Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets

These crispy baked tofu nuggets are my new addiction! They are much easier to make than it might seem, so crispy, and have so much flavor from being marinated and even from the breadcrumbs mixture! If you are looking for a new way to make tofu, give this a try! It will probably become your favorite!

What do you need to make vegan tofu nuggets?

Extra-firm tofu - my favorite type of tofu! It gives these nuggets the perfect texture after pressing them.

For the marinade - soy sauce, water, smoked paprika, garlic powder, they,e, black pepper and tomato paste.

Plant-based milk with cornstarch - this will be the milk where you dip the tofu marinated cubes so that the breadcrumb mixture will hold better.

Breadcrumbs - I used completely regular breadcrumbs with salt and, my favorite ingredient, fresh parsley chopped super finely! It makes such a difference!

Vegetable oil - this is optional but to make the tofu nuggets crispy, I feel the oil is essential just to brush them on the baking tray before cooking.

How to make it?

Pressing the tofu

Sometimes, I don't feel there is a need to press the tofu (such as within this tofu buddha bowl) but for this recipe, for the nuggets to have absolutely the perfect texture, I completely recommend pressing it (just 15 minutes will do the trick!)

To press it, remove the tofu from the package and wash it to remove that sticky liquid that sometimes it has around it. When done, wrap it around some paper towel or just a kitchen towel that is clean and place it over a chopping board. Place another chopping board on top and add some heavy items to the top! I used some huge cans of beans I had around!

Leave it like that for at least 15 minutes.

Marinating the tofu

While the tofu is pressing, get started mixing your marinade ingredients in an airtight container. I prefer to use this type of container because, when you add the tofu, you can close it, shake it and everything will be perfectly covered with the marinade! (my favorite trick!!)

When the time for pressing is over, dry the tofu with a paper towel so that it is really dry and chop the tofu into small cubes. Transfer it into the airtight container and shake it until all the cubes are covered with the marinade. Leave it in the fridge to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Coating the tofu

At this stage, you can preheat your oven to 220ºC.

To a bowl, add the cornstarch and a little bit of plant-based milk. Stir well until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the remaining milk and leave it.

To another bowl, add the breadcrumbs, salt and finely chopped fresh parsley.

Now, for the fun part!

To a baking tray, add some vegetable oil and spread it so that it covers the whole tray. It doesn't need to be a lot, just a thin layer.

When the tofu is done marinating, take one tofu cube, dip it in the milk mixture and then onto the breadcrumbs mixture and cover it well. Transfer to the baking tray.

When you have done all your nuggets, brush them with a tiny bit of vegetable oil and bake for 15 minutes at 220ºC.

What to serve with tofu nuggets?

I love serving it with a ton of different things!

You can make a tomato dipping sauce (recipe below) or even a lemon tahini dressing and some baked potatoes.

You could have it on the side of a simple carrot potato soup, or with some tomato rice, or lemon cilantro rice or even an avocado mango salad, on this curried couscous salad and replace the tofu, or even add it a potato salad over summer! Or, you could even replace it in this tofu buddha bowl as the protein source!

How to store and freeze crispy baked tofu nuggets?

Fridge

I have stored these nuggets for 3 to 4 days and it works super well! If they are no longer crispy, you can bake them again and brush some oil around them or just pan fry them with a small amount of oil and they are perfect to serve!

Freezer

I personally don't love frozen tofu and the texture it has afterward.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to press your tofu?

I sometimes only squeeze the tofu with my hands to remove some water and am good to go. But... for these nuggets, I feel that texture is key so I compleyely recommend pressing the tofu.

How do you add flavor to tofu?

For this recipe, my trick was to marinate it with a lot of flavorful spices! And the tomato paste definitely makes a difference.

Tofu is like a sponge, it absorbs all the spices and sauces you add to it. And my tip is don't be afraid to add a good quantity of spices.

How do you get breadcrumbs to stick to tofu?

I was honestly wondering the same when I first thought of making nuggets but it is so simple! You just use the mix of milk and cornstarch.

Should I use flour to coat the tofu?

I tried this, and I felt when baked, the nuggets would get to dry and that is why I don't use it for this recipe.

How do vegans breadcrumb without eggs?

As mentioned above, you can simple use a mix of plant-based milk and cornstarch and that does perfectly the trick!

How to cook crispy tofu nuggets?

To make these nuggets crispy, the secret is brushing them with a small amount of oil before baking!

Can I fry tofu nuggets?

You absolutely can! When I have just a few leftovers, I simply add a small amount of oil to a pan and fry the nuggets until golden brown and crispy.

IF YOU TRY THIS CRISPY BAKED TOFU NUGGETS RECIPE LET ME KNOW!

Leave a comment, rate it and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram  @nutsandpumpkin . I absolutely love seeing and sharing your recreations! Also, follow along on Facebook and Pinterest for the latest recipe updates!

Finally, are you on Pinterest? Why not save this photo below to your boards so you can come back and try it another time!

More tofu and tempeh recipes!