This Crispy Air Fryer Tofu is so delicious! Serve it alongside broccoli, rice and bang bang sauce for a satisfying plant-based meal.
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Extra-firm tofu – tempeh might also work for this recipe.
- Cornstarch – use potato starch or arrowroot instead.
Bang bang sauce
- Light mayo – use regular mayo if it’s all you have on hand.
- Sweet chili sauce – make your own using a combination of hot sauce and honey.
- Sriracha – sambal oelek would also be good or you can swap out for another hot sauce of your choice.
Rice
- Jasmine rice – serve this dish with any rice like brown rice.
- Butter – margarine or olive oil would also help make the rice nice and moist.
To serve
- Broccoli – swap out for another veggie like cauliflower, roasted red peppers or carrots.
- Green onions – chives would also work here.
- Sesame seeds – use black or white sesame seeds, or a combination of the two.
How to make crispy tofu
Step 1: Squeeze moisture out of the tofu.
Add block of tofu to a large plate in between two clean kitchen towels. Add a heavy object such as a large textbook over tofu to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Meanwhile, add all ingredients under rice heading to a rice cooker or pot on the stove and cook until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Step 2: Slice up the tofu.
Preheat air fryer to 400 F for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, take tofu and cut into 1-inch cubes.
Step 3: Toss in the cornstarch.
Carefully toss with cornstarch in a large bowl.
Step 4: Cook in the air fryer.
Add to air fryer in a single layer. Spray with cooking spray, season liberally with salt and pepper, then cook for 15 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking time.
Step 5: Toss the tofu in the bang bang sauce.
While tofu cooks, add broccoli florets to a bowl of water and microwave for 8-10 minutes before draining. Then, mix all ingredients under bang bang sauce heading together in a large bowl and set aside. Remove tofu from air fryer, then toss in the large bowl with the bang bang sauce.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
Serve tofu over cooked rice with broccoli, garnishing with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy!
Is tofu good for you?
Tofu is a super healthy, plant-based protein option. It’s made of condensed soy milk and is packed full of important nutrients including calcium, manganese, copper, selenium, iron and magnesium. It’s also relatively low in calories compared to other proteins, so it’s a great option if you’re trying to stick to a lower-calorie diet.
Like all foods, tofu is only as healthy as how you prepare it. By air frying tofu, you’ll still get that amazing crispiness without having to deep fry it and pack on the calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Air fryer tofu only needs to cook in the oven for 15 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit. Make sure you toss the tofu halfway through the cooking time so it gets crispy all the way around and cooks evenly!
Before air frying tofu, you’ll need to press out all the excess moisture. Add it to a large plate between two clean kitchen towels, then add a heavy object over top (like a textbook) so all the liquid is pressed out. It can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to get all the moisture out, but since this recipe uses extra-firm tofu, it shouldn’t take too long.
This air fried tofu needs to cook at 400° Fahrenheit to get that nice crispy finish.
Air frying tofu is a great way to get it super crispy! Since you’re not frying it in oil or batter, you’re cutting down on the calorie count while still getting the tofu nice and crispy. I’d also recommend using extra-firm tofu and squeezing out as much excess moisture as possible. The drier the tofu, the crispier it’ll get.
Storing and reheating
You can store any leftover air fryer tofu in the fridge for 4 to 5 days in an airtight glass container. I’d recommend waiting to toss the tofu in the bang bang sauce until right before you’re about to eat it, so the leftovers last longer! When you’re ready to enjoy your tofu, reheat it in a pan on the stovetop or pop it back in the air fryer to get it nice and crispy again. Toss it in the sauce, then serve and enjoy!
Freezing this recipe
I wouldn’t recommend freezing any air fried tofu after it’s been cooked, because it won’t defrost well. However, you can freeze any extra raw tofu you might have to use at a later date. After draining the excess moisture out, transfer the tofu to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight, squeeze out any excess moisture then cook as normal.
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Crispy Air Fryer Tofu {+ Best Sauce!}
Ingredients
- 1 block extra-firm tofu
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Bang bang sauce
- 2 tbsp light mayo
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha
Rice
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 tsp butter
To serve
- 1 head broccoli chopped
- 3 green onions sliced
- Sesame seeds to serve
Instructions
- Add block of tofu to a large plate in between two clean kitchen towels. Add a heavy object such as a large textbook over tofu to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
- Meanwhile, add all ingredients under rice heading to a rice cooker or pot on the stove and cook until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, take tofu and cut into 1-inch cubes. Carefully toss with cornstarch in a large bowl. Add to air fryer in a single layer. Spray with cooking spray, season liberally with salt and pepper, then cook for 15 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking time.
- While tofu cooks, add broccoli florets to a bowl of water and microwave for 8-10 minutes before draining. Then, mix all ingredients under bang bang sauce heading together in a large bowl and set aside.
- Remove tofu from air fryer, then toss in the large bowl with the bang bang sauce. Serve tofu over cooked rice with broccoli, garnishing with green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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