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air fried tofu served in an asymmetric rimmed bowl with red chili sauce. chopsticks by the bowl
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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
Cook Time14 minutes
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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