Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
With their tangy marinade and crisp coating, these tofu nuggets are the perfect plant-based chicken alternative.
Servings 6
Calories 255kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 block super-firm tofu (or firm/extra-firm tofu)
Marinade (optional)
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup dill pickle juice (or: 2 tablespoon water, 2 tablespoon vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon salt)
- 2 Tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Starch Mixture
- ¾ cup corn starch
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Milk
- ½ cup unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice)
Breading
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (or gluten-free panko)
- 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or ¼ teaspoon fine/table salt)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- spray oil (to taste)
Instructions
- (Optional) Combine the marinade ingredients in a quart-sized container.
- Cut the block of tofu lengthwise into four thin slices. Break each slice into bite-sized pieces and place them in the marinade.
- (Optional) Allow the tofu to marinate for about 3-12 hours.
- Set up three shallow bowls with the starch mixture, non-dairy milk, and breadcrumb mixture. Dip each side of each tofu piece into the starch, milk, and breadcrumbs until they are well-coated. Place the tofu pieces into the basket of the air fryer in a single layer.
- Spray the tofu generously with oil. Cook them at 400° F (204° C) for about 10-15 minutes. Pause the air fryer roughly halfway through cooking to flip the tofu and spray the other side.
- When the nuggets appear golden brown, use a heat-safe turner to remove the nuggets and serve.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days or freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat them in the air fryer at 325° F for about 5 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
- Marinading is delicious but optional as there is a lot of flavor in the breading.
- Temperature and cooking time may vary slightly with different air fryers.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 610mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 2mg
