Air-Frying Tofu: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Tofu is a healthy source of protein and a great meat alternative. If you're looking for a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook tofu, then look no further than your air fryer! Air-fried tofu is not only healthy and tasty, but it's also incredibly versatile. You can sauce it up, throw it in a stir-fry, add it to a rice bowl, or even dip it in your favourite sauce.

The key to achieving the perfect crispy texture lies in pressing the tofu beforehand to remove excess moisture and create a firm base. You can then coat the tofu in a variety of seasonings, sauces, and spices to suit your taste preferences. The air fryer will do the rest, cooking your tofu to crispy perfection in just 10-15 minutes.

So, if you're looking for a new way to enjoy tofu or want to add more plant-based protein to your meals, give air-fried tofu a try! It might just become your new go-to.

Choosing the right tofu

Firmness:

Only use extra-firm tofu or firm tofu for air fryer tofu. Softer types of tofu will fall apart when tossed with seasonings and won't become crispy. Extra-firm tofu has less water content and will hold its shape better during cooking. If you can find "super-firm" or "high-protein" tofu, these are even denser and ideal for air frying without pressing.

Pressing:

Pressing the tofu to remove excess moisture is an important step in achieving the desired crispiness. You can use a tofu press, or simply wrap the tofu in a kitchen towel or paper towels and place something heavy on top for 15-30 minutes. This step is not necessary if you use vacuum-packed tofu, which is already drier.

Type of Tofu:

Avoid using silken tofu, as it will yield the wrong texture and fall apart if you try to press it.

Marinade:

While a simple combination of soy sauce and sesame oil is delicious, you can also experiment with other ingredients like rice vinegar, maple syrup, sriracha, garlic, ginger, or your favourite hot sauce. The tofu is like a blank canvas and will absorb the flavours you add.

Preparing the tofu

Pressing the Tofu:

Start by pressing the tofu to remove excess moisture. This step is important as it helps the tofu achieve a crispier texture during cooking. You can use a tofu press or simply wrap the tofu block in a kitchen towel or paper towels. Place a heavy cast iron skillet on top and let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. Alternatively, cut the tofu block into slices, lay them flat with paper towels on both sides, and set a heavy pan on top for a few minutes.

Cutting the Tofu:

After pressing, cut the tofu into cubes. Aim for uniform sizes, such as 1-inch cubes, to ensure even cooking. You can also tear the tofu into chunks to create craggly edges that hold onto the batter better.

Marinating the Tofu:

In a medium-sized bowl, prepare a marinade by mixing your choice of liquid base, oil, and seasonings. For the liquid base, you can use soy sauce, tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos. For oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, or olive oil work well. As for seasonings, feel free to experiment with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground black pepper, nutritional yeast, or a spice blend of your choice. You can also add a bit of cornstarch to the marinade for extra crispness. Once the marinade is ready, gently toss the tofu cubes in it until they are evenly coated. Let the tofu marinate for about 15 minutes or even overnight for more intense flavors.

Air Frying the Tofu:

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the marinated tofu cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they have a little space around each piece. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the tofu in batches. Air fry for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. The tofu is ready when it's golden and crispy.

Making the marinade

The key to making tofu in an air fryer is to press out the excess moisture and then coat it in a delicious marinade. This will give your tofu a crispy texture and a tasty flavour.

Step 1: Press the tofu

Take a block of extra-firm tofu and cut it into cubes. Place the cubes onto a flat surface, such as a cutting board, and cover with paper towels or a clean tea towel. Place something heavy on top, like a cast-iron skillet, and leave for around 15 minutes to press out the excess moisture.

Step 2: Prepare the marinade

There are lots of different marinade options you can choose from. Here are a few ideas for your marinade:

• Soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil
• Light soy sauce or liquid aminos, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground black pepper, and cornstarch
• Tamari, sriracha, avocado oil, and cornstarch
• Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup, sriracha, garlic powder, and ground ginger
• Soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, cornstarch, sesame oil, and ground black pepper

Simply mix your chosen ingredients together in a bowl.

Step 3: Marinate the tofu

Place the pressed tofu cubes into a bowl and pour over your chosen marinade. Toss the tofu gently to ensure each piece is coated. Leave the tofu to marinate for around 15 minutes.

Step 4: Add cornstarch

Just before cooking, sprinkle cornstarch over the tofu and toss again to ensure each piece is coated. The cornstarch will help to give your tofu a crispy texture.

Now your tofu is ready to be cooked in the air fryer!

Air-frying the tofu

Now that you have your ingredients and your tofu is pressed, it's time to cook!

First, season the tofu. In a medium-sized bowl, place the pressed and cubed tofu. Then, add in the liquid aminos and toss to coat. Next, add in the rest of the seasoning ingredients, including the oil, and toss to combine thoroughly.

Then, cook! Place the tofu in your air fryer in a single layer, ensuring that each piece has a little space around it. Set your air fryer to 400°F. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to cook the tofu in two batches to avoid overcrowding.

Cook for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and golden brown. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking, as the exact cooking time will depend on your specific air fryer model.

Once the tofu is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks:

• If you want to get extra fancy, try switching up the seasoning mix. For example, you could use Italian seasoning with dried parsley, oregano, and basil.
• For an extra crispy exterior, use cornstarch. It helps draw out excess liquid and gives the tofu a nice crunch.
• If you're short on time, you can skip the pressing step. Look for vacuum-sealed extra-firm tofu, which is drier than the kind that comes sitting in water.
• Feel free to play around with the marinade! Try adding maple syrup, sriracha, fresh garlic, dried herbs, or any other condiments or seasonings you love.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer tofu is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sauce it up and add it to a rice bowl.
• Toss it into a curry.
• Throw it into a noodle stir-fry.
• Dip it in your favourite sauce like a chicken nugget.
• Add it to a salad, such as a Ramen Salad.
• Use it in wraps, like these Asian Chicken Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce.
• Make it the star of a tofu Buddha bowl, like this Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowl with Quinoa and Avocado.
• Swap it for the beef in a Healthy Beef and Broccoli recipe.
• Add it to a grain bowl or stir fry for a boost of plant-based protein.
• Toss it in with cooked brown or white rice, roasted veggies, and a tasty sauce.
• Use it as a replacement for soft-boiled egg in a Veggie Power Bowl.
• Include it in Adzuki Bean Bowls.
• Toss it into Sesame Soba Noodles for extra protein.
• Enjoy it as-is on a loaded green salad, meal prep bowls, or vegan stir fry.
• Toss the crispy tofu in bang bang sauce, orange sauce, peanut sauce, or barbecue sauce.
• Add the saucy tofu to vegetable wraps or teriyaki noodles.
• Serve it alone or with a dip.

Frequently asked questions