Crispy tofu bites are an easy, vegan appetizer recipe you can also enjoy as a snack. It is a light, tasty plant-based treat made without eggs or cheese. Tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, the tofu cubes have a flavor similar to chicken nuggets. Use them as topping for a fresh salad, or pair them with grilled vegetables and or dipping sauces to complete your meal.
For making these protein-packed tofu bites, you only need tofu, chickpea flour, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, water, basil and extra virgin olive oil. Once breaded, you can pan-fry the tofu cubes with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Do you want to make these tofu bites even healthier? Bake them at 180°C/350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. No one will resist these crispy vegan treats.
You can vary the breading, using another type of legume flour.
You can simply use salt instead of soy sauce and enrich the breading with other aromatic herbs or spices like curry or turmeric.
If you have nutritional yeast on hand, you can use it with instead of breading.
If you want to make this recipe even lighter, cook tofu bites in the Air fryer at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
You can store the crispy tofu bites for 2-3 days in the refrigerator, tightly closed in an airtight container.
Arrange the chickpea flour in a bowl 1.
Arrange the chickpea flour in a bowl 1.
Add the water and mix until you get a smooth batter 2.
Add the water and mix until you get a smooth batter 2.
Add the soy sauce and mix it into the chickpea batter 3.
Add the soy sauce and mix it into the chickpea batter 3.
Using a pair of scissors, chop the basil and chives coarsely and add them to the bowl with the batter 4.
Using a pair of scissors, chop the basil and chives coarsely and add them to the bowl with the batter 4.
Cut the tofu into regular squares 5.
Cut the tofu into regular squares 5.
Transfer the tofu into the batter 6; let it rest for about ten minutes to allow them to flavor, turning them gently from time to time.
Transfer the tofu into the batter 6; let it rest for about ten minutes to allow them to flavor, turning them gently from time to time.
Arrange the breadcrumbs in a bowl, drain the tofu squares well and place them in the breadcrumbs 7.
Arrange the breadcrumbs in a bowl, drain the tofu squares well and place them in the breadcrumbs 7.
Carefully bread each square 8.
Carefully bread each square 8.
Grease a non-stick pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and brown the crispy tofu bites 9. Cook over medium heat for 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Grease a non-stick pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and brown the crispy tofu bites 9. Cook over medium heat for 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.
Drain the crispy tofu bites on absorbent paper and serve them very hot 10.
Drain the crispy tofu bites on absorbent paper and serve them very hot 10.