How Do I Press Tofu Without a Tofu Press?

Get two plates, some paper towels and something heavy, like a big book. Wrap up the tofu using the paper towels. Place a plate on a counter, put the tofu on it, and then place the other plate on top of the tofu. Put your book on the top plate and squeeze out the excess water.

Can I Cube the Tofu Instead?

Yes! Tofu cubes work just as well. It's just fun having them in nugget shapes.

What Sauces Would You Recommend?

We've got an amazing Vegan BBQ Sauce to use with this tofu nugget recipe! You can also try our Nut-Free Vegan Ranch Dressing , Vegan Garlic Aioli , Vegan Sweet and Sour Sauce , Lemon Miso Tahini , Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing , Maple Mustard Tahini , Spicy Almond Butter Sauce , or the bang bang sauce from our Bang Bang Tofu recipe! Buffalo sauce or ketchup are a good idea too. Basically anything you would pair with a chicken nugget works great with this air fryer tofu nuggets recipe.

Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Name: Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 Block Super-Firm Tofu (See Note 1); 2 Tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce (See Note 2 for gluten-free version); 2 Tablespoon Neutral Oil (See Note 2); 1/4 Cup Arrowroot Powder; 1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast; 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder; 1 Teaspoon Paprika; 0.5 Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning (this is vegan; it's just a spice blend); 1/8 Teaspoon Salt (or to Taste); Pepper to Taste

Description

Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets are a super easy snack or main for dinner! Just rip apart a block of tofu, shake them in a bag, and air fry.

Ingredients

Scale

1 Block Super-Firm Tofu (See Note 1)
2 Tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce (See Note 2 for gluten-free version)
2 Tablespoon Neutral Oil (See Note 2)
1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder
1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1 Teaspoon Paprika
0.5 Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning (this is vegan; it's just a spice blend)
1/8 Teaspoon Salt (or to Taste)
Pepper to Taste

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Instructions

Rip Up the Tofu: Tear the block into tofu pieces. You want medium to large chunks. See Note 3.
Cover in Wet Batter: Add the soy sauce and the oil to a large bowl. Mix them together. Then add the tofu chunks and gently mix it in.
Shake Them in the Dry Batter: Pour the arrowroot powder, nutritional yeast, and the spice mix into a sealable plastic bag. Shake them together. Add the tofu to the bag and then shake until the tofu is fully covered.
Add to Air Fryer: Add the tofu to the basket of your air fryer on a single layer. Set the temperature to 350 F (190 C) and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until the tofu has a crisp coating.
Oven Instructions: Preheat you oven to 425F (220C). Place tofu nuggets on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve: Remove your tofu from your air fryer and enjoy!

Notes

Note 1: I’m talking about the kind in the vacuum-sealed plastic, not a tub full of water. I can usually find it in my local supermarket, Trader Joe’s, Asian market and I've even seen it at Costco sometimes (depends on the location). You can turn firm tofu and extra firm tofu into super firm by pressing the water out them. This can be done most effectively with a tofu press, but you could use towels and books if you don't have one. There is also chickpea tofu, fava bean tofu, or pumpkin seed tofu that you might be able to find if you're looking to avoid soy all together.
Note 2: You can make this recipe gluten free by swapping the soy sauce with a gluten-free tamari.
Note 3: Grapeseed Oil and Avocado Oil are great choices for this recipe. You want to avoid low smoke point oils, since we will be cooking this at 350 F (190 C) in an air fryer.
Note 4: You can make these in any shape you want. Cube them, make filets out of them, make them the size of chicken tenders. Cooking times may change so just keep a close eye on them if you do.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dinner, Snack
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American, Party, Kids Meal