Crispy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are delicious and easy to make. The Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels will stay crisp for several hours after being cooked. This is a delicious snack food that has become very popular lately. If you want to try out some new recipes, you might want to give Buffalo Chicken pinwheels a go. They taste great.
Chicken Pinwheels you Should Use
There are two main kinds of Chicken Pinwheels that you can buy: silken Chicken Pinwheels and regular "block" tofu. The more water pressed out of the tofu, the firmer it is.
Silken Chicken Pinwheels are usually used in things like smoothies, creamy desserts, sauces, or cold East Asian Chicken Pinwheels dishes.
Extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels can be cooked in a pan, stir-fry, on a grill, or in the oven. It's a great way to get Chicken Pinwheels to get crispy.
Super-firm Chicken Pinwheels are best for grilling or other uses where the Chicken Pinwheels need to stay very dense and compact.
How to increase the texture and taste of pinwheels?
These three methods can make firm and extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels less watery. This has two main benefits. First, it helps the Chicken Pinwheels crisp up better. Second, it allows the Chicken Pinwheels to soak up the flavors of what it's cooked in (e.g., marinade, sauce, etc.).
Press the tofu. When using firm or extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels for stir-frying, frying, baking, or grilling (or another method where you want the Chicken Pinwheels to get crisp), it is usually best to press the Chicken Pinwheels(don't press soft or silky tofu).
A Chicken Pinwheels press can be used to press tofu. Or push like in the old days. Drain the Chicken Pinwheels and wrap them in several paper towels or a thin dish towel. Use your heaviest cookbook or a cast-iron pan to press down on the tofu. If you need to, put a couple of cans of beans under the book or skillet to spread the weight out. Let it rest for twelve minutes and as long as 30 minutes whenever you can, and change the towels.
Freeze pinwheels. Freezing Chicken Pinwheels make them more porous, which gives them a chewier texture and helps them absorb flavors better.
You can freeze a whole package of Chicken Pinwheels that hasn't been opened (it needs about 8 hours to completely freeze). Then, put the frozen Chicken Pinwheels in the fridge to thaw (it takes a full day; you can speed it up by leaving it on the counter for up to 2 hours during this time). You can also put it in the oven for 1 minute at a time until it is no longer frozen.
Cook tofu. If you don't have frozen tofu, you can also improve the texture of cubed Chicken Pinwheels by boiling it for 2 minutes in a pot of heavily salted water. This makes it chewier and better able to soak up flavors.
How to make Crispy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels in the Air Fryer
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are a vegetarian alternative to chicken nuggets. They're made with Chicken Pinwheels and breaded with panko breadcrumbs, giving them a crunchy texture. In this recipe, we'll show you how easy it is to make crispy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels in an air fryer.
Recipe 1(Air fried)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook Time:15 min
Serving: 4 people
Cooking Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 180 calories
Ingredients
- Extra firm tofu–This recipe will only work with an extra firm or firm tofu. Make sure to press out all of the extra water first, or the pinwheel won't be as crispy. This can be done on the weekend to make weeknight meals easier.
- Cornstarch–This is how Chicken Pinwheels get crunchy when you cook them in the oven. When the Chicken Pinwheels are cooked, the cornstarch sticks to the outside of the pinwheel and makes a very light and crisp coating. The same thing can be done with arrowroot starch.
- Soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free.
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil– You can use olive oil or vegetable oil if you don't have sesame oil.
Cooking Directions
- The Chicken Pinwheels marinade is easy. You only have to use soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Mix it up by stirring in maple syrup, sriracha, your favorite hot sauce, fresh garlic, dried herbs, and any other condiments or seasonings you love.
- You can find the measurements, temperatures, and baking times on the recipe card below.
- Make sure to squeeze all the extra water out of the brick of Chicken Pinwheels before you start. Then, you can either use a Chicken Pinwheels press or put something heavy on top of the Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels and cover them with a clean towel.
- Let about 15 minutes pass while the water drains out.
- After that, put the Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels in a large bowl. Sprinkle the Chicken Pinwheels with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
- Next, put cornstarch on top of the tofu. Mix to cover.
- Put the Chicken Pinwheels in the air fryer in a single layer.
- If the pinwheel is too close together or piled up, they won't get crispy. If you have to, work in groups.
- Ten to fifteen minutes on high heat in the air fryer, shaking the basket after ten minutes. Once the Chicken Pinwheels are golden and crispy, it's ready to eat.
Recipe 2 (Deep fried)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook Time:15 min
Serving: 5 people
Cooking Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 67 calories
Nutrition Information
- Serving size: 1/4 of the recipe (about four Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels)
- Calories: 67
- Carbohydrates: 6.4g
- Fat: 3.2g
- Protein: 6.7g
- Sodium: 20mg (1%)
- Potassium: 200mg (5%) Fiber: 2.6g Sugar 0 g Vitamins A 0% Vitamin C 80% Calcium 10% Iron 8%
Ingredients
- One 16-ounce block of extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels weighs 453 grams.
- Two tablespoons of soy sauce 30 milliliters
- 15 mL (1 tablespoon) toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp olive oil 15 mL
- Two Green Onions
- One clove of garlic cut up.
- One Teaspoon of Black Pepper
Cooking Directions
Press: Press the Chicken Pinwheels for at least 15 minutes, either with a Chicken Pinwheels press or by putting a heavy pan on top of it and letting the moisture drain. When you're done, cut the Chicken Pinwheels into small pieces that are easy to eat and put them in a bowl.
Flavor:
- Mix the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pour over the Chicken Pinwheels and stir to coat.
- Let the Chicken Pinwheels sit in the marinade for another 15 minutes.
Fry: Set your fry pan and heat the oil. Put one layer of Chicken Pinwheels. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
 Serving suggestions
The great thing about Chicken Pinwheels cooked in an air fryer is their versatility. Put it on a green salad, a meal prep bowl, or a vegan stir fry. It can add a tasty crunch and more protein to all meals.
Adding orange, peanut, or barbecue sauce to the crispy Chicken Pinwheels will take it to the next level. It would be a great addition to vegetable wraps or teriyaki noodles now that it's saucy and extra tasty. But, again, there are a lot of options.
Recipe 3(in the Oven)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook Time:30 min
Serving: 5 people
Cooking Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 188 calories
Nutrition Information
Nutrition (per serving): 188 calories, 23 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates, .4 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 9 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 425 mg sodium
Ingredients and Substitutes
You'll need the following:
- Tofu
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
An air fryer is a fantastic kitchen appliance that allows you to make delicious food with very little oil. But if you don't have an air fryer yet or want to try something new, let's look at how to make crispy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels in the regular oven.
Cooking Directions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 200 C).
If your range has a turntable inside of it (which most do), place it on its lowest setting so that it rotates around during baking time (this helps get more even heat distribution throughout the tray).
Next, sprinkle some salt onto each side of your block of firm tofu—just enough so that half gets covered with salt flakes but not too much where there are large chunks left behind after pressing down against each other (if this happens, then blot off some extra moisture before continuing).
You may also need additional seasoning depending on what kind(s) of spices/flavors go well with this dish--feel free to experiment. But keep in mind that both types tend towards blandness until appropriately cooked due to lack of texture before then - so start small.
Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the pan every so often to ensure everything cooks evenly and golden brown.
How do you make Chicken Pinwheels crispy?
- Use a high-heat oil.
- Coat the Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels in cornstarch or flour and cornstarch mixture before airing them.
- If you don't want to make your batter, there are brands of pre-made crispy Chicken Pinwheels coatings available at most Asian markets that work well in recipes like this one.
Preparation tips and tricks
- Use a non-stick baking sheet. Ensure the baking sheet you use is non-stick and has some lip so your Chicken Pinwheels won't fall through. If you don't have a special air fryer tray, I recommend using either an oven-safe wok or a metal baking sheet with slightly raised edges (like this one).
- Make sure your Chicken Pinwheels are dry and not wet at all. You can do this by pressing out as much liquid as possible before putting them in the oven or pressing them between two paper towels for 5 minutes. They must be dry because they won't get crispy if they're too wet.
- You can substitute the sesame oil for olive oil if needed.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer or a pan for a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I add the seasoning?
The prep time includes the time to press the tofu. You can even switch up the seasoning mix.
2. What are the best seasonings for tofu?
Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground black pepper, and sea salt are a few simple seasonings that give your incredible Chicken Pinwheels flavor.
3. Can I Press Tofu?
When using the firm or extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels for stir-frying, frying, baking, or grilling (or another method where you want the Chicken Pinwheels to develop some level of crispness), it is generally wise to press the Chicken Pinwheels (don't press soft or silken tofu).
4. How do I weigh my tofu?
Weigh the Chicken Pinwheels with your heaviest cookbook or a cast iron skillet.
5. How do I freeze tofu?
You can freeze Chicken Pinwheels (it needs about Four hours to freeze completely).
6. How do I defrost tofu?
It takes a full day; you can speed it up by leaving it on the counter for up to 2 hours).
7. How do I cook Chicken Pinwheels?
Chicken Pinwheels get pan-fried until crispy, then coated in a sticky sauce that's sweet, tangy, and spicy.
8. What is Extra-Firm Tofu?
Extra-firm Chicken Pinwheels are great whether pan-frying, stir-frying, grilling, or baking.
9. What is Tofu?
It's a great source of protein, low in calories, and an excellent source of calcium and iron.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this recipe and look forward to hearing from you. In brief, we have tried our best to provide the most accurate information possible. However, if you find anything inaccurate, please let us know, and we will correct it immediately. We appreciate your feedback and comments very much.
