is our traditional breakfast on the open fire. (Seriously, with breakfast and a setting like that, can I be bothered to take a better picture? I'm working on it though. For the time being, I apologize for the ho-hum photography.)
When I was a kid, my family would spend any major or minor holiday during the warm 3/4 of the year on the beach. In the morning, my dad would make huevos rancheros for my mom and brother and me, and my little family would enjoy the cool quiet of the early morning before the beach filled up with kids and beach chairs and the seemingly ever-present sound of Vin Scully on the battery-operated radio. By midday all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, granddads, and hangers-on would have trickled in for the ensuing barbecue. The beach would be crowded and hot. But I love to think about those tranquil mornings with my family and some spicy breakfast fare.
Inspired by that tradition, this dish has become our vegan holiday breakfast.
Soyrizo Breakfast Tacos
2 bricks firm tofu
1 tube soyrizo
1 large sweet potato (pre-cooked in the microwave and chopped up)
1-2 Tbsp. canola oil
salt & pepper
a dozen corn tortillas
1 avocado
hot sauce
1 lime cut into wedges
Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over a medium hot fire. Squeeze in the soyrizo, crumble in the tofu, dump in the sweet potato, season with salt and pepper, and stir. Wrap the tortillas in foil and throw the packet on the grill to warm. Let the tofu mixture crisp up a bit. Stir it occasionally while you slice up the avocado and lime and sip some coffee. To serve: put a large scoop of the tofu mixture onto a warm corn tortilla and garnish with avocado slices, a squeeze of lime, and a dash of hot sauce.
It's a holiday somewhere, so please, serve this with orange-guava mimosas.
P.S.
In L.A. County, Dockweiler and Cabrillo Beaches have firepits. In the O.C., several beaches have firepits, and it seems that you're permitted to bring your own barbecue, though they spell it barbeque, but again with a setting like that, who can be bothered to spell correctly? (Please see my own notes about misspelling on this site here.)
Now, after having done a little research for you, I have discovered that you're officially not allowed to have alcoholic beverages on the beach. Your Vegan Mom does not suggest that you shirk the rules, just enjoy your mimosas safely and discreetly.
Oh also, if you burn easily or simply don't want to make breakfast, Cafe 101 makes excellent no huevos rancheros.
Happy Holidays.
