Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

4.59 from 12 votes

Super crispy air fryer tofu nuggets with a deliciously spiced crumb coating. Easy to make, freezable and ideal for dunking in your favourite sauce!

Cook Time20

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Sides, Snack

Cuisine: All, American, English

Servings: servings

Calories: 303kcal

Author: Richard Makin

Equipment

1 air fryer
3 Medium bowls
1 pastry brush

Ingredients

450 g extra firm tofu
40 g plain white flour
3 teaspoon vegan bouillon powder or one vegan stock cube, crumbled
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
100 ml plant milk
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
100 g golden breadcrumbs
3 tablespoon vegetable oil

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

If necessary for your air fryer, preheat to 200 °C.
450 g extra firm tofu
Drain and pat dry the tofu. Cut the tofu into 4 x roughly 1 cm slices then either break or slice into as many chicken-nugget sized pieces as possible.
Arrange three small bowls on the counter. In the first bowl, combine the plain white flour, vegan bouillon, cayenne, garlic powder, fine sea salt and black pepper.
40 g plain white flour, 3 teaspoon vegan bouillon powder, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
In the second bowl combine the plant milk and the vinegar. Whisk for a second - the mixture should thicken slightly.
100 ml plant milk, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
In the third bowl, place the golden breadcrumbs.
100 g golden breadcrumbs
Take a piece of tofu and using your left hand, dunk thoroughly in bowl one (the spiced flour mixture), toss until fully coated. Next, dunk the same piece of tofu in bowl two (the plant milk mixture). Shake off any excess plant milk then dunk straight into bowl three (the breadcrumbs). Place the coated nugget on a tray and repeat with the remaining pieces of tofu.
Once all the nuggets are coated, use a pastry brush to carefully brush both sides with the vegetable oil.
3 tablespoon vegetable oil
If you're not planning to cook the nuggets immediately, place the tray in the freezer for 1 hour. Remove the frozen nuggets and transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer.
When ready to cook, place the nuggets in an even layer in the basket or tray of the air fryer and place in the preheated air fryer. If cooking from room temperature, air fry for 20 minutes. If cooking from frozen, air fry for 25 minutes.
Serve with your favourite dipping sauces or my vegan buffalo sauce.

Nutrition