Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

By Sarah 27 Comments

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All the flavors of pizza in a bite of tofu! These homemade crispy Pizza Tofu nuggets are sure to be a hit with your kids!

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (1)

I didn’t plan to post two tofu recipes back to back, but I made this yesterday and it was so good—I had to share. In fact, I did share the picture on What Fat Vegans Eat and the picture received over 100 likes! I figured I’d switch up the order and share the recipe today. I’ll give you the ‘Smores Cookie recipe later this week!

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets

Years ago, before I was on Pinterest, I saw a recipe for some pizza tofu and I copied and pasted the recipe into a word doc. Old school. Yesterday I was in the mood for some tofu to go with a pasta dinner and I remembered that old recipe. Of course, I didn’t actually use the recipe, because I never do things like follow directions. I just sort of set out on my own path of experimentation to see what would happen.

^^^ Just look at that crispy texture!

I marinaded the tofu for about 2 hours, then I breaded it and baked it. It came out perfectly crispy and devourable. That’s a word, right? By the time Irving walked in the door for dinner I had finished several slices! So good. The texture reminds me of our very favorite “Chicken Fried Tofu” from Whole Foods, but the flavor is just like a pizza/Italian sausage/pepperoni/marinara sauce. I was pleasantly surprised at how crispy it got without frying it!

So many serving options!

This delicious Pizza Tofu would be great served with pasta, on it’s own in lieu of veggie nuggets (dip in marinara sauce!), in a sandwich—ooh….an Italian “Meatball” sub—, or even sliced up on an actual pizza. I’m looking forward to making this again….and again…and again!

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (5)

I hope you have a chance to try these for your next Friday night dinner/football watching/happy hour/kid sleepover! They are likely to be a hit with everyone! I’d love for you to follow me onInstagram, and tagphotos you post of my recipes with#frieddandelionsso that I can see! I love to see what you’re cooking!

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (6)

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (7)

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Pizza Tofu

All the flavors of pizza in a crispy bite of tofu! These homemade nuggets are sure to be a hit with your kids!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course: Tofu

Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

  • 2 blocks firm tofu preferably organic

Marinade:

  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon no-chicken stock concentrate I like Better Than Boullion No-Chicken, or use veggie bullion cube)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds whole or ground is fine
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon agave

Breading:

  • 2/3 - 3/4 cup rice flour you can sub regular all purpose flour if you don't need to be gluten free
  • 2 T corn starch to help the rice flour to stick better, you can omit if you use all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
  • Marinara sauce for dipping if desired

Instructions

  • Press your tofu to release as much water as possible. Set aside. Mix together the soy sauce, water, spices, boullion, tomato paste and agave. Slice the tofu into whatever size you want—I sliced each block into 8 pieces for easy cooking/flipping in the oven. Marinate the tofu for at least 1 hour, but you could do up to 3 or 4.

  • Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Remove the tofu from the marinade and use your hands to wipe off the excess marinade. Set aside. (Trust me, do this first, all at one time rather than for each dip—it gets messy).

  • Mix rice flour with 2 T cornstarch and 1 t salt. In separate bowl pour 1/2 c of unsweetened milk (I just blended 1/2 c water with 2 T hemp seeds and did not strain—I was out of milk). Dip tofu into flour mix, lightly coating all sides, give it a slight shake, then dip quickly into the milk, then back to the flour to coat again. Shake once again to remove excess dry flour. Place on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. (If you have dry spots of flour on the tofu you can give it a quick spritz with a spray cooking oil (I have spray olive oil) and that will help the dry flour to crisp up as well!)

  • Bake for 30 minutes. Flip all tofu carefully and return to the oven for 15 more minutes. Remove from the oven and serve right away. Enjoy!

Notes

Cook time includes time to marinate the tofu.

Want more great Tofu Recipes?

Baked Tofu Feta

Teriyaki Tofu

Baked Tofu


Fajita Tofu Scramble

Din Tai Fung Tofu

Triangle Sweet & Sour Tofu


Previous Post: « Din Tai Fung Tofu

Next Post: S’mores Chip Cookies »

Crispy Pizza Tofu Nuggets — Kid Approved! — Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is crispy tofu made of? ›

Cornstarch – This is the secret to the most perfect fried tofu. Cornstarch forms a protective layer around each cube of tofu, which crisps up when added to heat. If you don't have cornstarch, arrowroot powder and tapioca starch also work. Garlic powder – This is optional but adds a delightful savory, garlicky flavor.

Can you use flour instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

How unhealthy is fried tofu? ›

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories, up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

Is fried tofu healthier than chicken? ›

Tofu nutrition. This meatless option is a staple for vegetarians, and rightfully so. It boasts more fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and folate than chicken and contains fewer calories.

What to use instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

6 Cornstarch Substitutes for All Your Cooking and Baking Needs
  1. Potato Starch. Potato starch is the cornstarch substitute favorite of associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. ...
  2. Rice Flour. ...
  3. All-Purpose Flour. ...
  4. Tapioca Flour. ...
  5. Arrowroot Powder. ...
  6. Xanthan Gum.
Jun 13, 2022

Can I fry with cornstarch instead of flour? ›

While cornstarch shouldn't be used as a substitute for flour in baked goods, you can easily substitute it in for flours when coating fried chicken, fish or other dishes. Not only will cornstarch work in the same way that flours do, but it will hold up better against sauces and absorb less of the frying oil.

Is cornstarch better than flour for crispy chicken? ›

Cornstarch is often used in Asian fried chicken recipes. The combination of the flour with cornstarch produces the crispiest result. You can replace all of the flour with cornstarch, or you can try using a similar non-gluten based flour or flour blend in place of traditional all-purpose flour.

What is tofu made of? ›

Tofu is an important source of protein in the cuisines of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. It is believed to date from the Han dynasty (206 bce–220 ce). Tofu is made from dried soybeans that are soaked in water, crushed, and boiled.

What is tofu made of meat? ›

Tofu was created centuries ago in Asia from mainly soybeans and water. Today, it is one of the most popular plant-based foods and an easy substitute for animal products like chicken and eggs.

Why is fried tofu healthy? ›

Tofu is low in calories but high in protein and fat. It also contains many important vitamins and minerals, including calcium and manganese.

Is tofu good for you? ›

Tofu health benefits. Tofu provides you with high levels calcium, manganese, iron and vitamin B5, which is needed to break down carbs and fat for energy.

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