Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
Crispy, golden, and quick to prepare, these air fryer tofu nuggets are perfect for snacks, meals, or appetizers.
April 15, 2025
Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
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Crispy, golden, and quick to prepare, these air fryer tofu nuggets are perfect for snacks, meals, or appetizers.
Toss into a stir-fry. Simmer in your favorite curry. Serve with rice and veggies, drizzled with a delicious dressing. Or pair with a dipping sauce as an appetizer. The possibilities for these crispy tofu bites are endless.
Ingredients and Substitutions
• Tofu: The star of the show. Extra firm or super firm work best. Extra firm has more water in it. So be sure to press it for at least 30 minutes to remove excess moisture.
• Cornstarch: This helps thicken the batter.
Substitutions for cornstarch
- Arrowroot starch → Use the same amount, 2 1/2 tablespoons (20g).
- Rice flour → Use 5 tablespoons (34g). Note: This is regular rice flour. Not glutinous or sweet rice flour.
- All-purpose flour → Use 5 tablespoons (39g).
• Spices: You can switch this up, depending on what flavor profile you’re going for, or skip the seasoning altogether. I recommend sticking to 2 teaspoons of spices total (not including salt and pepper).
• Nutritional Yeast: This gives the tofu a nutty savory flavor. If you don’t have any, don’t sweat it. To leave it out, add another 1/2 tablespoon (4g) of cornstarch OR 1 tablespoon (8g) all-purpose flour.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds color and umami. But you can pretty much use any liquid to thin out the batter. Chicken broth, water, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
• Sesame Oil: I like the nutty flavor sesame oil brings. But any liquid oil will work.
How Should I Store Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets?
As with most “fried” food, this is best eaten immediately. That said, leftovers can be stored, in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days (they just won’t be as crispy).
Can I Make Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets Ahead of Time?
Due to the crispy “fried” texture, this is best eaten immediately. But this can easily be prepped in advance, should you have a dinner party → Tear the tofu and store in the refrigerator. Mix the batter and keep it covered at room temperature for up to 2 days (or refrigerate).
Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra firm or super firm tofu, pressed and torn into 1-inch pieces
- 2 1/2 tablespoons (20g) cornstarch
- 2 1/2 tablespoons (8g) nutritional yeast
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 1/2 tablespoons (45g) reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons (26g) sesame oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the soy sauce and sesame oil and whisk to combine.
- Add the torn tofu and stir with a spatula to coat. Scrape into the air fryer basket and spread out into an even layer.
- Air fry at 400 F until crisp and golden, shaking the basket halfway through, about 15 minutes.
Notes
- Extra firm tofu should be pressed for at least 30 minutes to remove excess moisture. Super firm has less water but should be patted dry with paper towels.
- Extra firm tofu will cook into a softer texture than super firm.
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