Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
Air-Fried Tofu Balls Cross-Section

Air-Fried Tofu Balls (Vegan + Gluten Free Option)

4.84 from 25 votes
Another air-fryer recipe: Air-Fried Tofu Balls! These are made with tofu and a few other basic ingredients. These are super easy to put together and you can leave the rest to your air-fryer or oven to cook down. These are great as a finger food or snack with your dipping sauce of choice or as a hearty main paired with rice. You can turn this into Sweet Chili Tofu Balls that are great with rice!
Print Recipe Pin this Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Finger Food, Main Course, Side Dish, Sides, Snacks
Cuisine American, Fusion
Servings 20 balls
Calories 28 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 lb extra firm tofu , pressed and drained
  • 1 small carrot peeled and grated
  • 2 spring onion or scallion chopped
  • 1 small red bell pepepr seeded and diced, optional
  • 1/2-3/4 tsp salt to taste
  • 2 tsp soy sauce or more salt, to taste
  • Ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup quick cook oatmeal (crushed) or panko/Japanese bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour or other flour of choice (oat, almond, spelt, GF mix, etc.)

For Cooking

  • Oil for spraying or brushing

For Serving

Instructions
 

  • Press the tofu to drain excess liquid. I like to wrap mine in a towel and place a heavy weighted surface on top (such as a chopping board).
  • Mash the tofu in a bowl. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Be sure to mix it well until combined. To test if the mixture holds up well, get a scoop and roll it into a ball. It should hold up well and not break apart. If it breaks apart, you can add 1-2 tbsp more flour if needed to absorb any excess moisture and help it hold together better.
  • Shape the mixture into small balls or other shape of your choice. Place the balls in your air-fryer. Brush or spray some oil on the balls.
  • Air-fry at 180C/375F for 15 minutes or until golden brown, flip halfway if needed. Do note that air fryers can vary. You can cook it for less time depending on your settings.
  • Remove the meatballs from the air-frying and serve with your favourite dipping sauce or sauce of choice. Enjoy while hot!
  • You can also make these into Sweet Chili Tofu Balls. See the recipe here.

What if I don’t have an air-fryer?

  • You can bake, pan fry, or even deep fry these too!
  • For pan frying, it might be easier to shape these into small patties instead of balls especially if you’re not using much oil so you could get these nice and crisp on both sides.
  • For baking, place the balls on a lined baking tray. Fro the temperature, 180C would be good and baking will take longer than an air-fryer. So possibly around 35-40 minutes. I recommend to flip it halfway through baking.
  • For deep frying, be sure to heat your oil well before adding the balls so they get nice, golden brown, and crisp without absorbing the oil.

STORAGE & MAKE-AHEAD TIPS

  • You can cook all the balls/small patties and store these in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. To reheat, you can place these back in your air-fryer or pan-fry.

WATCH Video

NUTRITIONAL INFO

Serving: 1ball | Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 418IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a rating or comment and share a photo on Instagram, and tag me @thefoodietakesflight or use #thefoodietakesflight :)