Bite-size pieces of tempeh flavored + crisped to perfection! These Air Fryer Tempeh Croutons can be tossed over your favorite salad, layered into a wrap, folded into a bowl of soup, or simply eaten as a snack with a yummy dip!
Why Eat Tempeh?
Tempeh is a great source of protein + calcium + iron + magnesium! Above all, it is very high in prebiotics. There are so many reasons to eat tempeh! If you are new to tempeh, check out this article: Reasons to Eat Tempeh.
Build A Healthy Salad!
These Air Fryer Tempeh Croutons are on regular rotation in the MVF kitchen as one of our main sources of clean, plant-based protein. We regularly enjoy salad but salad can be tricky! Be careful not to derail your healthy efforts by what you put on or in your salad. Croutons can be loaded with oils and peculiar ingredients. Check out this article before you make your next salad: How To Build A Healthy Salad (That Still Tastes Good)
Tara’s Tips For Perfect Air Fryer Tempeh Croutons:
- Boil the tempeh first!!!!! To some, tempeh has a bitter taste. I am one of those people! I do not like tempeh in its original form, I always boil it. After boiling, the bitter taste is gone. 10 minutes in boiling water, drain + toss in your air fryer! You could choose to skip the boiling if you are pressed for time.
- No oil! Yep, you heard me correctly. You do not need any oil in your air fryer to make these perfectly crispy + awesome! If you use oil, you could give these a light spray of olive oil before air frying for an extra crispy edge.
- Extra time? Marinate your crouton cubes! First, boil the tempeh. Second, allow to marinate covered in the refrigerator for 10 minutes up to 8 hours.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket! These guys cook best in a single layer not stacked up on top of each other. Cook them in batches.
- Cut your block of tempeh into small crouton cubes of around the same size so that they cook evenly.
Air Fryer Tempeh Croutons
The classic crouton is reinvented with these flavorful + smoky tempeh croutons! Protein-packed + healthy + vegan + gluten-free!
Ingredients
- 8 ounce package of tempeh
- 3 cups water
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos (sub soy sauce or liquid aminos)
- 2 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
Directions
- Step 1 Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium pot.
- Step 2 Remove tempeh from packaging, add tempeh to boiling water and boil for 10 minutes.
- Step 3 While tempeh is boiling, whisk the remaining ingredients together.
- Step 4 When tempeh is done boiling, pour into a colander and fully drain the water.
- Step 5 Transfer tempeh to a cutting board and cut into small cubes once cool enough to cut.
- Step 6 Transfer crouton cubes to a bowl, pour the mixture over the tempeh.
- Step 7 Mix well to coat each cube.
- Step 8 Place tempeh in single layer in air fryer basket, lightly spray with olive oil if using. May need to be done in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Step 9 Air fry for on 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until crispy golden brown.
- Step 10 Layer over a salad or eat on their own dipped in your favorite dressing, enjoy!
Love Tempeh? Me Too!
Try one of my other awesome tempeh recipes:
- Tempeh Taco Meat
- Easy Vegetarian Tempeh Chili
- How To Air Fry Tempeh
- Vegan Italian Stuffed Peppers
- Air Fryer Buffalo Tempeh
- Sticky Sesame Tempeh Recipe
- Baked Sriracha Tempeh
- Tempeh BLT
- Air Fryer Sriracha Tempeh
- Garlic Tempeh and Broccoli
- Tempeh Sloppy Joes
⭐Did you make these Air Fryer Tempeh Croutons? Love them? Leave a rating + a comment below!⭐
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