Tofu Scramble With Black Beans and Corn

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

Updated January 14, 2026

  • Andrew Bui for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Kaitlin Wayne.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
20 min
Rating
4(167)
Comments
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Dotted with hearty black beans, juicy corn and crunchy bell peppers, this tofu scramble is a valuable recipe to have in your weeknight dinner repertoire. Staple spices of cumin, turmeric and paprika deliver powerful flavor and color to the clusters of tofu. The corn and bell peppers are not cooked, but are simply tossed with the hot tofu, allowing the residual heat in the pan to soften them just enough to remove the raw taste. The spices are bloomed briefly in the olive oil to awaken and intensify their flavors, but take care to add the tofu promptly to avoid the spices burning. This is an adaptable and versatile dish that can be eaten as an easy lunch or dinner, with tortillas on the side, tossed with some baby spinach as a snacky salad, or with a fried egg on top for breakfast. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 (14- to 16-ounce) packages extra-firm tofu, drained and broken into 1-inch chunks

  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 

  • Salt and pepper

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels 

  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch pieces

  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, plus 1 quartered lime for serving 

  • Handful cilantro leaves, chopped

  • ½ to 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced 

  • Warmed tortillas (optional), to serve

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

49 grams carbs; 461 calories; 10 grams monosaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 21 grams fat; 13 grams fiber; 1075 milligrams sodium; 29 grams protein; 6 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place the cumin, turmeric and smoked paprika in a small bowl. 

  2. Step 2

    Heat a large skillet on medium for 2 minutes. Drizzle in the olive oil, add all of the spice mixture and, stirring constantly, allow the spices to bloom briefly until fragrant and darker in color, 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately add the tofu and garlic, and season generously with salt and pepper.

  3. Step 3

    Increase heat to medium-high and cook, tossing occasionally, until the tofu is golden around the edges, 5 to 8 minutes. 

  4. Step 4

    Turn off the heat. Add the corn, bell pepper and black beans to the skillet and toss to combine. Leave for about 3 minutes, allowing the residual heat to soften the corn and peppers slightly. 

  5. Step 5

    Add the lime juice and cilantro. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed

  6. Step 6

    Top with sliced jalapeño and serve with tortillas (if using) and lime wedges on the side.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
167 user ratings
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Comments

Alyssa

I actually enjoyed this a lot, but the caveat is that I did not make it as written! Here's what I did: I sauteed the jalapeno and bell pepper for a bit, added a clove of minced garlic, and let my cubed tofu (only ONE package, not two) absorb a mixture of the spices and soy sauce (a la the NYTC's scrambled tofu recipe). I then added the quick marinated tofu to the hot pan with the veg, broke the cubes freely, and cooked. Added can of lightly drained beans, frozen corn, and half a lime. Great!!

Will S.

Bland. I was excited by the ingredient list but when made it was on the dry and tasteless side. I added some guacamole and possibly salsa would have helped but I doubt I'll try again.

Katie S.

I usually love Hetty Liu McKinnon's recipes but this one was a miss for me. Quite simply it was bland. Texture was fine but I couldn't get past how flavorless the tofu was. I added some salsa and mashed avocado, which helped, but not enough to make me want to try this recipe again. The aroma was full of promise but the result was a letdown.

RonS

Have to agree with comments. Something is missing here. Onions? Salsa?

Tom

My family really liked this flavorful dish. Just the right amount of heat. Made as described but topped with avocado cheese and salsa as others recommended, and it was delicious.

Mark L

I will never for the life of me understand why any recipes that incorporate tofu do not recommend 1) seasoning the tofu prior or to cooking and 2) sautéing/frying the tofu to get it crispy prior to adding to a dish. A few extra minutes prepping and cooking the tofu (and setting aside before cooking the other ingredients) goes a long way to turning a “meh” dish into something delicious.

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