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A bowl lined with parchment paper, filled with tofu nuggets and lemon wedges.

Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Diana Kostrov
These crispy tofu nuggets are crunchy, golden, and completely oil-free. They’re easy to make and perfect for a quick comfort-style meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American, comfort food
Servings 10 nuggets

Equipment

  • Air fryer / Oven
  • Three bowls
  • Knife

Ingredients
 

  • 200 g firm tofu
Batter
  • ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ tbsp date syrup
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp red lentil flour or white flour (also optional: Buckwheat flour or chickpea flour.)
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ tsp liquid smoke (Optional)
Crispy coating
  • 1 cup unsweetened cornflakes
Others
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Prepare tofu – If using regular tofu, you can freeze and thaw it beforehand for a better texture. If using smoked tofu, skip this step. Cut into nugget-sized pieces and lightly season if needed.
  • Crush cornflakes – Lightly crush into coarse crumbs, slightly larger than panko texture for extra crunch.
  • Prepare coating bowls –
    Bowl 1: flour
    Bowl 2: mix all batter ingredients until smooth
    Bowl 3: crushed cornflakes
  • Coat nuggets – Dip tofu into flour, then batter, then cornflakes. Let excess drip off and coat evenly without pressing too hard. Before coating the tofu in the cornflakes, lift it, gently shake off the excess batter, then place the other side into the cornflakes. Transfer to the baking tray.
  • Air fry – Heat to 200 °C (390 °F), adjust slightly depending on your air fryer. Arrange in a single layer and cook for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. No oil needed.
  • Baking — preheat the oven to 220 °C (428 °F), lightly drizzle or spray with olive oil (optional), and bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.
  • Frying — heat your preferred oil (canola, corn, peanut, or avocado) in the desired amount for deep or shallow frying, and fry each piece until golden brown.
  • Serve – Serve with rice or mashed potatoes, plus sauerkraut and pickles, or your favorite dips.
  • Store – Keeps in the fridge for 3–4 days and can be frozen. Reheat in the air fryer for best texture.

Notes

  1. Smoked tofu: Do not freeze—it affects texture.
  2. Regular tofu: Freezing and thawing improves chewiness and structure.
  3. Oil-free: Air fryer method requires no oil at all.
  4. Serving idea: Best with rice, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, and pickles.