
Yields:
2 serving(s)
Cook Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Cal/Serv:
753
Soggy baked tofu nuggets are a thing of the past with this one-ingredient upgrade. These bite-sized beauties get irresistibly crispy in the oven, making them the perfect vehicle for a dunk in ranch dressing or curry ketchup. Extra-firm tofu is pressed until dry, torn into chunks, then tossed in a garlic and herb seasoning mix before getting a coating of the secret ingredient: potato starch. The coated pieces take a dunk in plant-based milk (I tested this with almond milk!) before rolling around in a mixture of breadcrumbs and crushed fried onions. Once the dredging is complete, the breaded bites are baked until they’re golden brown and delicious. These bites are perfect if you're looking for an easy, nostalgic vegetarian dinner, or want a game-day meal that will keep your guests coming back for more.
Top tips:
Potato starch does a lot of the heavy lifting for maximum crispness, but it would be nothing without the tofu prepping technique. Pressing the liquid out of the tofu means it won’t have a chance to seep out later, destroying your exterior. Additionally, tearing the tofu into pieces (rather than cutting it into cubes) provides more surface area for the potato starch and breadcrumbs to cling and create crunchy pockets.
If you’re a big tofu eater, consider investing—and by "invest," I mean $20—in a tofu press to save on paper towels. No potato starch? No problem. Reach for a can of cornstarch instead.
Serving:
Of course, you could demolish a plate of nuggets on its own, but what is a crispy thing without its accompanying sauce? Our homemade ranch is always a winner, but you should definitely give the curry ketchup a whirl.
Make ahead:
Tofu can be pressed up to 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Storage:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 375° until warm and crisp again.
Have you made this? Let us know how it went in the comments!
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Ingredients
- 14 oz.
extra-firm tofu
- 1/2 tsp.
dried basil
- 1/2 tsp.
freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp.
garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt, plus more
- 1/4 tsp.
cayenne pepper
- 1/3 cup
potato starch or cornstarch
- 3/4 cup
panko breadcrumbs
- 3/4 cup
store-bought fried onions
- 1 cup
plant-based milk
Cooking spray
- 1/2 cup
ketchup
- 2 tsp.
curry powder
- 2 tsp.
Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp.
chili powder
Store-bought or homemade ranch dressing, for serving
Directions
- Step 1Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°. Place 3 layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel on a plate. Place tofu on towels and cover with another 3 layers of towels or another clean kitchen towel. Place a heavy can or skillet on top of tofu to press moisture out, pouring off excess water and replacing towels as they get soaked, at least 1 hour and up to 3 (you can do this with a tofu press if you have one).
- Step 2Tear tofu into 1" chunks and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with basil, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne and gently toss with a rubber spatula until coated. Sprinkle with potato starch and gently toss until coated.
- Step 3In a food processor or spice mill, pulse or grind breadcrumbs and onions until finely crushed and incorporated, 10 to 15 pulses.
- Step 4Into a shallow bowl, pour milk. Transfer breadcrumb mixture to another shallow bowl. Dip each tofu piece into milk, then toss in breadcrumb mixture until coated. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spray tofu with cooking spray, turn over, and spray again.
- Step 5Bake tofu nuggets, turning halfway through, until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
- Step 6Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine ketchup, curry powder, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder.
- Step 7Season nuggets with a heavy pinch of salt and transfer to a platter. Serve with ranch and curry ketchup alongside.
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