Tofu nuggets are a great vegan alternative to chicken nuggets. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and can be made in an air fryer in under 30 minutes. The key to achieving the right texture is to press the tofu to remove excess moisture. You can also freeze and then defrost the tofu to give it a meatier, more chicken-like texture. The tofu is then coated in spices, batter and a panko crust before being air-fried to perfection.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Prep Time | 10-15 minutes |
Cook Time | 10-15 minutes |
Total Time | 20-30 minutes |
Tofu Type | Firm, extra-firm, super firm, high-protein |
Tofu Quantity | 14 oz |
Tofu Shape | Bite-sized cubes, nuggets, chunks |
Breadcrumbs | Panko, gluten-free, crispy brown rice, corn flakes |
Flour | Tapioca, whole wheat, all-purpose |
Spices | Smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry spice, veggie broth powder, chilli powder, nutritional yeast |
Sauce | Ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, honey mustard, hot sauce, vegan mayo, chipotle mayo, buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce |
Air Fryer Temperature | 350-400°F |
Air Fryer Time | 8-15 minutes |
What You'll Learn
How to press tofu
Pressing tofu is a crucial step in preparing tofu nuggets as it helps to remove excess moisture, improving the texture and ensuring the tofu holds its shape when cooked. While it is possible to skip this step, pressing the tofu will result in a crispier exterior and moist interior. Here is a guide on how to effectively press tofu:
Steps to Press Tofu:
- Place the tofu on a layer of paper towels or a clean dishcloth: Fold the paper towels or dishcloth to increase absorbency and place the tofu block on top. This will help absorb any moisture released from the tofu.
- Apply weight to the tofu: Place a heavy object, such as a large can of food, a frying pan, or a small dumbbell weight, on top of the tofu. This weight will help press out the moisture. Be careful not to use too much weight, as it may crush the tofu.
- Allow the tofu to sit: Leave the tofu under weight for at least 30 minutes. During this time, the weight will gradually squeeze out the moisture, which will be absorbed by the paper towels.
- Replace paper towels if needed: If the paper towels become saturated with moisture, replace them with fresh ones and continue pressing until they stop absorbing moisture.
- Slice or cube the tofu: Once the tofu is pressed, you can cut it into strips or cubes as per your recipe requirements.
- Optional: Freeze the tofu: Freezing pressed tofu changes its texture, making it firmer, chewier, and more absorbent. This step is ideal for recipes where the tofu will be grilled, baked, or stir-fried, as it helps the tofu hold its shape.
Tips for Pressing Tofu:
- Use firm or extra-firm tofu: Softer varieties of tofu, such as silken tofu, are not suitable for pressing as they can easily fall apart.
- Blot the tofu dry: If you are short on time, you can simply blot the tofu with a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. This method works well for crispy tofu recipes and helps achieve a moist interior.
- Pressing gadgets: While not necessary, commercial tofu presses are available and can make the process more convenient.
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How to coat tofu
Coating tofu is a simple process, but there are a few key steps to ensure your tofu nuggets are crispy and full of flavour. Firstly, you will need to press the tofu to remove any excess moisture. This can be done by placing the tofu block between paper towels or clean tea towels on a plate and putting something heavy on top to weigh it down. Leave for at least 30 minutes, or even a couple of hours if you have the time. This step is important as it improves the texture of the tofu and helps the coating stick.
Next, you can cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces, around 1-inch chunks or nuggets. You can cut it into strips and then into squares, or simply tear it into irregular pieces with your hands.
Now you are ready to coat the tofu. There are a few different methods you can use. One method is to use the 'double dredge' technique, coating the tofu in a dry ingredient, then a wet mixture, and back into the dry mixture. For the dry coating, you can use cornflour, cornstarch, or tapioca flour. For the wet mixture, you can use a plant-based milk, such as soy milk, mixed with a little apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or dijon mustard. Repeat this process until all the tofu pieces are coated.
Another method is to coat the tofu pieces in a paste made from nutritional yeast, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, and poultry spice or veggie broth powder. Break the tofu into the bowl and gently fold the pieces in the paste until they are evenly coated.
For an extra crispy coating, you can then dip the tofu pieces into a batter and then a panko breadcrumb mixture. For the batter, whisk together a plant-based milk, flour, and paprika. For the breadcrumb coating, mix together panko breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast, and season with salt and pepper. Dip each tofu nugget into the batter and then toss in the breadcrumb mixture, shaking off any excess.
Now your tofu nuggets are ready to be cooked in the air fryer!
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How to cook tofu in an air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 block of extra-firm tofu
- Spices (e.g. smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper)
- Breadcrumbs (e.g. panko)
- Flour (e.g. tapioca, whole wheat, corn starch)
- Soy milk or another high-protein milk
- Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- Oil (e.g. olive oil, avocado oil)
- Optional: nutritional yeast, vegan-friendly condiments for dipping
Method
- Press the tofu: Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, place on a plate, and put something heavy on top to press out the excess moisture. Leave for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour. You can also freeze and then defrost the tofu to achieve a "meaty" texture.
- Cut the tofu into bite-sized chunks or nuggets.
- Prepare three bowls: In the first bowl, mix together the milk and vinegar/lemon juice. In the second bowl, add the flour. In the third bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, spices, nutritional yeast (if using), and oil.
- Coat the tofu: First, roll or dip the tofu in the flour, then dip it in the milk, and repeat. Finally, add the tofu pieces to the breadcrumb mixture and toss to coat.
- Preheat the air fryer to between 350-400°F (180-200°C).
- Place the tofu nuggets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. Spray with cooking spray or olive oil spray.
- Air fry the tofu for 8-15 minutes, flipping the nuggets halfway through, until crispy and golden brown.
- Serve immediately with your choice of dipping sauce.
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How to make tofu crispy
Ingredients:
- 1 block of extra-firm tofu
- Spices of your choice (e.g. smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper)
- Breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
- Flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
- Soy milk or another high-protein milk
- Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- Oil (optional)
- Dipping sauce of your choice
Method:
- Press the tofu: Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, place on a plate, and put something heavy on top. Leave for at least 30 minutes to press out the excess moisture. You can also freeze and then defrost the tofu before pressing to achieve a "meaty" texture.
- Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces or chunks.
- Prepare three bowls: In the first bowl, mix together soy milk and apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. In the second bowl, add flour. In the third bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, spices, and oil (if using).
- Coat the tofu: Dip the tofu pieces in the flour, then the milk, then back in the flour, and finally in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F (180-200°C).
- Place the tofu pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. You may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry for 8-15 minutes, flipping the tofu pieces halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce!
Tips:
- You can experiment with different spices and coatings to find your favourite flavour and texture.
- Pressing the tofu is an important step to remove excess moisture and ensure a crispy texture.
- If you want to make the tofu even crispier, you can double-coat it by repeating the dipping and breading process.
- These tofu nuggets are best served fresh, as they will lose their crispness over time.
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Dipping sauces for tofu nuggets
There are many different sauces that you can use for dipping tofu nuggets. Here are some ideas:
Sweet and Spicy Sauces
- Thai sweet chilli sauce
- Honey
- Agave or maple syrup
- BBQ sauce
- Honey mustard
- Buffalo sauce
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Spicy vegan mayo
- Chipotle mayo
- Hot sauce
Savoury Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Ranch
- Vegan mayo
- Vegan Chick-fil-A sauce
- Vegan butter chicken with tandoori tofu
- Vegan remoulade
- Tomato sauce
- Cajun sauce
- Soy sauce
- Tamarind sauce
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Frequently asked questions
You will need tofu, flour, breadcrumbs, spices, and a dipping sauce. The specific spices and flour may vary depending on the recipe, but commonly used spices include smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
First, press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces or nuggets. Next, prepare a breading station with flour, a wet mixture (such as plant milk or a mixture of milk and vinegar), and a breadcrumb mixture. Coat the tofu pieces in flour, then dip them in the wet mixture, and finally, toss them in the breadcrumb mixture. Place the breaded tofu nuggets in the air fryer and cook at a temperature between 350-400°F for 8-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Yes, you can make tofu nuggets in the oven. Preheat the oven to 390-400°F and place the breaded tofu nuggets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray or olive oil and bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.