Vegan Crispy Tofu Chicken Salad
Golden crispy tofu strips that taste like fried chicken, served over fresh greens with crunchy veggies and a creamy dairy-free dressing. Perfect as a full meal salad.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: ~35 minutes
Ingredients
Crispy Tofu
400 g firm or extra-firm tofu, pressed & sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp black pepper
3 tbsp cornflour
Salad Base
3 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce
½ cup shredded cabbage
1 carrot, julienned
½ cucumber, sliced
½ red onion, thinly sliced
Creamy Vegan Dressing
3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise or cashew cream
1 tbsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp maple syrup
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
Cherry tomatoes
Avocado slices
Sunflower seeds or croutons
Instructions
1️⃣ Make Tofu Crispy
Toss tofu with soy sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, pepper
Coat with cornflour
Pan-fry in hot oil 6–8 minutes, turning until golden
or bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes
2️⃣ Prepare Salad
Add lettuce, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, and onion to a large bowl
3️⃣ Make Dressing
Whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth
4️⃣ Assemble
Top salad with hot crispy tofu
Drizzle dressing and toss gently
Tips
For extra crunch, double-coat tofu with cornflour
Serve tofu hot for best texture contrast
Add BBQ or honey-mustard style vegan sauce for variation
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I air-fry tofu?
Yes — 190°C for 15 minutes, shaking halfway.
Q: Meal-prep friendly?
Yes — store tofu and salad separately.
Q: Gluten-free?
Use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 430 kcal
Protein: 22 g
Carbs: 28 g
Fat: 22 g
Fiber: 6 g