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    Air Fryer Tofu

    Published: Jul 21, 2020 · Modified: Jul 21, 2020 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    a collage of two photos of air fryer tofu with a text overlay

    You will love this easy air fryer tofu! It’s packed with flavor and it’s incredibly crispy while being so much lower in fat than deep-fried tofu. And it’s ready in only 20 minutes! 

    a hand dipping a crispy air fryer tofu cube into a small bowl of mayonnaise

    It’s a great addition to salads, wraps, and soups. Or just enjoy it by itself with a bit of vegan mayonnaise or aioli like we did.

    Why This Recipe Works 

    “How do I make crispy tofu?” I’ve heard this question so many times. Here’s the answer: Use your air fryer! 

    It’s such an easy and quick way to make crispy tofu with just a little bit of oil. It’s not only incredibly easy to make but it’s also much healthier than deep-fried tofu. 

    Before putting the tofu cubes in the air fryer I marinated them using a simple tofu marinade, which gives the tofu a lot of flavor. 

    Pressing the excess water out of the tofu before cutting it up also helps to make the tofu super crispy. 

    air fryer tofu cubes in a grey bowl with a small bowl of vegan mayonnaise

    What Goes Into This Recipe 

    ingredients for a tofu marinade on a marble countertop with labels

    hree blogs of firm tofu on a marble cutting board with a label

    • Soy sauce – use tamari for a gluten-free version 
    • Maple sryup – you can replace it with agave if you want 
    • Tofu – make sure to use extra-firm tofu. The recipe doesn’t work with soft or silken tofu
    • Sesame oil – it gives the tofu a very nice flavor, but you could also replace it with olive oil
    • Garlic and ginger – I like fresh best for my tofu marinade, but garlic and ginger powder also works

    How To Make This Recipe 

    a collage that shows how to make air fryer tofu

    1. Step: Cut the tofu into cubes. 

    2. Step: Make the tofu marinade. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the marinade and stir well. 

    3. Step: Add the tofu cubes and stir well. 

    4. Step: If you’ve got enough time, let the tofu marinade for about 10-20 minutes for a deeper flavor. If you’re short on time, just let it marinade for a minute and then move on to the next step. 

    marinated tofu cubes in an air fryer

    5. Step: Set your air fryer to 350 °F and air fry the tofu for 12-15 minutes. Shake the pan occasionally to promote even cooking. 

    crispy tofu cubes in an air fryer

    Step 6: Serve the air fryed tofu immediately with vegan mayonnaise or aioli or with a salad. 

    Recipe Tips 

    • Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, the tofu lasts about 3-4 days. Just pop it back into the air fryer for about 5 minutes to reheat it. 
    • It’s very important to use extra-firm tofu for this recipe as it has more water squeezed out than soft tofu or silken tofu. The less water the tofu has the crispier it will get. 
    • For even crispier tofu, press the tofu for 30 minutes before cutting it up. Place the tofu between two sheets of paper towels and two plates. Then place a heavy object (a large can or a stack of cookbooks) on top of the plate. Alternatively, you could also use a tofu press. Check out my post on how to cook tofu for more information. 

    close-up photo of crispy tofu cubes with green onions sprinkled on top

    Related Tofu Recipes:

    • Baked Buffalo Tofu Sticks 
    • Easy Tofu Marinade 
    • Tofu Scramble with Tomatoes and Chives 
    • The 20 Best Tofu Recipes 
    • Tofu Stir Fry 

    I Love To Hear From You Guys! 

    I hope you like this vegan air fryer tofu as much as we do around here.

    If you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day! You might also like these 10 vegan air fryer recipes that are ready in no time. 

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina 

    Air Fryer Tofu

    You will love this easy air fryer tofu! It's packed with flavor and it's incredibly crispy while being so much lower in fat than deep-fried tofu. And it's ready in only 20 minutes! 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Entrées
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 165kcal
    Author: Sina

    Equipment

    • air fryer

    Ingredients

    • 21 oz extra-firm tofu
    • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
    • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 cloves of garlic
    • 1 inch piece fresh ginger
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • red pepper flakes

    Instructions

    • Cut the tofu into cubes. 
    • Make the tofu marinade. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the marinade and stir well. 
    • Add the tofu cubes and stir well. 
    • If you've got enough time, let the tofu marinade for about 10-20 minutes for a deeper flavor. If you're short on time, just let it marinade for a minute and then move on to the next step. 
    • Set your air fryer to 350 °F and air fry the tofu for 12-15 minutes. Shake the pan occasionally to promote even cooking. 
    • Serve the air fryed tofu immediately with vegan mayonnaise or aioli or with a salad. 

    Notes

    • Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, the tofu lasts about 3-4 days. Just pop it back into the air fryer for about 5 minutes to reheat it. 
    • Make sure to use extra-firm tofu for this recipe. The less water the tofu has the crispier it will get. 
    • For even crispier tofu, press the tofu for 30 minutes before cutting it up.  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1100mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

    1. Ashok

      January 08, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for Tofu recepie. This one is perfect for me

      Reply

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    Sina-Veganheaven

    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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