Ganmodoki is a Japanese tofu fritter rooted in Buddhist temple cuisine. Made from mashed tofu mixed with vegetables, ganmodoki has a slightly crispy exterior and a soft, tender interior. Its neutral flavour makes it the perfect canvas for your favourite dipping sauces. Perfect to enjoy as an appetizer, a side dish, or in a bento box.
Servings
(3 fritters per serving)
Total
44 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
24 min
Contains
soy
sesame
Swap out
gluten
Free from
peanut
tree nut
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What would be your cooking suggestions if I were to use an air fryer? My Dad made them for us when we were visiting but I think they would be even better with less oil.
PUL Team - July 27, 2026, 9:04 p.m.
Hi hi, Phillipa! We haven't tested these in the air fryer yet, so I can't promise the exact results, although we do suspect it could work. Perhaps you could lightly spray or brush the fritters with a bit of oil, then air fry them at around 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they're golden and crisp on the outside. Since air fryers can vary quite a bit, I'd keep an eye on them towards the end and adjust the time as needed. If you give it a try, we'd love to hear how they turn out 🤗✨
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Firebolt - June 23, 2026, 12:33 a.m.
Honestly, this felt like too much work (so hard to form the balls, they kept crumbling, I really had to press them together with enough force that made my fingers cramp), but then my husband found them so delicious he had seconds (and he hasn't been eating well for months now because of his meds), so I guess it's all forgiven. If you have any tips to make the batter easier to form into balls (and less likely to fall apart in the oil when turning, although that was mostly okay), I'd be happy to try another way.
PUL Team - June 23, 2026, 4:42 p.m.
Thank you so much for giving these a try, Firebolt! I'm sorry to hear they were a bit of a workout to shape, although am so glad your husband went back for seconds 🥰
My first guess, if the mixture felt very crumbly, would be that the tofu may have been squeezed a little too dry. In case you give the recipe another try, you could try leaving just a touch more moisture in the tofu, or adding an extra teaspoon or two of water if the mixture isn't holding together easily. Perhaps worth noting too, we used firm tofu which has some moisture in it compared to extra firm varieties of tofu. If that's the kind you purchased, no pressing through the cheesecloth needed. If it's still crumbly, adding a bit more flax egg (flax mixed with water and let sit to thicken for a few minuets) could also help with binding. And as you came to notice, pressing the mixture together firmly is important for this one, but it shouldn't leave your fingers cramping. I hope this helps for now!❣️
Firebolt - June 25, 2026, 4:26 p.m.
Thank you, I'll try again sometime with this in mind. :)
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Dalia Jakubaitytė - April 24, 2026, 9:42 a.m.
Made it this morning, it does take some time to prep everything, the flavour is nice, the outside is crispy but next time I would add less flaxseed and more cornstarch because the inside texture was slightly slime-y
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Marijana - April 23, 2026, 5:35 p.m.
Can you please suggest possible swaps for mushrooms?
PUL Team - April 23, 2026, 6:44 p.m.
Heyy Marijana, thanks for your interest in this one 🫶 you can likely swap the mushrooms with finely chopped zucchini (squeezed to remove moisture), eggplant, or even extra grated carrot! 😊 let us know if you try any swaps✨
Reply
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What would be your cooking suggestions if I were to use an air fryer? My Dad made them for us when we were visiting but I think they would be even better with less oil.
Honestly, this felt like too much work (so hard to form the balls, they kept crumbling, I really had to press them together with enough force that made my fingers cramp), but then my husband found them so delicious he had seconds (and he hasn't been eating well for months now because of his meds), so I guess it's all forgiven. If you have any tips to make the batter easier to form into balls (and less likely to fall apart in the oil when turning, although that was mostly okay), I'd be happy to try another way.
Made it this morning, it does take some time to prep everything, the flavour is nice, the outside is crispy but next time I would add less flaxseed and more cornstarch because the inside texture was slightly slime-y
Can you please suggest possible swaps for mushrooms?