This Crispy Air Fried Tofu recipe changed the way I think about tofu. They are crispy on the outside, have the perfect meaty texture on the inside, and are very flavorful. Very easy to make as well. You can have them in your rice bowls, or use them as salad toppers, or serve them as appetizers. So many ways to serve.
I was never a fan of Tofu until I figured out how to cook it right. For me, they tasted bland, and I struggled to incorporate them in my meals because they crumble so quickly and I was not a fan of that texture. The best thing about this Crispy Air Fryer Tofu recipe is, you incorporate so much flavor into these, and they absorb all that flavor, so they never taste bland. And since we squeeze out the water pretty well and air fry them until crispy, the texture changes from crumbly to meaty, the outside becomes kinda like a crispy skin, and it’s amazing!
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Which Tofu is the best for Air Frying
If you visit an Asian grocery store, you’ll see that there are so many varieties of Tofu with different textures. Ranging from silken tofu (which is very, very soft) to extra firm tofu. For Air Frying (or deep frying), extra firm tofu is the best. They are dense and don’t break very easily, and have a low amount of moisture.
If you can’t find extra firm tofu, you can use firm tofu, but it’s best if you can press it (read the next chapter) to remove extra water and make it more firm.
Prepping Tofu/Removing moisture
Most tofu blocks are packed in water to keep them hydrated and fresh. If you use extra firm tofu, you can use it as it is, but make sure to wipe it well to remove the water. But if you use firm or medium tofu, it’s important that you squeeze out as much water as possible. For this, you can use a Tofu press. They are available in Asian stores, or you can buy one from Amazon. I don’t have one, so this is what I do.
Place 2 – 3 folded paper towels over and under the tofu block. Put a plate on top and then place something heavy on the plate to press it down. I use my stone mortar and pestle. You can also use a heavy cast-iron skillet. Leave it for 15 – 30 minutes. This helps to get rid of most excess water and make the tofu firmer.
Adding flavors
Tofu has a very mild flavor, and it tastes like whatever flavorings you add to it. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to add a ton of seasonings and sauces. You can use just salt for seasoning as well, and they are great in soups, to add to stir fries or to serve over salads with a dressing/sauce of your choice.
Since I use them in most of my Asian dishes I use soy sauce, sesame oil and some spices to make them taste good. But you use this recipe as a base recipe and change your flavorings/spices however you like.
For example, let’s say you want to use them to make some vegan burritos. In this case, you can flavor them with Mexican flavors such as cumin, oregano, etc.
Serving Ideas with Crispy Air Fried Tofu
These crispy tofu pieces are so versatile, and you can serve them in many different ways. I personally love to use them as a topping for rice bowls, noodles, and salads.
They are amazing to use in stir fry dishes (tofu and broccoli, fried rice, chow mein etc)
I also love to use them in curries. You can make a delicious vegan Japanese curry with them.
Or serve them as an appetizer with a sauce on the side. I like bang bang sauce or teriyaki sauce.
Crispy Air Fried Tofu
Description
This Crispy Air Fried Tofu recipe changed the way I think about tofu. They are crispy on the outside, have the perfect meaty texture on the inside, and are very flavorful. Very easy to make as well.
Ingredients
Other
Instructions
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Pat the tofu block dry while gently squeezing it to remove extra moisture.
if you're using firm or medium tofu make sure to press the tofu block for about 30 minutes to remove extra water. -
Cut the tofu block into bite-sized cubes.
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Add tofu pieces to a large bowl. Add granulated garlic, onion, sugar, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, and gently mix. Then sprinkle corn starch on top and mix again until all the tofu pieces are coated with corn starch.
Be gentle when mixing to make sure not to break the tofu pieces too much. I usually use a flat spatula for mixing. Even if some tofu pieces break a little bit, don't worry, they become crispier in the oven. -
Spray the air fryer basket/tray with oil spray. Then place the tofu pieces in one layer in the basket/tray. Make sure to leave some space between each piece. Now, spray the tofu cubes with oil very generously.Â
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Air fry for about 18 minutes at 390°F / 200°C or until golden brown. optional: Flip them 2 minutes before they are done to brown the bottom as well. Do not try to flip them earlier because corn starch can make the tofu pieces stick to the basket first, but they easily release from the basket once they are fried.
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