Kid-Friendly Crispy Tofu Bites

A great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein.

by: Paula Roy
These crispy tofu bites are great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein for growing. | Recipe | YMC

Maybe you’ve been here. It’s a parenting moment many of us face, and while it can be surprising, it doesn’t have to be terrifying. What am I talking about? It’s that moment when your kid says, “I think I want to be a vegetarian.” I like to attribute the growing interest in vegetarianism (and veganism) among children and youth to increasingly abundant messaging regarding healthy eating, coupled with kids’ natural affinity for cute animals (and, therefore, an aversion to eating cute animals).

Whatever the motivation, I have always tried hard to support my kids (and their friends) through all their various food phases, preferences, and aversions. These crispy tofu bites are a great way to be sure the non-meat lovers in your life are getting enough protein. It’s easy to make, delicious, and surprisingly satisfying too.

Crispy Tofu Bites

Ingredients

1 block firm tofu, drained
Plain or flavoured olive oil (I like garlic oil)
Nutritional (engevita) yeast flakes *
Plum, honey garlic or barbeque sauce, for dipping

* available at most health food stores

Directions

  • Preheat panini press on high heat.
     
  • Cut a portion of the block of tofu into uniform slices no more than 1/4 inch thick. Leftover tofu can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated for 3 days.

These crispy tofu bites are great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein for growing. | Recipe | YMC

  • For about half the block of tofu, sliced, you’ll need to pour about 1/2 cup of nutritional yeast onto the centre of a plate.

These crispy tofu bites are great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein for growing. | Recipe | YMC

  • Brush both sides of each slice with flavoured (or regular) olive oil.
     
  • Place slices on hot panini grill in a single layer. Cook for 10 – 12 minutes until browned and crispy. Note that you can also cook the tofu in a heavy-duty frying pan over medium to medium-high heat; cook for about 7 minutes, then flip and cook about 7 minutes more until nicely browned on both sides.
     
  • Remove the hot, cooked tofu slices one at a time from the grill and place on the plate with the yeast flakes, pressing down slightly so the flakes adhere. Flip over and repeat with the other side.

These crispy tofu bites are great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein for growing. | Recipe | YMC

  • Serve hot, with your favourite dipping sauce.

These crispy tofu bites are great way to make sure vegetarian-curious kids get enough protein for growing. | Recipe | YMC

RELATED: The Very Best Vegan Tofu Scramble

Category: 
Recipes
Tags: 
kid-friendly
vegan
vegetarian
curious
protein
nutrition
healthy
snack
food
Easy
paula roy
Paula Roy

Paula Roy readily admits that she’s obsessed with food. Typically, it’s the first thing she thinks of in the morning and the last of the day as well. She recognizes that not everyone shares her passion for cooking, so she channels much of her enthusiasm into creating family-friendly recipes that are easy to prepare and yield delicious results.

Although her husband and kids are eager taste testers, Paula knows she’ll eventually be paying for their therapy thanks to her constant cries of, “don’t touch that plate, I haven’t taken a photo yet!”

Paula loves to travel and explore whatever culinary treasures a destination has to offer. In addition to leading cooking classes and making frequent TV appearances, she’s also a busy freelance writer and serves as the food editor of popular style magazine Ottawa At Home. In addition to her contributions for YMC, you can also follow Paula’s edible adventures through her blog, Constantly Cooking, and keep up with her daily kitchen antics on Twitter and Instagram (@paulajroy).