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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes

    Addictive Nutritional Yeast Tofu (baked or air fried!)

    Last Modified: Feb 12, 2020 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print

    This recipe is sponsored by EZ Tofu Press. All opinions are 100% my own.

    Savory Nutritional Yeast Tofu only requires a few ingredients to make and is perfect as a main dish or in grain bowls, salads, or wraps. My family loves this tofu, and I just know that yours will, too!

    close-up of Nutritional Yeast Tofu in a black bowl, so you can see the crispy coating

    When I say that this Nutritional Yeast Tofu is addictive, I mean it, y'all. Let me tell you a riveting story about recipe testing.

    Jump To:
    • Preparing the Tofu
    • Making the Nutritional Yeast Coating
    • Cooking Methods - You've got options!
    • What to Serve with Nutritional Yeast Tofu
    • How to Store and Reheat It
    • Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    Part of the food blogging process is recipe testing, which is basically making a dish over and over to tweak it and make sure it's consistently delicious. Sometimes, a recipe needs a LOT of testing, and you might be surprised that this was one of them.

    We ate this for several days one week, and the next Wednesday was shooting day. So I made this on Sunday to get in one last test.

    And you know what my family requested for dinner on Monday? Nutritional Yeast Tofu! Even after I told them I was going to be shooting it on Wednesday, meaning we'd be eating it again later that week.

    See? Addictive!

    More Easy Tofu Recipes: Crispy Baked Tofu, Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

    black bowl of the cooked tofu next to the EZ Tofu Press

    Preparing the Tofu

    There are two keys to making this dish successfully:

    1. Press your tofu. Getting the liquid out makes it more firm, so it won't crumble to bits when you're folding it into the nutritional yeast coating.
    2. Dice it up into small pieces. Small pieces are key, because we aren't marinating. All of the flavor comes from the coating, so you want as much coated surface area as possible.
    Pressing Tofu in the EZ Tofu Press

    I press my tofu in the EZ Tofu Press. The EZ Tofu Press gets out an average of ½ cup water in just 10-15 minutes of pressing.

    The super firm tofu you get from pressing is perfect for this recipe!

    Not only is the EZ Tofu Press quick and efficient, but it's also super easy to clean. It's dishwasher safe, but I rarely stick it in the dishwasher, because it's so easy to wipe down with soap and warm water.

    Making the Nutritional Yeast Coating

    Now that the tofu is pressed and diced, it's time to make the coating and toss things together.

    To make the coating, grab a large bowl and mix together nutritional yeast, garlic powder, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. This combination of ingredients is basically magic. You've got serious salt, fat, acid, and umami flavors happening in this bowl!

    When you mix up this coating, it's going to seem like not nearly enough to cover the tofu, but don't worry. You are doing great!

    image collage showing a glass bowl of the nutritional yeast coating and the tofu after tossing with the coating

    Add the diced tofu to the bowl, and fold it into the mixture until all of the pieces are coated in nutritional yeast goodness.

    Cooking Methods - You've got options!

    Then, it's time to cook! You can either bake this tofu or air fry it.

    To bake the tofu, spread it out in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. I recommend lining with parchment paper, because this will give you the crispiest results.

    Bake at 400F for 30 minutes. You don't even need to stir!

    Are you planning to air fry? Then just transfer the coated tofu to your air fryer basket. Cook at 400F for 15 minutes, shaking 10 minutes into the cooking.

    cooked crispy tofu in the air fryer basket

    What to Serve with Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    Need some serving ideas? I've got you. I love using this as a main dish or as an addition to grain bowls or salads.

    If you're serving as an entree, these are some sides that will work well:

    • Sheet Pan Cauliflower and Broccoli
    • Maduros and Beans and Rice
    • Baked Potato Cakes
    • Spring Vegetable Stir Fry

    And here are some grain bowl and salad recipes that are begging for toothsome, golden tofu nuggets on top:

    • instead of the BBQ tofu in a Mashed Potato Bowl
    • on top of a Burrito Bowl
    • in a Broccoli Salad
    • on a Kale Caesar
    • over Basil Curried Couscous Salad
    • in a Pesto Grain Bowl
    • to top a Buddha Bowl

    Really, anything that pairs with savory, slightly cheesy, umami goodness will pair well with Nutritional Yeast Tofu.

    How to Store and Reheat It

    The cooked tofu will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

    You can serve the leftovers hot or cold. I love it cold on top of salads or stuffed into a pita or wrap!

    If you do want to reheat refrigerated tofu, preheat the oven to 350F, and arrange the cubes on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until heated through. You can also air fry at 350F for 5 minutes to get it nice and crispy again.

    To reheat from frozen, preheat the oven to 400F, and arrange the cubes on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or air fry at 400F for 7-10 minutes.

    overhead photo of nutritional yeast tofu in a black bowl

    Nutritional Yeast Tofu

    Savory Nutritional Yeast Tofu only requires a few ingredients to make and is perfect as a main dish or in grain bowls, salads, or wraps. My family loves this tofu, and I just know that yours will, too!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: nutritional yeast tofu
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 104kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    For the Marinade

    • 1 block extra firm tofu - pressed and cut into small cubes
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400F.
    • In a large bowl, mix together the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. The mixture will be pretty thick, but don't worry. It will coat the tofu like a charm. Add the tofu to the bowl, and fold the tofu pieces into the nutritional yeast mixture.

    To Air Fry

    • Transfer the coated tofu to your air fryer basket. Air fry at 400F for 15 minutes, shaking gently after 10 minutes.

    To Bake

    • Transfer the coated tofu to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes, no need to flip.

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Video

    Notes

    • When you make the nutritional yeast mixture, it may seem like there isn't enough to coat the tofu. But this mixture goes a long way, baby! Just go with it. Don't worry if the pieces crumble a bit. Those little bits are delicious!
    • The cooked tofu will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
    • To reheat refrigerated tofu, preheat the oven to 350F, and arrange the cubes on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until heated through.
    • To reheat from frozen, preheat the oven to 400F, and arrange the cubes on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Nutritional Yeast Tofu
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    104
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    6
    g
    9
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    5
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Sodium
     
    208
    mg
    9
    %
    Potassium
     
    245
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    5
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    0.2
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    32
    mg
    3
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    More Air Fryer Recipes

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    • Butternut Squash with Mushrooms and Cranberries (air fryer or oven!)

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Chris Benjamin

      July 17, 2022 at 2:47 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this was absolutely DELICIOUS! Very quick and simple. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        July 18, 2022 at 11:09 am

        Thank you, Chris! I'm glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you coming back to comment and rate, too!

        Reply
    2. Mare

      March 03, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I've been nibbling these all day :)

      Reply
    3. Carrie

      March 02, 2020 at 4:43 pm

      I have not tried this recipe yet but am excited to try it. I love nutritional yeast! Do you have suggestions on how to prepare this same dish without using oil?

      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        March 02, 2020 at 7:52 pm

        I haven't tested an oil-free method, so it's hard to say. Maybe use fat free vinaigrette?

        Reply
      • Anonymous

        July 13, 2022 at 1:07 pm

        It's great oil-free! I replaced the oil measurement with water. It’s just as yummy!

        Reply
        • Becky Striepe

          July 14, 2022 at 2:36 pm

          Oh that is such helpful feedback! Thank you for returning to let us know!

          Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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