Looking for a vegan brunch idea? You’re going to love these delicate breakfast nests with layer of hash browns, tofu scramble, and a drizzle of cashew queso. Vegan & gluten-free.
Whenever we travel, I’m always eager to get new vegan brunch ideas.
In our town, vegan breakfast options in restaurants are on the slim side. And it’s too bad, because there are few things cozier than going out on Sunday mornings for cups of coffee, waffles, and hearty scrambles.
So when we were in Portland last spring, I took advantage of the vegan options – from brunch through after dinner drinks.
I was really taken with the breakfast nests at A.N.D. Café. (The restaurant is now called Off The Griddle.) They were unlike any vegan brunch item I’d gotten in the past.
Since Portland is now many airport stops away, I had to re-create this vegan brunch idea at home.
Vegan breakfast nests with a drizzle of cashew queso
These vegan breakfast nests are made with a layer of hash browns. They are then topped with tofu scramble dotted with onions, bell pepper, garlic, and kale. Then they’re drizzled with a creamy vegan queso.
I can’t think of a better way to start the morning than by gathering with friends for hot coffee or tea and a platter of breakfast nests.
Slice through soft scramble, hit the crunch of the hash browns, and sneak your fork through the nacho cheese on your way off of the plate.
These nests can be served as one or two to a plate for an appetizer. Or make it a meal with seitan bacon and fruit.
How to make them
To make them for your next brunch affair, start by grating two baked potatoes. (I got the idea to use baked potato, as opposed to uncooked from a non-vegan recipe at Pioneer Woman.)
Then lightly oil a muffin pan, put three generous tablespoons of grated potato into each cup, and loosely press the potato into a cup shape. (Be careful not to press too hard, though.)
Keep in mind that the potato will shrink as it cooks. So it’s okay for it to spill over the top.
Lightly oil the top of the grated potato and add a dash of salt and pepper. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the tofu scramble.
Remove the muffin tin from the oven. Top the potato mixture with a healthy helping of scramble, until it reaches the top of each tin. Put it back in the oven for ten more minutes.
Once the nests are done, carefully remove the nests from the tin with a spoon. The hash browns may come apart a little as you remove them. Don’t worry about it. They will still be delicious!
Drizzle the nests with a creamy vegan queso (also known as vegan nacho cheese sauce). I recommend using cashew queso (my personal favorite).
However, if you’re looking for a nut-free queso, use the recipe included in these fried vegan nachos. Heads up that the cashew queso is gluten-free. However, the nut-free queso is not. (It uses flour to make a sort of gravy.)
Breakfast Nests in a Creamy Vegan Queso
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized Russet potatoes
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil plus more for oiling potatoes and muffin tin
- Salt & pepper to taste
- ½ orange or red bell pepper diced
- ¼ cup diced onion
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 leaf curly kale rib removed, roughly chopped small
- 14 ounces firm tofu drained
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon kala namak black salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 batch creamy cashew queso
- Garnish: cilantro optional
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Scrub two Russet potatoes and prick several times with a fork. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes directly on the oven rack, turning each potato over half-way through. (It's okay if the potatoes are slightly underdone.) Or if you have an air fryer, you can bake the potatoes in the air fryer instead. After they are done cooking, remove them from the oven or air fryer and refrigerate until completely cool.
- Peel and grate the baked potatoes. Lightly oil the cups of a muffin tin. Loosely pack 3 Tablespoons of grated potato into each cup. Lightly oil the potato mixture in the cups. Cover each cup with a pinch of salt and pepper. Put the muffin tin into the oven and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
- While the potatoes cook in the oven, bring a large skillet to a medium heat. Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Saute bell pepper, onion, and garlic until fragrant and translucent, about five minutes. Add kale to the pan and continue cooking until it wilts, a few more minutes. Crumble the drained firm tofu into the pan. Add turmeric, black salt, paprika, cumin, and nutritional yeast flakes. Fully combine the tofu mixture with the spices, so that they are spread evenly throughout the scramble, and continue cooking for about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the muffin tin from the oven and cover the grated potato with tofu scramble, until the scramble reaches the top of each cup. Put back in the oven and bake for ten more minutes.
- Once the Breakfast Nests are done, remove them from the oven and carefully remove each nest with a spoon. Cover with a drizzle of Creamy Vegan Queso (link to recipe above), garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Vegan Gypsy
Ooh, these look amazing! Who doesn’t love a cheesy potato combination, and the fact they’re cute little muffin-sized, brilliant!
Cadry
Agreed! Potatoes always take breakfast up a notch! Thanks for the kind words!
luminousvegans
Happy Virtual Vegan Potluck! I remember reading about those nests on your A.N.D. Cafe post because I thought it would be cool to try and make. But now I don’t have to 🙂 Yours came out so beautifully moist and delicious looking! I could easily eat all of these!
Cadry
Thanks, Ketty! Happy VVP to you too! I’m looking forward to trying more nest ideas. That meal from A.N.D. Cafe was on my blog inspiration page for a long time!
rebeccajanearmstrong
OH gosh how i want to make these right away! So happy i haven’t had my breakfast yet! xx
Cadry
Thanks! If you make them, I hope you enjoy them!
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal
So awesome It always amazes me when people make vegan cheese.. it’s amazing!
Cadry
Thanks, Kammie! It seems like the options for vegan cheese-making are growing all the time! Whether it’s a sauce, spread, slice, or block, the options are seemingly endless.
The Almost Vegan
Yummy! I will definitely be trying these!
Cadry
Terrific! I hope you like them!
An Unrefined Vegan
Hello, Sunday morning! Talk about enticing, Cadry. I’m pretty sure I could squeeze four of these onto my plate…
Cadry
There’s clearly only one way to settle this. You’re welcome anytime for brunch, Annie, and we’ll see how many nests your plate can hold! 🙂
An Unrefined Vegan
Yippeeee!
Becky Striepe
Cadry, these look amazing!
Cadry
Thanks, Becky!
spinachrevolution
I really like the “nest” idea. There are so many fillings that can be added to it. What a great dish. Thank you for the great recipe.
Cadry
Absolutely! There are so many different filling options. I’m looking forward to exploring the idea more. Thanks for stopping by!
sarah@thesweetlife
Delicious! I’m basically just going through VVP instead of eating breakfast (can’t multi-task I guess) so I’m really digging this!
Cadry
I hear you! VVP is a recipe for distraction! 🙂
Oh, and I wanted to let you know that I tried to leave a comment on your blog, but I couldn’t get the captcha to work. I tried at least six or seven times. I wonder if anyone else is having that problem, or maybe it’s just something specific to my computer.
Kylie @ FotV
I need these in my life now! Anything that includes hash browns is ace in my book! This is the first time I’ve heard of Vegan Virtual Potluck. Pretty great idea!
Cadry
Yes, lately I’ve renewed my love affair with hash browns. They don’t offer them at the one restaurant in town that has vegan brunch on offer, and so I’d kind of forgotten about them. Luckily, they are easy to make at home!
I’m so surprised that this is the first time you’ve heard about the Virtual Vegan Potluck! It happens twice a year. You’ll have to join up in the spring!
coconutandberries
How delicious! I’m not usually a savoury in the morning type of person but I think these could convert me!
Cadry
I hear you! I’m not a sweet breakfast-type person, but every once in a while I have to have a stack of pancakes or waffles. It’s good to see how the other half brunches on occasion! 🙂
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato)
These look delicious! I was already hungry for breakfast, but now I am ravenous. The potatoes look so crispy and tempting!
Cadry
Thanks, Allison! Potatoes have a way of making any breakfast just a little bit better! 🙂
Susmitha - Veganosaurus
First those taco bowls, now these potato bowls. Girl, your food bowl creativity knows no bounds. I am beyond hungry right now, looking at your delicious breakfast nests. Yum!
Cadry
Funny! It appears that I have a thing for foods stuffed in other foods! Thanks for the kind words, Susmitha!
Susmitha - Veganosaurus
I do too, so I totally get it. 🙂
soupandsuch
This is such a great idea for a fun breakfast item! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Cadry
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
Liane
This looks so cute 🙂 bookmarked.
Cadry
Thanks, Liane! Nice to hear!
Kelli
Those look great! What a great brunch item…
Cadry
Thanks, Kelli! Much appreciated!
Somer
The cuteness factor alone is overwhelming! Then you go and put everything I love for breakfast inside! Love these Cadry!
Cadry
Thanks, Somer! Don’t you just love cute foods? There’s something that’s just fun about a meal of finger foods.
acookinthemaking
Good gracious those look delicious! I love the potato nest idea…I can think of a lot of fun variations to try with just that base recipe.
P.S. – I am constantly getting great ideas from non-vegan cooking shows! It’s fun 🙂
Cadry
I agree! There’s endless room to play with this nest idea. I’m looking forward to toying with it more.
I don’t watch a ton of cooking shows, because we don’t have cable at home. However, I do catch them on occasion when I’m on the elliptical trainer at the gym. If only I had a notepad on the side of the workout machine for jotting down ideas of recipes to veganize! 🙂
Kelly G. (@vegandaemon)
Oh wow, these look delicious! Pretty sure you can hear my stomach gurgling the next state over.
Cadry
I wondered about that noise, Kelly! I’m glad that the mystery has been solved! 😉
The New Loaf
What a neat idea! I’ve never had anything like this – definitely want to try it.
Cadry
Thanks a bunch! If you try it, I hope you enjoy it!
Bobbie {the vegan crew}
I love these nests, Cadry — all of my favorite breakfast components together in each tasty bite!
Cadry
Thanks, Bobbie! It’s definitely a combination of all of my breakfast favorites as well!
The Vegan Kat
I’ve been looking for new vegan breakfast ideas and will have to give these a try!
Cadry
Excellent! Let me know if you make them!
flickingthevs
As they’re so dainty, I’m allowed to eat six or so, right? Right?!
Cadry
Allowed? More like required! 😉
Keely @ Gormandize
These look totally fantastic, one of my favourites so far! I’ve bookmarked them to try, I think they are a great idea! 🙂
Cadry
Thanks, Keely! That’s lovely to hear! If you decide to make them, I hope you enjoy them!
Move Eat Create
I’m so excited about this one! One of my favorite local restaurants make vegan nests and they are a favorite of mine. I’m thrilled about the idea of making them at home.
Cadry
You’re so lucky to have a restaurant in your area that makes vegan nests! Outside of our trip to A.N.D. in Portland, I’ve never seen them on a menu before.
Move Eat Create
Ha! I missed the part in your post where you said these came from AND as inspiration. That was the restaurant that I was referring to! 🙂
Cadry
Oh, that’s funny! 🙂
Starr
I’m always searching for yummy, hot, vegan breakfast ideas. This definitely fits the bill! I’m looking forward to trying it, thanks for sharing.
Cadry
Terrific! I hope you enjoy them, Starr!
Richa
yes, please send a dozen of these delicious brekky nests for sunday brunch to seattle. yes this sunday!! i
Cadry
Will do! I just have to figure out where to put the stamp… 😉
Nikki Spigner
Oh yum! I love new ideas for brunch. and these sound perfect.
Cadry
Thanks, Nikki! That’s nice to hear!
lizziefit
They look like little quiches, only better 🙂 A great quick breakfast option to have during the holidays if you make them the night before!
Cadry
What a good idea, Lizzie! This would make for a fun Christmas morning option. I haven’t tried making each section ahead of time and then just baking the scramble & hash browns together on the next day, but I bet it would work. Let me know if you try it!
lizziefit
It might take some experimenting but if I’ll let you know if I can do it 😉
celestedimilla
What a striking appetizer! I hope you make it to the next “actual” potluck I go to 😉
Cadry
Thanks, Celeste! That’s nice to hear!
Eat,live,burp
I am totally bookmarking this for my next brunch with the girls:)
Cadry
Excellent! Let me know if you try it!
Randi (laughfrodisiac)
Wowww! Those look so delicious AND adorable!
Cadry
Thanks, Randi! I have a soft spot for cute food too. I could happily make a meal of appetizers!
Maggie Muggins
Fantastic idea Cadry, so cute and creative. I love that you smothered them in queso, that gives you 10 extra points in my books 😉
Cadry
10 extra points, hooray! Out of curiosity, how many points am I at now? Do the points work like frequent flier miles or Starbucks credits, and will I eventually be able to spend them on something? Or is it like a basketball game and the points help me edge ahead of other brunch competition? Enquiring minds… 😉
veganmiam.com
Haha on frequent flier miles… I would love that, too!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete}
Cheesy-shredded potatoey-ness?!?!? Yum, This looks awesome Cadry!
Cadry
Thanks, Anna!
sweetveg
These look great Cadry! I know a few children who will LOVE these! Yay! A new recipe to try. Thank you!
Cadry
Excellent! I hope they really like them! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Kristy
Gah! These look so delicious! I’m all over anything with hash browns. 🙂
Cadry
You and me both! Hashbrowns had fallen off of my radar since they’re not offered at any of the restaurants in the area with vegan breakfast options. However, lately they’ve been making our breakfasts at home extra special!
veganmiam.com
What heartwarming and delicious Breakfast Nests: veggie hash browns & garlic & kale & creamy cheezy queso? I love all the combinations. I have yet to go to A.N.D. Cafe even though I lived about 2 hours away – however, I was in Bogota, Colombia at that time you were there. Happy VVP, it’s nice to see you here!
Cadry
I really enjoyed our trip to A.N.D. It’s worth checking out the next time that you’re in Portland! Happy VVP to you too!!
Shell
These look so delicious! As you know, I haven’t tried tofu yet. This looks less intimidating to me than most tofu dishes.
Cadry
Thanks, Shell! I bet we could think of some alternatives to tofu as well for the filling. Maybe sweet potato hash browns with a black bean filling… We’ll have to give it some thought!
jessicademarra
I almost never make the typical breakfast food but I think I am willing to get up a little earlier to make these. Coffee on the side of course
Cadry
I hear you! Most mornings I just have leftovers from the day before for breakfast. However, some days call for something a little more involved! 🙂
thepeacepatch
ohgoodgolly I haven’t had potato baskets since I was a kid! My mom used to fill them with some cream of chickeny thing with peas and onions. Very Betty Crocker. I love your sweet potato/bean suggestion…it would be fun to experiment with all sorts of things like purple potatoes, parsnips, etc. Maybe an over-the-top take on a T-day dish…sweet potato nests with a whipped candied sweet potato/date/nut filling and a marshmallow top. 😉
One of the reasons your blog rocks is all the visuals…thanks for the helpful step-by-step photos! Cheers!
Cadry
I’m so surprised that you grew up with potato baskets! I’d never heard of them before our trip to A.N.D., but that’s a cute name! Yes, there are so many possibilities to branch out and experiment with this concept! I definitely look forward to exploring some more options. Thanks for the kind words on the photos. 🙂
alexandra caspero
Yum! These looks so yummy! What a perfect breakfast for a crowd!
Cadry
Thanks, Alexandra!
kahht
Holy crap. I caught myself salivating while reading this! I know exactly what I’m bringing to the next brunch party. Thanks!
Cadry
Terrific! I hope you enjoy them!
carmen ☮ (@CarmenVarner)
Oh my gourd! This looks like the yummiest breakfast (or brunch or dinner) recipe ever!!
Cadry
Thanks, Carmen!
in2insight
Wow, these not only look great but taste wonderful as well.
A bit of a production, with an end result that is as flavorful as it is impressive.
Ended up not baking the potatoes first, just grated, shaped and baked “raw”.
Sauce ended up very thick, so thinned out a bit and adjusted seasonings.
A great fancy delicious way to start the day. Thank you!
Cadry
I’m glad to hear it! Thanks for letting me know.
Helen Butt
Do the potatoes really need to be baked before they are grated. It seems as though they would cook enough in the muffin tins if put in raw. I’m tempted to try, but don’t want to end up with something that’s inedible.
Cadry
Hi Helen,
I baked the potatoes first, because there are several layers in the nests, and I wanted the hash browns to get crispy at the bottom. However, another commenter recently made the nests without baking the potato first and said it worked fine for them. Good luck!
Helen Butt
Thanks, Cadry. I’m going to try these. They look delicious!
Cadry
Thanks, Helen! I really hope you enjoy them. 😀
April C.
I’m not a great cook, but decided to make these for a brunch I went to last week and they were the hit of the party! Vegans and non-vegans alike went crazy for them. Thanks for the fabulous recipe that even a dunce in the kitchen like me could follow. I highly recommend this recipe to anyone reading!
Cadry
I am so glad to hear that, April! I’m happy that the breakfast nests went over well, and thank you for letting me know.
FeedThisFoodie
Sounds delicious!! Planning a brunch for my sisters birthday in a couple of months and these would be a great addition 🙂 Has anyone tried making these ahead of time yet and then putting them together on the day?
Cadry
I haven’t tried that, but I’m sure there are shortcuts you could take. The queso can be made ahead of time and gently warmed on the stove on the day. It tends to thicken in the refrigerator, and so you may need to add a splash of water. You could make the tofu scramble beforehand too. I probably wouldn’t do the potato cups ahead of time, as the potato will soften in the refrigerator. Let me know how it goes, and best of luck with your sister’s birthday brunch. Very thoughtful of you to plan it!
Janis
Oh, A.N.D., how I miss you…
Thanks, Cadry, for recreating this delicious dish. EVERYONE, vegan or not, loved them! Perfect!
Cadry
Aw, I’m so glad to hear that, Janis! Thank you!