Air fryer recipe · Starters
Crispy Tofu Nuggets
Crunchy golden nuggets with a savory shell and a pillowy soft inside.
- 30 minTotal time
- 200°CAir fryer
- 6Serves
- VegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 170kcal
- 10.3 gprotein
- 17.7 gcarbs
- 7.2 gfat
- 1.1 gfibre
Per serving, about 6 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Firm tofu400 g block
- Cornflour1/3 cup
- Breadcrumbs3/4 cup
- Soy sauce2 tbsp
- Garlic powder1 tsp
- Smoked paprika1 tsp
Method
Press the tofu
Wrap the tofu block in a towel and set a weight on top for fifteen minutes to push out the water. A drier block soaks up flavor and crisps far better than a wet one.
Marinate the cubes
Tear or cut the tofu into nugget-sized pieces and toss them with soy sauce until coated. Let them sit a few minutes so the savory flavor sinks in past the surface.
Set the coating
Dust the marinated pieces in cornflour first, then press them into breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder and paprika. The cornflour layer is the glue that holds the crumb on.
Space them out
Lay the nuggets in the basket without touching and give them a generous mist of oil on all sides. Crowding leads to pale, soft spots where pieces press together.
Air-fry until crunchy
Air-fry the nuggets at 200C for 18 minutes, turning them at the halfway point and re-misting any dry patches, until the coating is deep golden and shatters when bitten.
