This crispy tofu recipe is full of flavor made by cooking cubes of marinated tofu in the air fryer with very little oil and made to perfection every time. They can be served as a side dish or topped on salads, pasta, or noodles.
I used my Instant Vortex Plus 6 Quart Air Fryer for this recipe. I love this because you can get the food in a single layer all at once, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes or less. Any air fryer brand like Cosori 5.8QT, Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven, Ninja Foodi, Instant Pot Duo Crisp works here.
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Ingredients for Air Fryer Tofu
- Extra Firm Tofu - Only extra-firm or firm tofu will work for this recipe. Press the tofu for at least 30 minutes to remove all the excess moisture. Removing the moisture helps to make the tofu cubes crispy.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce - Or tamari (for gluten-free). Because it adds the extra zing to the dish. You can also use liquid aminos or coconut aminos.
- Sesame oil - Sesame oil gives a nutty, umami-like flavor, and helps to crisp up the tofu. So dont skimp on the oil. You can also use olive oil or any vegetable oil if you don't have sesame oil.
- Spices - I have used garlic powder, red chili powder (or paprika), salt, and pepper for seasoning. You may use your favorite go-to spices.
- Maple Syrup - you can also use agave. It helps to balance the flavors and doesn't make it sweet.
- Rice Vinegar - gives a tart and sweet taste to the dish. You can skip it if you don't have one.
- Cornstarch - This is the secret ingredient to make extra crispy tofu. You can also substitute with Arrowroot starch.
How to Make Crispy Tofu in Air Fryer
Press extra-firm tofu with some heavy objects for at least 30 minutes. This will drain the excess moisture.
Then cut the tofu into cubes.
In a mixing jar, add garlic powder, red chili powder (or sriracha), soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup (or agave), sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well with a whisker until well blended, and keep aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, place the pressed tofu. Add the prepared soy sauce marinade and toss to coat. Let the tofu sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Then when you are ready for Air frying, add a tablespoon of cornstarch and toss well to combine. Cornstarch helps to make the tofu crispier and is optional.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (203°C). Add the marinated tofu to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required).
Air fryer them at 400°F (203°C) for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown, and crispy. Shake the basket halfway through.
The air fryer marinated tofu is ready to serve. Remove to a serving plate, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, and serve warm.
How to Make Marinated Tofu on Stovetop
Heat the pan or skillet over medium-high heat, and add some oil. Then arrange all the marinated tofu in a single layer. Again lightly brush or spray some oil on the top. Cook from both sides until it turns golden brown in color.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this air-fried tofu as a side dish with a dipping sauce, or as an appetizer, or top it on stir-fries, pasta, noodles, or salads.
Storage Suggestions
Make Ahead: Let the tofu sit in the soy sauce marinade for up to 1 day in advance in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve, toss in cornstarch and air fry.
Fridge: You can store the leftover air-fried tofu cubes in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat the tofu in the air fryer @ 380ºF for about 3 to 5 minutes to get crispy tofu.
Tips to make the Best Crispy Tofu
- Tofu Type: Extra-firm or firm tofu works best for this recipe. I do not recommend using silken tofu. It will yield the wrong texture and will break apart.
- Press the tofu: Make sure to press the tofu using a tofu press or a heavy object like cast iron to remove excess moisture. Wrap the extra-firm tofu in paper towels and place a heavy object, like a cast iron skillet, on top. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps to remove excess moisture and makes the tofu crispy when air-fried.
- Marination: Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes or a few hours, so they absorb more flavors from the marinade.
- Cornstarch: I highly recommend adding cornstarch to the tofu, as it helps to absorb excess moisture and makes it extra crispy.
- Cut into the same size: Cut the tofu into cubes of the same size, which helps quick and even cooking.
- If you see your tofu drying, brush some oil on them to retain the moisture.
Variations
- Keto: To make a Keto-friendly version, skip the cornstarch and maple syrup in this recipe.
- Seasonings: You can also use Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning, or barbeque seasoning.
More Tofu Recipes
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Perfect Roasted Asparagus
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Masala Peanuts
- Tandoori Gobi
- Beetroot Cutlet
- Green Beans
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Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 16 oz extra firm tofu pressed for 30 minutes, cut into 1” cubes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 clove minced)
- 1 teaspoon paprika/red chili powder (or sriracha)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or liquid aminos)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (or any oil)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or agave)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Press extra-firm tofu with some heavy object for at least 30 minutes. This will drain the excess moisture. Then cut the tofu into cubes.
- In a mixing jar, Add garlic powder, red chili powder (or sriracha), soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup (or agave), sesame oil, salt and pepper. Stir well with a whisker until well blended and keep aside.
- In a medium sized bowl place the pressed tofu. Add the prepared soy sauce marinade and toss to coat. Let the tofu sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- Then when you are ready for Air Frying, add a tablespoon of corn starch and toss well to combine. Cornstarch helps to make the tofu crispier and is optional.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (203°C). Add the marinated tofu to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required).
- Air fryer them at 400°F (203°C) for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown, and crispy. Shake the basket halfway through.
- The air fryer marinated tofu is ready to serve. Remove in a serving plate, and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve warm.
Notes
Tips to make the Best Crispy Tofu
- Tofu Type: Extra-firm or firm tofu works best for this recipe. I do not recommend using silken tofu. It will yield the wrong texture and will break apart.
- Press the tofu: Make sure to press the tofu using a tofu press or a heavy object like cast iron to remove excess moisture. Wrap the extra-firm tofu in paper towels and place a heavy object, like a cast iron skillet, on top. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps to remove excess moisture and makes the tofu crispy when air-fried.
- Marination: Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes or a few hours, so they absorb more flavors from the marinade.
- Cornstarch: I highly recommend adding cornstarch to the tofu, as it helps to absorb excess moisture and makes it extra crispy.
- Cut into the same size: Cut the tofu into cubes of the same size, which helps quick and even cooking.
- If you see your tofu drying, brush some oil on them to retain the moisture.
Variations
- Keto: To make a Keto-friendly version, skip the cornstarch and maple syrup in this recipe.
- Seasonings: You can also use Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning, or barbeque seasoning.
Nutrition
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Jen says
This is the perfect marinade! I made this and kept in the fridge in a plastic bag for a few days while flipping before using. I ended up making it for about four meals, air frying just what I needed. I just got more tofu just so I can eat it again this week. Thank you!
Bhavana Patil says
Thanks for sharing your feedback Jen.. We love this marinated tofu as well in our house.Happy Cooking