Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Dill Pickle Tofu Sandwich & Crispy Tofu Bites with Dairy-free Dill Pickle Dip (includes Soy-free Option)
Double down on dill-icious flavour with our Crispy Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Dill Pickle Tofu Dinner Sandwich. Or steal the snack show and be the appie all-star and serve our Crispy Gluten-free Air Fryer Tofu Bites with Dairy-free Dill Pickle Dip to die for!
Two Tofu Tricks to Dial up the Dill Pickleness
Whatever shape or type of tofu you choose, there’s no settling for plain plant-based protein in this stunning air fryer gluten-free breaded tofu dinner sandwich. Because the allergy-friendly, soy-free option is loaded with as much dill pickle flavour as the soy tofu version thanks to these two easy techniques:
- For soy-based Dill Pickle Tofu, trade traditional slow marination tactics for a time-saving trick: poaching the tofu cutlets and bites in a pickle juice-seasoned broth flavoured with fresh dill, garlic, and chili flakes spiced to taste to get overnight flavour in under 10 minutes.
- For soy-free Dill Pickle Tofu that won’t hold up in a hot water bath, the pickle-juice, dill, garlic, and optional chili flakes is built right into the blending water to give your bean or lentil soy-free cutlets or nuggets a full-flavoured foundation.
Layer up the Flavour with a Double Dill Pickle-Seasoning Secret
This recipe’s wow factor doesn’t stop at the tofu tricks—we’ve got two more dill pickle seasoning secrets to share (and that’s before we add a pile of chopped pickles and another splash of pickle juice to the Dairy-Free Dill Pickle Dip and sandwich sauce!):
- Borrow a secret from our popular Gluten-free Air Fryer Fried Pickles recipe: give flavourless cornstarch an upgrade to our Dill-pickle seasoned gluten-free dredge flavoured with dried dill, garlic powder, paprika, and optional cayenne pepper to pack extra flavour right into the crispy air fried crust.
- Get your hands on hard-to-find dairy-free, gluten-free ranch seasoning and make DIY dip dreams come true! With our Dairy-free Dilly Ranch Seasoning Mix recipe, you’re free to create creamy, ranch-style dips with your favourite allergy-friendly, plant-based ingredients—and crank the dill pickle joy up another notch, too.
Instructions:
Crispy Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Dill Pickle Tofu Dinner Sandwich
- Prepare crispy air fryer gluten-free breaded tofu, dairy-free dill pickle dip, and desired toppings.
- Toast gluten-free bread and lay on a cutting board in sets. Spread dairy-free dill pickle dip generously on both slices of each sandwich pair.
- On the bottom slice, place 1 crispy air fryer gluten-free breaded tofu cutlet, then top with lettuce, sliced onion, or other fresh toppings. Close the sandwich and enjoy!
Crispy Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Dill Pickle Tofu Bites (with Soy-free Option)
- Prepare crispy air fryer gluten-free breaded tofu as bite-sized nuggets and make dairy-free dill pickle dip. Add any of your favourite gluten-free dips or sauces you think pair well with dill pickle-seasoned nuggets. Serve hot and enjoy!
For the Dill Pickle Poached Soy Tofu Option:
- Prepare the dill pickle poached tofu: For sandwiches, slice the block into horizontally into four 1-cm / ½ inch cutlets; for tofu bites, slice block as for sandwiches, or into 3 thicker cutlets, then slice into 2″ x 2″ bite-sized pieces, or use a cookie cutter about that size.
- Prepare the pickle juice-seasoned poaching broth: In a large shallow saucepan, combine water, pickle juice, garlic, dill, salt, and chili flakes (if using) and bring to a boil.
- Gently slide the tofu cutlets or bite-sized nuggets into the poaching broth, reduce heat to medium-high, and boil tofu for 5 – 7 minutes. Use a spider or slotted spoon to carefully remove the tofu cutlets from the broth and set aside until cool enough to handle.
For the Dill Pickle Seasoned Soy-free Tofu Option:
- Make the dill pickle-seasoned soy-free red lentil tofu 8+ hours ahead or the night before you plan to enjoy this Gluten-free Breaded Dill Pickle Tofu Sandwich with the soy-free option.
- In a large pot, combine water, pickle juice, garlic, dill, salt, and chili flakes (if using) and bring to a boil. Add red lentils, put a lid on the pot, remove from heat, and soak 20 minutes.
- Pour all contents into a blender. Cover the top of the blender with a clean tea towel instead of the lid and purée until completely smooth.
- Transfer puréed lentils back to the pot and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until mixture is thick. Reduce heat if large volcano-style steam pockets start to form.
- Scoop into a 6-inch × 8-inch glass or ceramic heat-safe dish or rimmed baking sheet lined with plastic wrap. Working fast, spread and smooth the soy-free lentil tofu batter evenly before it sets. (You can use a larger container but push the batter to one end so when you spread it out, the batter is 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick).
- Refrigerate the soy-free red lentil tofu, covered. Allow to set at least 8 hours to achieve a firmness similar to extra firm standard tofu. Slice and remove from pan carefully (see tip).
- For gluten-free sandwiches on Little Northern Bakehouse Wide Slice breads, slice into index card-sized blocks (3″ × 5″);
- For gluten-free sandwiches on our non-wide slice varieties, cut into 4″ × 4″ blocks;
- For gluten-free tofu bites, slice into 2″ × 2″ bite-sized pieces, or use a cookie cutter about that size).
- Refrigerate up to 5 days (covered) or freeze for up to 3 months.
For All Crispy Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Cutlet and Nugget Options:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. (If baking, preheat your oven to 375°F). Lay out three shallow bowls or pie plates in a row, plus a plate or baking sheet on the end. In the first bowl (left), combine ingredients for the seasoned cornstarch dredge. In the second bowl (middle) combine ingredients for plant-based egg wash and allow to gel and thicken for 5 minutes or more. In the third bowl (right), mix ingredients for seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Pat tofu cutlets and/or tofu bites dry with a paper towel. Working from left to right, coat each piece in cornstarch dredge (including edges) and gently tap off excess. Dip in plant-based egg wash (make it quick—soaking can weaken the structural integrity of soy-free tofu fast!), then immediately dip in seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs, gently pressing as needed. Make sure all surfaces of each piece are fully crusted. Set aside gently and repeat until all cutlets and/or tofu bites have been breaded.
- To air-fry: Working in batches that fit in a single layer in your air fryer, spray the tops and bottoms of each breaded tofu cutlet or nugget, and place in your air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 – 6 minutes, then pause your fryer and use tongs to flip each piece, then return to the air fryer for 4 – 5 minutes. Air fryer times vary from model to model, so check at the 3-minute mark—cutlets and tofu bites are done when both sides are golden and crisp. Note: subsequent air fryer batches may cook faster than first or second ones, so check at the 2-minute mark after you flip to avoid over-browning.
- To oven-bake: Arrange breaded tofu cutlets or nuggets in a single layer on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake 20 – 25 minutes, flipping once after 10 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on both sides.
- Place air fried cutlets or tofu bites on a wire rack on a baking sheet so the bottoms don’t get soggy from escaping steam. For hot sandwiches and tofu bites, warm in the oven until ready to serve.
For the Dairy-Free Dill Pickle Dip:
- In a medium-sized bowl with electric beaters or stand mixer, cream dairy-free cream cheese together with dairy-free sour cream/yogurt, vegan mayo, dill pickle juice, and dilly ranch seasoning until well combined.
- Fold chopped pickles, green onions, pickled jalapeños, and dairy-free cheddar-style shreds into the dip with a spatula or wooden spoon until well combined.
- Transfer Dairy-free Dill Pickle Dip to a container with a lid and refrigerate unused portions for up to a week.
For the Dairy-free Dilly Ranch Seasoning Mix:
- Mix all ingredients in a small container with a lid, and store as you would other spices. Makes enough vegan Dilly Ranch Seasoning Mix for 4 batches of Dairy-free Dill Pickle Dip.
Tips:
For the Dill Pickle-Seasoned Soy-Free Tofu Option:
- Find your first soy-free red lentil tofu cutlet a little wobbly while breading? If your cutlet feels like it might fall apart before it makes it to the air fryer, pop it back in the tray, treat it like cookie dough and pop the soy-free tofu in the freezer for 15 – 20 minutes to firm up so it’s easier to handle.
- Soy-free tofu firmness is mostly determined by water content. If it’s on the soft side, don’t worry—it will still taste dill-icious! Just cook it longer in Step 4 next time.
- Don’t love lentils? Make time for an overnight soak to give the dill pickle-seasoned soy-free tofu treatment to other soy-free tofu types, too! How?
- Start with the Bean-based variation in our Easy Soy-free Tofu for Allergy-friendly Gluten-free Swaps recipe.
- Follow the first part of step 2 in the dill pickle-seasoned soy-free tofu option of this recipe: bring 2 cups water and ½ cup pickle juice to a boil with the garlic, dill, and optional chili flakes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 – 10 minutes.
- Replace the plain water and salt in step 2 of the Bean-based Soy-free Tofu recipe with dill pickle-seasoned water, then follow steps 3 – 5.
- Use dill pickle-seasoned bean-based soy-free tofu in this recipe the same way you would the red lentil version.
For the Dairy-free Dill Pickle Dip:
- Enjoy with Crispy Air Fryer Gluten-free Breaded Tofu Bites, your favourite gluten-free tortilla chips, or veggies. Or use it as a spread on summer’s finest gluten-free veggie burgers!
To Reheat:
Got leftovers? To avoid soggy cutlets, store unsauced and stacked with a layer of parchment between and skip the microwave. Reheat remaining cutlets or next-day nuggets in your air fryer or oven to keep them crisp!
Can’t get enough gluten-free dill pickle recipes? Try our Dill Pickle Vegan Egg Salad Bagelwich and our Gluten-free Air Fryer Fried Pickles!
Love pickled things in general? Check out our Easy Gluten-free Pickled Avocado Toast recipe for a fresh take on a toast trend that never gets tired.
Get more saucy sandwiches and safe gluten-free snacks like this recipe delivered fresh to your inbox—scroll down and sign up for Little Northern Bakehouse emails. And be sure to follow us on your favourite social feed: find us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook!