Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
These Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are the perfect appetizer, snack, or a family-friendly dinner. If you enjoy crispy tofu but don't want to deal with the hassle of deep-frying at home, you must give air-fried tofu a try.
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Servings: 4
Ingredients
- Block of Extra-Firm Tofu drained and pressed
- 1 cup Vegan Panko Breadcrumbs use gluten-free if needed
- ½ cup All-Purpose Flour use gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¾ cup Plant-Based Milk unsweetened
- Spray Avocado Oil
Instructions
- Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes to remove excess water. You can do this by using a tofu press or by making a DIY tofu press. To do so, simply wrap the block of tofu in paper towels or clean dishcloths and place it in a shallow bowl. Then, stack heavy items on top to drain the excess water.
- In a shallow bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, remaining kosher salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Pour in the unsweetened plant-based milk and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
- Rip the tofu into bite-sized chunks.
- Coat each tofu bite in the batter and drip off any excess then toss immediately into the breadcrumbs. Place onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Continue until all the tofu has been battered and coated in breadcrumbs.
- Transfer half of the tofu bites to the air fryer basket and lightly spray with avocado oil or other neutral oil. Frying in batches will ensure the tofu nuggets evenly brown and get crispy.
- Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes. Continue until all nuggets are crispy and golden.
- Please note that air fryers can vary. When attempting this recipe for the first time, I recommend monitoring it closely. Check on the tofu at the halfway point and during the final 2 to 3 minutes of cooking to make sure it's not burning.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
Important Note about Salt: Not all salts are made equal and cannot be substituted 1:1. If you are substituting table salt for kosher salt, you will need to cut the amount called for in the recipe by at least half.
Keep in mind that air fryers can differ. Check the tofu halfway through and in the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking to ensure it doesn't burn.
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