Sick of sticking tofu to an oily pan? Then try this super Crispy Air Fried Tofu, an easy and quick air fryer recipe with just five easy-to-get ingredients. This vegan fried tofu is incredibly crispy on the outside as if they come right from a deep fryer, with just a touch of oil. This 15-minute vegan recipe is popular with kids as well as weight watchers.
I have been sharing some easy and quick Air Fryer recipes this week (air-fried crispy cauliflower and crispy Chicken). Now we have some air-fried tofu on the plate!
Like the Easy & Quick Baked Tofu recipe, this air-fried tofu is ridiculously crispy and soft and flavorful on the inside. If you have never cooked tofu before or are a tofu eater and you are in a kind of situation “How to cook perfectly crispy tofu,”?? Then you’ve got to try this crispy Air Fried Tofu recipe.
It couldn’t get simpler than cooking tofu in the air fryer; this air-fried tofu is crispy, flavourful, and perfectly seasoned. You can serve this crispy tofu as an appetizer and add it to your everyday salad; it could be a healthy protein option for your buddha bowl or add to your noodles. There are hundreds of ways you can enjoy this air-fried tofu.
What is Tofu? Which tofu is best?
Tofu is an excellent plant-based protein made by curdling soy milk and forming it into a solid block, which can cook in various ways. It comes in multiple forms like an extra firm, regular, smoked, etc. Tofu is a great protein option for vegan and vegetarian diets.
Best Tofu For Roasting in Air Fryer?
In my experience with the air fryer recipes, if you want your Fried Tofu to be extra crispy, you must use the Extra Firm Tofu. It is denser and has less water content than other varieties of tofu as we want the tofu to hold its safe and absorb all the flavor, which is why you need to use the extra-firm tofu for this crisp air fried tofu recipe.
Crispy Air Fried Tofu Ingredients:
To make the Crispy Air fried Tofu recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Tofu: You will need a block of tofu. You may use firm or extra firm tofu for this recipe, which has less water content than other verities.
- Oil: I would recommend combining extra virgin olive oil and sesame oil; it will add depth to the flavor and improve the texture of fried tofu.
- Soy sauce or Tamari: Soy adds a salty and rich flavor to the tofu. Either will yield the same result. If you prefer to make this roasted tofu gluten-free, you may use tamari.
- Seasoning: Generally, I use a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, and black pepper as a seasoning option for air frying tofu. But if you want some other seasoning options, scroll below for more ideas.
How to Cook Crispy Tofu in an Air Fryer?
- Start by pressing the tofu in a tofu press, or you can use the method I have mentioned below.
- In a small bowl, stir together the extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, and soy sauce. You can also ½ tbsp of vinegar to this.
- Add the pressed tofu to a bowl and drizzle the marinade over it. Add the seasoning and toss gently to coat the pieces.
- Let it sit for at least 30 to 45 minutes in a refrigerator or at room temperature, or you can keep it overnight in the fridge.
- Gently place the tofu cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer (do not overlap the tofu cubes).
- Cook at 375 or 400 degrees F (temperature may vary, please refer to notes) for about 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure to shake the basket in a midway (in 5 to 6 minutes mark) or occasionally for even cooking.
- Cook until the tofu is golden brown, and enjoy it warm.
How to Press Tofu With and Without a Press?
The first thing is to press the tofu properly to get crisper results. As waterlogged tofu can never get crispy, it will get super dry. So the key here is to press the tofu nicely to get rid of all the excess water; this is a crucial step as the firmest varieties of tofu also contain lots of excess water.
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Using a Tofu Press:
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- You can use a tofu press to let you quickly press a block of tofu in under 10 to 15 minutes. A tofu press is easily available in store but having one isn’t necessary. You can also press the tofu without using a tofu press. Follow the below process.
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Without using a Press
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- For this, slice the tofu block into 2 to 4 (depending upon the shape) ¾ to 1 inch thick. Then cut the tofu into even smaller cubes or pieces to maximize the surface area. (if you try to press a whole block or some slices, it will sit in a soggy poll).
- Lay some paper towel or tea towel on a flat surface or a baking tray, and gently place all the tofu cubes (as shown in the photo) without touching each other. Cover the tofu cubes with another paper towel and place a chopping board or a flat pan, stack some heavy books or cans and balance the chopping board.
- Let it sit for 15 to 20minutes; this will generate excess pressure or weight on the tofu, draining the excess water or moisture press out of it very quickly.
More Air Fryer recipes :
- Crispy Chicken in an air fryer
- Air Fried crispy cauliflower
- Air Fryer Millet Cookies- only 6 ingredients
- Roasted chickpeas
- Air fryer broccoli
Related Articles:
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Tofu
- 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce or Tamari
Seasoning
- ¼ tbsp Salt or as per your taste
- ¼ tbsp Onion powder
- ¼ tbsp Garlic powder
- ¼ tbsp Paprika
- ¼ tbsp Black pepper
Instructions
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EASY TOFU PRESS: Cut the tofu into small cubes( ¾ to 1 inch thick), Lay some paper towel or tea towel on a flat surface or a baking tray, and gently place all the tofu cubes (as shown in the photo) without touching each other. Cover the tofu cubes with another paper towel and place a chopping board or a flat pan, and stack some heavy books or cans and balance the chopping board.
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In a small bowl stir together the extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, and soy sauce. You can also ¼ tbsp of vinegar to this.
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Add the tofu cubes into the marinade and add the seasonings then toss it gently to coat the tofu cubes properly.
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Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes, then gently place the tofu cubes on the air fryer basket in a single layer.
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Now cook the tofu cubes for 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure to shake the basket in a midway (in 5 to 6 minutes mark) or occasionally for even cooking.
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Cook until the tofu cubes are golden brown, enjoy it warm!
Notes
- To make it gluten-free use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You can use other high smoke oils that are best for air fryers including sunflower oil and peanut oil.
- Make sure to press the tofu before air frying it, it can be pressed 2 to 3 days prior to cooking but store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
- How to store air fried tofu? You can simply store the air fried tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days.
- How to reheat air fryer tofu? Simply place the leftover tofu in the air fryer or on a pan for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp.
- Confused about which air fryer is best for your family? We have compiled the best air fryers here.
