Air Fryer Tofu
If ever an ingredient wanted a PR makeover, it’s tofu. The recipe for the job? Air Fryer Tofu. This tofu recipe is completely crispy outdoors, pleasantly agency inside, and infused with a savory soy maple marinade.
Air fryer tofu will make a believer out of even its harshest critics.
I’m doggedly satisfied that anybody who says they don’t like tofu hasn’t tried to air fry tofu but. And in the event you rely your self among the many tofu skeptics—I get it. Tofu may be (and this can be a culinary time period) ick. With out the correct remedy, tofu is mushy and bland. Crispy tofu is the place it’s at.
Whereas you should use varied methods to make tofu crispy (I take advantage of freezing and boiling on this Crispy Tofu and urgent plus pan-frying on this reader favourite Tofu Stir Fry and Baked Tofu), the simplest methodology that I’ve discovered is utilizing the air fryer.
A hungry sponge, tofu readily absorbs any flavors you add to it. With a number of simple steps, your tofu will prove agency, crispy, and delectable. PLUS! Since air fryer tofu makes use of little or no oil to crisp, it’s a lot more healthy than common deep-fried tofu.
Key Components
You’ll discover the total checklist of substances within the recipe card beneath, however listed below are some notes to bear in mind.
- Further-Agency Tofu. It’s important to make use of extra-firm tofu right here, because it incorporates much less water than different varieties and can maintain its form higher throughout cooking.
- Soy Sauce. In the event you’d wish to make this tofu gluten-free, swap tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos for the soy sauce.
- Rice Wine Vinegar. Rice wine vinegar provides a contact of candy acidity to the marinade.
- Pure Maple Syrup. Naturally sweetens the marinade and pairs properly with the soy sauce.
- Spices. Garlic powder and floor ginger are scrumptious spice additions to the marinade.
- Sriracha. A touch of sizzling sauce provides simply the correct amount of warmth. Be happy to make use of extra in the event you like your tofu spicy.
- Cornstarch. A remaining toss with cornstarch is the important thing to a superbly crispy and golden exterior.
5 Star Assessment
“Wow… I by no means touch upon recipes… that is sooooo good. I’ll most likely have tofu a number of occasions per week now. Thanks for the ideas!”
— Cashmere —
Prepare dinner Tofu within the Air Fryer
Prep the Tofu. Step one for nearly any tofu recipe is urgent it. This removes the liquid it soaks in, which makes it much less mushy and offers it extra room to soak up the marinade. Reduce it and pat it dry.
Combine Marinade. Stir the marinade substances collectively. My Tofu Marinade recipe is a scrumptious choice too—it’s much like the one for this air fryer tofu, nevertheless it has a extra smoky taste. (It’s also possible to use one other marinade you want.)
Marinate the Tofu. Marinade the tofu for quarter-hour. That’s all it wants!
Toss. Toss to coat with the cornstarch. I examined this air fryer tofu each with and with out cornstarch. I discovered that tossing the marinated tofu in cornstarch previous to including it to the air fryer made a exceptional distinction.
Air Fry. Place the tofu in a single layer within the basket of an air fryer. (For greatest outcomes, generously coat the air fryer’s basket with cooking spray earlier than including the tofu.) Air fry the tofu at 400 levels F for 11 to 14 minutes, tossing on the 9-minute mark.
End. Repeat with remaining batches, then serve along with your favourite dipping sauce. ENJOY!
My Favourite Methods to Use Air Fryer Tofu
The crispy air fryer tofu nuggets you possibly can resist nibbling straight out of the air fryer basket can be utilized in quite a lot of methods.
- Basic Tso’s Air Fryer Tofu. Observe this Basic Tso’s Tofu recipe, however swap on this tofu as an alternative.
- Salad. This Ramen Salad can be delicious with tofu.
- Peanut Tofu. Swap it for the hen in these Asian Rooster Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce, or drizzle it with the peanut sauce from this Rooster Satay.
- Tofu Buddha Bowl. Use it on this Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowl with Quinoa and Avocado.
- Vegetarian Beef and Broccoli. Swap the tofu for the meat in my favourite Wholesome Beef and Broccoli recipe.
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Air Fryer Tofu
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Components
- 1 block extra-firm tofu (12 to fifteen ounces) have to be additional agency
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons additional virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon floor ginger
- ½ teaspoon Sriracha or sizzling sauce of selection
- 1 tablespoon corn starch or arrowroot starch
Directions
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Take away the tofu from the package deal and drain. Together with your fingers, gently squeeze out as a lot water as attainable with out breaking or crushing the block. Lay the tofu flat on a reducing board, so the longer edge is in direction of you, then reduce it into 4 strips. Rotate the strips in order that the broader (reduce sides) are flat towards the reducing board, and reduce them in half once more, so you’ve 8 strips complete. Reduce the strips crosswise into 1-inch cubes (I find yourself with 5 cubes per strip).
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Line a reducing board or massive plate with a clear tea towel (or comparable lint-free kitchen towel) or paper towels. Unfold the tofu cubes onto it in a single layer and lay a second towel on high. Press gently however firmly and alter out the towel as wanted. The thought is to take away as a lot water from the tofu as attainable.
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In a small bowl or massive liquid measuring cup, stir collectively the soy sauce, vinegar, syrup, oil, garlic powder, ginger, and sizzling sauce.
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Place the tofu in a shallow baking dish or medium mixing bowl. Pour the soy sauce combination over the tofu, then along with your hand, toss gently to mix. Let the tofu sit for quarter-hour, tossing it once more midway by means of. Don’t fear if a number of bits crumble. These will flip deliciously crispy.
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In the event you’d wish to preserve the tofu heat between batches, preheat your oven to 250°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F in keeping with the producer’s directions (for my air fryer, that’s 3 minutes of preheat time).
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Simply earlier than cooking, sprinkle the corn starch evenly excessive of the tofu and toss to coat.
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Coat the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray. Add the tofu in a single layer, leaving just a little house across the cubes so they don’t contact and the air can flow into. (Relying upon the scale of your air fryer, chances are you’ll have to cook dinner it in two or three batches.)
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Prepare dinner the tofu for 9 minutes. Then slide the basket out, and shake it gently to toss the tofu. Proceed to cook dinner for two to 4 further minutes, tossing and checking it every minute, till the tofu is crisp and darkish golden. (The time will range based mostly in your air fryer; preserve a detailed eye on it in direction of the top to make sure it doesn’t burn.) If desired, switch the tofu to the baking sheet and preserve it heat within the oven whilst you end the remaining.
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Repeat with remaining tofu, discarding any extra marinade (when you’ve got some crumbled bits of tofu within the backside of the bowl, you possibly can air fry these too). Get pleasure from!
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Notes
- TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: Use tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos instead of the soy sauce.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate tofu in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Recrisp tofu within the air fryer at 375 levels F. It can solely take a couple of minutes, so examine usually to forestall burning.
- TO FREEZE: The feel of the tofu might change as soon as frozen and thawed, however the taste will stay scrumptious. Place tofu cubes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze till stable. Freeze the frozen tofu in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
