Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

Making the perfect crispy air fryer tofu is so easy. This protein packed appetizer can be made quickly and is perfect for meal prep too. Easy, effortless and quick, you can use this dish to make nutritious meals or serve this as a starter with a spicy dipping sauce.

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My recipe is an Asian spin. We have all the Umami, great flavors and high nutrition in this easy dish. Before we begin, let us address a few doubts that come up frequently.

What is tofu?

They make tofu with soy beans. Also known as bean curd, this is high in protein. The process of making tofu begins by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resultant curds. In many south east Asian countries, this is a staple food.

Types of tofu

If you are a first time tofu buyer, then the varieties out there may overwhelm you. Allow me to explain the different types of tofu you may come across in an Asian store or even at a supermarket.

Extra firm tofu

Tofu can be firm, soft, silken or extra firm in texture. Extra firm tofu is very dense and has minimal moisture/ water content. This is great for stir fries, pan fried tofu and in dishes like this recipe.

Silken tofu

Then, we have the silken tofu. Silken tofu is made differently. Unlike firm tofu that is pressed to squeeze out all the water, silken tofu is just soy milk coagulated and allowed to set on its own till firm. As a result, this variety is silkier and has lot more water than regular firm tofu.

How to buy tofu?

The choice of your tofu will depend on what you plan to cook with it.

Choose extra firm or firm tofu for stir fries, scrambled tofu, to toss into curry bases or for any recipe that calls for pan-frying the tofu.

You can use silken tofu to make puddings, sauces, dips and even in baking. It is a fantastic egg replacement. Try this vegan ranch sauce which uses silken tofu as the base to begin with.

Should you press tofu?

This is the biggest doubt most beginner cooks have. Let’s get this out of the way, shall we? The short answer is yes and no. Here is why-

Before we get into the debate, let us try and understand why we should press tofu. Tofu has a lot of water even after all the pressing it goes through. It is like a block of sponge that can absorb a lot of liquid.

Now, when we press out the excess water, we essentially dry out the tofu. Drier the tofu, the more marinade it absorbs. The end result is a flavorful meaty dish. 

You should press your tofu if are marinating it. Otherwise, I really will not bother because it is just one extra step. Extra firm and firm tofu do well without pressing in curry recipes.

If you are planning to pan fry the tofu to achieve a crisp outer crust, then I recommend that you press it. Moisture does not do any good during pan-frying and alters the texture completely. So, yes, go ahead and press that tofu.

Should you invest in a tofu press?

My family loves tofu. I make this air fryer recipe so many times in a month. And I also tend to use tofu in fried rice or curry recipes too. So, I find a tofu press very useful and effective. 

Invest in a tofu press if you eat it at least thrice a week. Otherwise, I think some  heavy books and a mortar and pestle will give you equally good results.

How to press tofu?

Using heavy weights

Open the tofu and wash it once under running water. Pat dry using a lint-free kitchen towel. Line a deep dish with some kitchen towels. Place the tofu block over the towels. Cover the tofu with a few kitchen towels on the top as well.

Now, place a heavy wooden chopping board or a similar flat but heavy object. Place a mortar and pestle over this. And allow the tofu to release all the water. This will take sometime between 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how firm the tofu is.

By blotting them with paper towels

If you forgot to press your tofu, then you can cut them as per your recipe requirements. Place the cut tofu pieces over a layer of paper towels. Now, using another paper towel, blot them down by pressing over the cut tofu.

Using a tofu press

Here is also a picture of tofu being pressed using a tofu press. Tofu press come in different models. I bought mine from a small store near home. But you can check out Amazon for different models.

How long to press tofu?

The longer you press your tofu, the more water you draw out. Ideally, anywhere between 20 minutes to 40 minutes is recommended. But you do not need to press longer if you are not trying to achieve a crispy tofu.

For recipes like this tofu that is air fried, I recommend that you press the tofu for 15 minutes before you begin cooking.

Can you press tofu ahead of time and store it?

You can press tofu ahead of time and store it in the fridge only when you are going to use it up the same day.

Ingredients

Here is a list of all the stuff you need to make this recipe-

1. Tofu– I have used extra firm tofu for making this recipe and recommend this highly.
2. Cornstarch– for blotting out any excess moisture in the tofu and giving us that crispy outside.
3. Asian sesame oil– you have to try this if you have not. Using sesame oil gives the tofu a nutty flavor that is brilliant with the other aromatics used in this recipe.
4. Sesame seeds- lend a nice little bite.
5. Soy sauce– for a nice Asian flavor kick.
6. Garlic powder – I can never imagine tofu without garlic.
7. Salt and pepper.
8. Scallions and Thai basil for garnishing.

Make ahead, shelf life and storage

This dish is best enjoyed right after making it. The tofu loses its crispy texture as it cools down. 

Store leftover tofu in an air tight container in the fridge. Before serving, allow it to come to room temperature by setting out on the counter for 20 minutes. Reheat in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at 350C. You can store crispy tofu in the fridge for 3 days.

Recipe Notes

1. Please refer the ‘how to press tofu?’ section for more information on pressing tofu.
2. Cut the tofu into even sized squares for evenly crisp tofu.
3. Tossing the cubes in cornstarch helps it becoming crispy. 
4. Preheating the air fryer helps in preventing the tofu from becoming leathery and chewy.

Serving suggestions

Tofu is a rich protein source. While this is a fantastic appetizer, you can also use this in these ways-

1. As a filling in wraps. Add lettuce, thinly sliced onions, cucumbers and carrots along with some Chili crisp and make an Asian inspired wrap.
2. In tacos, use this instead of beef or chicken or beans. Add a dumpling sauce as a topping and finish with a garnish of finely chopped cilantro.
3. Make Buddha bowls using this along with some Thai Basil fried rice and some steamed edamame.
4. Toss these tofu cubes into noodles, stir fries or fried rice for added protein.

Variations

1. Use a combination of soy and red chilli sauce along with garlic for a different flavor.
2. You can also 1/2 tsp finely minced ginger along with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Make an Indian version by tossing the tofu in Chaat Masala, red paprika and salt. Use regular vegetable oil for coating the tofu in the spice mixture.
4. Try Mexican style tofu by using Chipotle seasoning and ground cumin. 

Method

Prep work

Press the tofu by placing the tofu block over a layer of paper towels. Place a layer of paper towels over the block. Now, add a heavy object like a cast iron skillet or mortar and pestle over the tofu.

After 15 minutes, discard the paper towels. Chop up the tofu into 1.5 inch squares. Place the chopped tofu squares in a mixing bowl.

Steps 3 & 4

Sprinkle corn starch over it and using a silicon spatula, gently toss. Make sure the cornstarch has coated the tofu evenly.

Steps 5 and 6 

Add the sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sesame seeds and garlic powder to the tofu. Toss well. Let this sit for 10 minutes.

Preheating the air fryer

While the tofu is marinating, preheat the air fryer at 375F for 4 minutes. I have a preset function and so I use this. If you do not have a preset Preheat function, then set the timings and temperature manually and preheat.

Steps 7 and 8

Arrange the marinated tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure there are no overlaps.

Steps 9 and 10

Air fry for 12 to 14 minutes until the tofu has crisped up on the outside. Toss the tofu gently around the halfway cooking mark ( 6 to 7 minutes) and continue to cook for the remaining time.

When done, garnish the tofu with chopped scallions and Thai basil leaves. Serve immediately.

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Crispy Air Fryer Tofu

This crispy air fryer tofu is packed with Asian flavors and vegan-friendly. It is a fantastic appetizer or a great stuffing for tacos and wraps too.

Prep Time25 minutes mins

Cook Time14 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Starter

Cuisine: Asian

Servings: 5

Calories: 97kcal

Equipment

• 1 Mixing bowl
• 1 heavy weight object or a tofu press (read blog post for more details)
• 1 set of measuring spoons and bowls
• 1 Air fryer

Ingredients

• 16 oz block extra firm tofu
• 1.5 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp Asian sesame oil
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1.5 tsp sesame seeds
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tsp ground white pepper
• Salt to taste

For garnish

• 1 tbsp finely chopped scallions
• 1 tsp finely chopped Thai basil

Instructions

Prep work

• Press the tofu by placing the tofu block over a layer of paper towels.
• Place a layer of paper towels over the block.
• Now, add a heavy object like a cast iron skillet or mortar and pestle over the tofu.
• After 15 minutes, discard the paper towels.
• Chop up the tofu into 1.5 inch squares. Place the chopped tofu squares in a mixing bowl.
• Sprinkle corn starch over it and using a silicon spatula, gently toss. Make sure the cornstarch has coated the tofu evenly.

Marinating the tofu

• Add the sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sesame seeds and garlic powder to the tofu. Toss well. Let this sit for 10 minutes.
• Preheating the air fryer
• While the tofu is marinating, preheat the air fryer at 375F for 4 minutes.
• Arrange the marinated tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure there are no overlaps.
• Air fry for 12 to 14 minutes until the tofu has crisped up on the outside. Toss the tofu gently around the halfway cooking mark ( 6 to 7 minutes) and continue to cook for the remaining time.
• When done, garnish the tofu with chopped scallions and Thai basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Notes

1. Please refer the ‘how to press tofu?’ section for more information on pressing tofu.
2. Cut the tofu into even sized squares for evenly crisp tofu.
3. Tossing the cubes in cornstarch helps it becoming crispy. 
4. Preheating the air fryer helps in preventing the tofu from becoming leathery and chewy.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 460mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg

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