Air Fryer Tofu Recipe
Learn how to make crispy air fryer tofu in under 15 minutes! Perfect for snacking or adding to salads and wraps.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 37kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz extra firm tofu (or high protein tofu. If using extra firm tofu, squeeze out excess water with a tofu press or by swaddling the tofu in towels, then placing in a colander, and placing a heavy pot or pan on to. Let stand 30 minutes to an hour until a good amount of water has squeezed out of the tofu).
- 1 teaspoon paprika (or cayenne, which will add more heat than paprika)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 teaspoon grated garlic)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the tofu lengthwise into four slabs, then cut each slab into 12 cubes.
- Place the tofu and all marinade ingredients in a bowl, toss to mix. You can air-fry the tofu rightaway or, if you have the time, let it stand for 30 minutes.
- Place the tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a bit of space between each cube, and insert it in the air fryer. You might need to do this in two batches..
- Air-fry the tofu for 12 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Halfway through air frying remove the basket and toss the tofu cubes around. This is not absolutely necessary but it helps ensure the tofu cooks evenly.
- Serve the air-fried tofu as a snack with a creamy mayo or other dipping sauce, or toss it into stews, curries, wraps, salads and more.
Notes
- If you do not have an air fryer, you can simply fry these tofu cubes on a skillet. Make sure you oil the skillet first.
- Use the firmest tofu you can find. Both super form tofu and extra firm tofu are fine here, but don't use anything softer, like soft tofu or silken tofu. If you use extra firm tofu be sure to squeeze as much moisture out of it as you can using a tofu press or by swaddling the tofu in paper napkins and placing it in a colander with a heavy weight over it, like a pan.
- Cut the tofu block into four slabs lengthwise, then cut each block into 12 cubes. If you make the tofu pieces bigger or smaller, adjust air frying time up or down.
- Toss the tofu cubes with the marinade ingredients. You don't need to wait for the tofu to soak in the marinade, but if you have the time it doesn't hurt to do so. Around 30 minutes is perfect.
- Place the tofu cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don't crowd the air fryer basket--for the best results, make sure the tofu cubes fit in a single layer and there is enough room between the tofu cubes for the air to rush through. For a 16-oz block of tofu you might need to air-fry in two batches, unless your air fryer has a larger capacity than mine does.
- It's a good idea to toss the tofu cubes about, around halfway through the air frying process. This will help the tofu "fry" evenly. Do this by pulling out the basket, which automatically pauses the air fryer, tossing the cubes by shaking it vigorously, and then insert the basket back in the air fryer.
- If you want your tofu crispier, you can increase the cooking time to up to 15 minutes. Around 18 minutes will yield chewy tofu, which is nice as a meat replacement in stews and curries.
- You can make variations of this air fried tofu by using different marinade ingredients. For instance, use ground black pepper, tamari or soy sauce and apple cider vinegar; or make a marinade with salt, ground black pepper, ginger powder, garlic powder and liquid aminos. For an Indian-style marinade, add ginger powder and replace the paprika with cayenne in the recipe below.
- You can add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the tofu marinade for crispier tofu, but I don't really care much for the flavor and the tofu has a better texture without it, especially if you use it in other recipes.
Nutrition
Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg