This air fryer tofu recipe produces tasty, jagged, seasoned pieces that, no joke, taste like chicken nuggets! The combination of texture and flavor is absolutely addictive!
I know we just did a whole rundown on the individual and irreplaceable virtues of tofu… but for most of my life before 18 and probably most of my life after 18, chicken nuggets can’t be beat ! And this recipe transforms tofu into little nuggets of umami goodness!
We were testing this recipe when friends were visiting and there was a lot of eye-rolling before most of the pan disappeared!
Nutritional yeast for flavor
Nutritional yeast is the secret to the most delicious vegan and plant-based cooking. I’ve used it in my Vegan Queso before and it adds a dairy-free, yet cheese-like flavor that is nothing short of a miracle.
When do you pair it with soy sauce?! And the smoked paprika?! Garlic powder??!!! WHITE pepper?!!! WELL. No wonder it made our family friends roll their eyes when they tasted it!
The basic idea for this recipe is the one we took inspiration from Lindsay at Pinch of Yumwhich could be the Internet queen of quick and easy recipes for the whole family. Out of curiosity I tried it, using my current favorite seasonings (honestly, white pepper has dethroned black pepper in my book, and I know it’s controversial, but I sleep like a baby at night).
(In case anyone was wondering, we use a Cosori air fryer, but Lindsay recommends ceramic Ninja Air Fryer!)
The nutritional yeast + tofu combination reminds us of Chinese fermented tofu, sometimes also translated as “bean cheese”. It’s no wonder why ingredients like white and red fermented tofu are so addictive, whether you enjoy it with porridge or stir-fried with water spinach!
Ideas for serving tofu in the air fryer
This delicious air fryer tofu is great for anyone looking for a pocket swiss army knife recipe that can serve multiple purposes.
Here are just some of the ideas we thought of:
- Served on any salad you like
- As an appetizer/finger food
- On rice with a side of vegetables
- As a high-protein savory snack when protein bars just aren’t enough
- As an after school snack that might evoke the same excitement we felt by sticking a few chicken nuggets or fish sticks in the old toaster back in the day
- Instead of a bowl of chips while watching your favorite sports game, grab a bowl of these high-protein air fryer tofu bites instead! More satisfying and filling, and just as salty and delicious!
Can I make air fryer tofu ahead of time?
You can move on. Just know that it will lose its crispiness like any fried food left in the fridge. To reheat it, you can simply pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes.
Keep in mind that when the air fryer tofu is hot, it will still be a little soft. It’s better when it’s had a chance to cool down a bit.
Do I need to press my tofu?
We prefer to use extra firm tofu for this recipe. This helps reduce excess moisture as a first step. We recommend squeezing the water with your hands and using a cloth to absorb more. This is the fastest route to making this recipe.
You can choose to press the tofu ahead of time if you have more time. We simply put the tofu on a plate, put another plate on top, and then put a pan on top as a weight. Leave to rest for at least 30 minutes (or overnight in the refrigerator). When you are ready to cook the tofu, remove the water that has collected on the plate and proceed with the recipe!
Air Fryer Tofu Recipe Instructions
Remove the tofu block from the package. Over the sink or a bowl, gently squeeze it between your palms a few times until no more water comes out.
Next, gently press it between a clean, folded kitchen towel to reduce any remaining moisture.
If you want, you can press the tofu onto a plate with another plate on top, holding it down with a heavy pan (or in our case, a bowl with two sweet potatoes). This way even more water will come out.
You can leave it like this for as little as 30 minutes up to overnight (in the fridge) and it will help you get crispier results.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, soy sauce, oil, white pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. It should resemble a wet dough.
TIP: Be sure to pre-mix your seasoning mixture!
If you simply add the ingredients on top of the tofu and then mix, it won’t get the same mushy consistency.
In the same bowl, use your hands to break the tofu into 1 ½-inch pieces. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can start big knowing that as you toss the tofu, some pieces will break off.
Use a rubber spatula to gently toss the tofu pieces and coat them with the seasoning paste.
Air fry at 200°C/400°F for 12-14 minutes, shaking the fryer basket once halfway through cooking to turn the pieces, until golden brown and crispy at the edges!
Air Fryer Tofu
This air fryer tofu recipe produces tasty, jagged, seasoned pieces that, no joke, taste like chicken nuggets! The combination of texture and flavor is absolutely addictive!
serves: 4
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooked: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Prevents the screen from going dark
Instructions
-
Remove the tofu block from the package. Over the sink or a bowl, gently squeeze it between your palms a few times until no more water comes out. Next, gently press it between a clean, folded kitchen towel to reduce any remaining moisture.
-
If desired, you can press the tofu onto a plate with another plate on top, holding it down with a pan. This way even more water will come out. You can leave it like this for as little as 30 minutes up to overnight (in the fridge) and it will help you get crispier results.
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, soy sauce, oil, white pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. It should resemble a wet dough.
-
In the same bowl, use your hands to break the tofu into 1 ½-inch pieces. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can start big knowing that as you toss the tofu, some pieces will break off.
-
Use a rubber spatula to gently toss the tofu pieces and coat them with the seasoning paste.
-
Air fry at 200°C/400°F for 12-14 minutes, shaking the fryer basket once halfway through cooking to turn the pieces, until golden brown and crispy at the edges!
nutritional data
Calories: 160kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 9G (3%) Protein: 11G (22%) Fat: 9G (14%) Saturated fat: 1G (5%) Polyunsaturated fats: 3G Monounsaturated fats: 5G Trans fats: 0.03G Sodium: 423mg (18%) Potassium: 287mg (8%) Fiber: 1G (4%) Sugar: 1G (1%) Vitamin A: 62UI (1%) Vitamin C: 0.03mg Soccer: 35mg (4%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
