Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

Stuff these crispy baked tofu nuggets in a sandwich, pile them on your favorite salad, or dip them in your favorite sauce. These versatile little bites are delicious any way you eat them, and super easy to whip up!

There’s just something about crispy breaded finger food. And okay, I’ll admit that I like it best fried, but it’s not about the grease because I love my crispy baked snacks too.

A couple of years ago I shared a recipe for a veganized version of chicken nuggets, and you guys loved it. But I get two questions over and over: (1) “Can these be baked?” and (2) “What can I substitute for the artichoke hearts and/or chickpeas?”

I wasn’t happy with how those nuggets turned out baked. And as far as substitutions are concerned, I wasn’t sure because I hadn’t tried any. I finally decided to knock out both issues in one fell swoop, with these tofu nuggets!

I love my old nuggets, but these suckers have a couple of advantages. Obviously, there’s the no frying thing. A crispy panko crust does the trick in this recipe. And then there’s the fact that you don’t need to stuff your food processor with artichoke hearts, chickpeas, and a bunch of other things. Tofu is virtually ready to go!

Less ingredients, and fewer steps. Sounds like a winner to me.

You’ll be double dipping little tofu squares to get the perfect coating. First, in a batter made mainly of non-dairy milk, some flour and flax. The flax provides the sticky (okay, slimy) element needed to adhere the panko coating to the nuggets, while the flour thickens it up just a bit. It should be just about the consistency of an egg white.

Then you’ll dredge the nuggets in the seasoned panko coating.

Spray them lightly with oil, place on parchment paper, and bake to crispy deliciousness.

Tips for Making Delicious Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets…

• Can you skip the oil? Yes, but the nuggets won’t brown very much if you do. A little bit of fat is needed for that.
• For an extra flavorful twist, use your favorite marinated tofu instead of plain. No need to press it if you do this!
• Experiment by switching up the spices in the panko coating with your favorites.
• Reheat any leftover tofu nuggets by placing them under a broiler for a few minutes.

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4.5 from 2 votes

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Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

Stuff these crispy baked tofu nuggets in a sandwich, pile them on your favorite salad, or dip them in your favorite sauce. These versatile little bites are delicious any way you eat them, and super easy to whip up!

Course Appetizer, Entree

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 216 kcal

Author Alissa Saenz

Ingredients

For the Batter

• 2/3 cup unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Panko Coating

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (I used whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the Nuggets

• 1 (14 ounce) package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
• Oil mister or cooking spray

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the batter. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes.

2. While the batter rests, stir together all ingredients for the panko coating.

3. Cut the tofu block in half, lengthwise, then slice each half into 8 squares of equal thickness.

4. Preheat the oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. Place one of the tofu squares into the batter, and roll it around to coat.

6. Transfer the tofu to the panko coating and roll it around to coat.

7. Transfer the tofu square to the baking sheet.

8. Repeat until all of the tofu squares are coating and arranged on the baking sheet.

9. Spray the tofu squares with oil to coat the tops.

10. Bake for 10 minutes.

11. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Carefully flip the squares, and spray again with oil to coat.

12. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake 10 minutes more, until browned and crispy.

13. Serve.

Nutrition Facts

Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

Amount Per Serving (4 nuggets)

Calories 216 Calories from Fat 86

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9.5g 15%

Saturated Fat 0.8g 4%

Sodium 959mg 40%

Potassium 203mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 20.6g 7%

Dietary Fiber 2.9g 12%

Sugars 1.5g

Protein 13.4g 27%

Calcium 20%

Iron 20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.