Tender cubes of tofu with a perfectly crisp seasoned coating, all with zero hassle. This crispy air fryer tofu recipe is my favorite way to cook tofu!
Why this air fried tofu is sooo good
Crispy tofu is so tasty, but I always thought it was a bit of a hassle to make at home. Deep frying is a faff, shallow frying seems to leave half the coating in the pan (and let’s not even talk about oven baking!).
As you know, I love to air fry everything, and I was so delighted the first time I tried making tofu in the air fryer, because it came out totally perfect. Light and crispy, soft and tender, and also a cinch to make.
For me, it’s become one of those hard-working recipes that I can serve in a million different ways (salads, curries, stir-fries, rice bowls, with dips, in wraps, etc.), and I try to make extra because the leftovers are an easy lunch the next day. Enjoy x.
What do you need?
Firm tofu
There are a few different types of tofu, you will need to use firm tofu (ideally extra firm tofu) for this recipe. Soft tofu (aka silken tofu) doesn’t have the right texture for this recipe and will fall apart. Vacuum-sealed is best. If you get the type that is sitting in water, drain it, then press between paper towels to remove the excess moisture.
Flour
Use all-purpose flour. This is mixed with the seasoning and creates a crispy coating on the outside of the tofu. You can substitute almond flour or another gluten-free flour if you prefer.
Seasoning
I used all-purpose seasoning in the recipe below, but you can substitute another seasoning mix, or make your own (see recipe card for a simple homemade mix).
Oil
A little oil is needed to get really crispy tofu. I normally use light olive oil in my air fryer, but you can use any cooking oil with a high smoke point (e.g. vegetable oil, corn oil, avocado oil).
Choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking.
Let’s make this crispy tofu in the air fryer!
1
Prepare the tofu.
Cut the tofu block into cubes around 1-inch square. Pat the cubes dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Mix the flour, spices, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl with the oil. Then add the cubed tofu and mix to combine. Try to make sure each tofu cube is evenly coated.
When you are mixing the tofu pieces in the spice mix be sure to mix it gently as possible as it is easy to damage them.
2
Pop the tofu in the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C. If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
Place tofu in air fryer. Place the cubes of tofu in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try to make sure they are not touching each other, as this allows the hot air to contact all surfaces helping to get the tofu crispy on the outside.
Air fry the tofu for around 15 minutes until it is golden brown and crispy on the outside. Flip it over halfway through cooking if this is required for your air fryer. If you want crisper tofu, you can air fry it for an additional 2-3 minutes until it is done how you like it.
Serving ideas
- Serve the air fried tofu with your favorite dipping sauce try: soy sauce, satay sauce, sweet chili sauce or hoisin sauce.
- Serve crispy tofu over a bed of rice with steamed or stir-fried vegetables and a savory sauce, like teriyaki or satay sauce.
- Fill corn tortillas with crispy tofu, shredded cabbage, salsa, and a squeeze of lime for a tasty vegetarian taco.
- Toss crispy tofu with your favorite stir-fried vegetables and sauce for a quick and healthy meal.
Tip: you can make a quick homemade dipping sauce by mixing: soy sauce (2 tablespoons), sesame oil (1 teaspoon), and rice vinegar (½ tablespoon). You can also add a sprinkle of chili flakes for some heat if you like.
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it within three days.
You can reheat tofu in the air fryer – place the tofu cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and air fry at 360°F/ 180°C until warmed through.
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
Ingredients
- 10 oz / 300 g tofu block (firm style, Note 1)
- 2 teaspoons / 10 ml light olive oil
- 1 tablespoon / 7.5 g all-purpose seasoning rub (Note 2)
- 1 teaspoon / 2 g flour
Directions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C.
- Cut tofu block into 1-inch cubes, and pat dry with paper towels.
- Mix spice, flour, sugar, salt, and oil in a large bowl.
- Add tofu cubes to the bowl and gently mix to coat tofu cubes in the seasoning mix.
- Place tofu cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensure they are not touching.
- Air fry tofu for 15 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on the outside, flipping it over half-way through cooking. Air fry for additional 2-minute intervals if you prefer it more crispy.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Dry vacuum packed is best, but if you have the type that is sealed with water in the packet, drain it, then press the tofu between two plates lined with paper towels to remove the excess moisture.
- You can make a simple homemade seasoning mix from: 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
