Crispy Baked Tofu Sandwiches with Jalapeño Slaw
Laurel Braun
This sandwich is seriously amazing.It’s crispy, spicy, juicy (what!), and tastes amazing. It’s great to make ahead as it reheats well in the air fryer and even tastes good cold! Adapted from Skinnytaste and The Curious Chickpea.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Pressing Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Course Lunch & Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Crispy Tofu
- 1 (350 g) block of organic extra-firm tofu cut into 4 thin square patties and pressed
- ¾ cup panko
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼-½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp flaky sea salt or kosher salt
"Egg"
- 3 tbsp gram flour chickpea flour
- 3 tbsp water
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt or kosher salt
Spicy Jalapeño Slaw
- 1 ½ cup green cabbage shredded
- 1 jalapeño thinly sliced
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly ground
- ¼ tsp kosher salt or to taste
Sandwich
- 4 medium sandwich buns
- 4 tbsp vegan mayo
Crispy Tofu
Cut the tofu in half lengthwise to make 2 large flat patties. Cut again to make them into flat square patty shapes. Then press the tofu, the longer the better to remove excess water. Wrap them in a towel and leave under a heavy pot or in a tofu press for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven (450°F) or air fryer (360°F).
In a small bowl, mix together the panko, oil, paprika, cayenne, garlic, and salt. Mix well to evenly distribute the oil and spices within the panko.
Whisk together the “egg” ingredients and set aside.
One by one, coat the tofu patties in the egg mixture, shaking off the excess before pressing it into the panko mixture. Flip it over and press again, using your hands or a fork to scoop the panko on top of the patty and pressing again to ensure as much of the coating sticks as possible. Set aside on a plate or tray until ready to bake.
Baking Instructions
Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Once preheated, spray the bottom of the basket and add the breaded tofu. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, flipping after 8 minutes, until golden brown on both sides.
Oven: Bake for 20 – 22 minutes in a preheated oven at 450°F, flipping halfway, until golden brown on both sides.
Spicy Jalapeño Slaw
While the tofu patties cook, thinly slice your onion, cabbage, and jalapeno. Add to a medium bowl.
In a small container or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add to the slaw mixture and toss well.
Make Ahead: The slaw is good for 2 days in the fridge, but visual appearance diminishes after that. The tofu is good for up to 4 days in the fridge.
Keyword air fryer, any season, dairy-free, egg free, meat alternative recipes, oven, tofu recipes, vegan, vegetarian