  • Spinach: You can omit the spinach or use different greens such as arugula or watercress. You could also try using sliced avocado instead.
  • Chives: You can replace the chives with parsley, dill or tarragon. Or, add a little heat with some crushed red pepper flakes.
  • English Muffin: If preferred omit the English Muffin and serve over a bed of fresh greens such as spring mix, arugula or watercress or even some sautéed spinach.

Frequently asked questions

What is eggs Benedict?

This classic American breakfast/brunch dish (sometimes referred to as eggs Benny) traditionally consists of an English muffin, Canadian bacon, poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce.

In this veganized version, we've replaced the Canadian bacon with sliced tomato, the poached eggs with tofu and the traditional egg-based Hollandaise with a vegan version.

We've also added some spinach for extra nutrients and topped everything off with some fresh, chopped chives for a burst of flavor and a sprinkle of paprika for good measure. 😉

I don't have/don't like kala namak...can I leave it out?

Yes, you can leave it out. The tofu won't have an "eggy" flavor, but it's still yummy. 🙂

overhead view of two tofu Benedicts on a white plate

Storing and reheating

This recipe uses about half of the block of tofu, so the rest can be used for tofu crumbles, half of this tofu scramble, tofu "egg" salad or use some to make this vegan blue cheese dressing.

Store any unused hollandaise sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The sauce can be reheated on the stovetop, whisking or stirring frequently until warmed throughout or in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed throughout.

close-up of serving of vegan eggs Benedict on a white plate with another behind it partially cut off
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5 from 4 votes

Vegan Eggs Benedict

This vegan eggs Benedict is the ultimate dish for breakfast or brunch! Made with toasted English muffins, juicy tomato slices, fresh baby spinach, pan-fried "eggy" tofu smothered in a creamy vegan hollandaise sauce, this veganized version of the American classic does not disappoint. And it's easy to make gluten-free too!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American, Vegan
Keyword dairy-free, egg free, gluten free, tofu, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 258kcal
Author Sireesha A.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Open the package of tofu and drain any excess water. Press the tofu using a tofu press for 20 minutes or the kitchen towel/heavy object method as described in the notes below for 30 minutes.
  • While the tofu is pressing, make the Hollandaise sauce according to these directions. When the Hollandaise is done, cover and set aside until ready to use.
  • Use a fork to whisk together 1 teaspoon olive oil, kala namak, turmeric, salt and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
  • Slice the block of tofu in half lengthwise. Then use a 3-3.1" round cookie/biscuit cutter to cut two circles, one in each piece of tofu. Store the remaining *tofu pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Coat each all sides of each tofu patty in the seasoning mixture.
  • Heat olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook tofu on medium to medium-high for 2-3 minutes per side, carefully flipping in between.
  • While the tofu is cooking, slice the English muffin in half and toast to your liking.
  • Place half of the spinach and one tomato slice on each of the English muffin halves.
  • When the tofu is done, place each tofu patty on top of the tomato slices. Give the Hollandaise a stir and then top each tofu patty with 2 tablespoons of the sauce (or more if desired). If using, top with fresh chopped chives and/or paprika.

(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

Suggested Equipment/Tools

Notes

To press the tofu without a tofu press: Place the block of tofu in the center of a clean, absorbent kitchen towel on a sturdy plate. Wrap the tofu with the towel. Place a heavy object, such as a large pot or some books on top of the tofu. Please note that the item(s) you use will get wet.
*This recipe uses about half of the block of tofu, so the rest can be used for tofu crumbles, half of this tofu scramble, tofu "egg" salad or use some to make this vegan blue cheese dressing.
Store any unused hollandaise sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Sauce can be reheated on the stovetop, whisking or stirring frequently until warmed throughout or in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed throughout.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Fiber: 3g

This post originally appeared on Watch Learn Eat on December 21, 2019. It has been republished to reflect recipe, photo and content revisions.

©Watch Learn Eat. All content and images are copyright protected. Recipes and images are not to be used or republished without prior permission. If you adapt this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, and link back to this post for the original recipe.

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Vegan Eggs Benedict say what?! That sounds sooo amazing!!! You're so creative Sherri! I must try this one day. Thanks for sharing.