Extra-Crispy Tofu Air Fryer
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Extra-Crispy Tofu Air Fryer

A 350 g crispy-tofu recipe with a dry, craggy coating and a tender centre.

The 350 g Extra-Crispy Tofu base Air Fryer.

2 servings

~50 min

Ingredients

Tofu + pre-coat

  • Extra Firm Tofu, 1 Soyganic Organic Extra-Firm Tofu block; pressed dry350 g
  • Soy Sauce, just under 1 tsp; pre-coat4.5 g
  • Avocado Oil, just under 1 tsp; pre-coat4.5 g

Crispy coating

  • Cornstarch, for the crispy coating21 g
  • Onion Powder, just under 1 tsp2.6 g
  • Garlic Powder, just under 1 tsp2.6 g
  • Fine Salt, just under 1/2 tsp2.6 g
  • Black Pepper, approximately; to taste1 g
  • Baking Powder, scant 1/2 tsp; recommended optional1.8 g

For cooking

  • Avocado Oil, about 2 tsp; toss lightly over the coated tofu; suggested starting amount9 g

Sticky Garlic–Soy Glaze

  • Soy Sauce, 1 3/4 tbsp; sauce26 g
  • Rice Vinegar, just under 1 tbsp; or fresh lime juice13 g
  • Honey, or maple syrup; adjust to taste26–35 g
  • Water, for the sauce13 g
  • Sesame Oil, just under 1 tsp4 g
  • Garlic, freshly grated; about 1 3/4 tsp5 g
  • Cornstarch, for the optional slurry optional2.6 g
  • Water, cold; for the optional slurry optional13 g

Instructions

  1. Press, tear and dry

    Press the 350 g Soyganic Organic Extra-Firm Tofu block for 15–30 minutes, then blot very dry. Tear into irregular bite-size chunks for maximum craggy surface area, or cut into cubes.

  2. Tofu + pre-coat

    Toss the dried tofu gently with the pre-coat ingredients: 4.5 g soy sauce and 4.5 g avocado oil, until the surface is just tacky.

  3. Crispy coating

    For the crispy coating, mix 21 g cornstarch, 2.6 g onion powder, 2.6 g garlic powder, 2.6 g fine salt, 1 g black pepper, 1.75 g baking powder (optional but recommended). Toss with the tofu until thoroughly coated.

  4. Rest the coating

    Rest for 5 minutes so the coating hydrates slightly and grips the tofu.

  5. Preheat the air fryer

    Preheat the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C. Lightly toss the rested, coated tofu with the 9 g cooking oil; add in a single layer with space between pieces.

  6. Air-fry

    Air-fry for 12–16 minutes, shaking or turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp. Adjust for your air fryer and avoid crowding. Skip the pan-steam step.

  7. Sticky Garlic–Soy Glaze

    While the tofu cooks, combine the sauce soy sauce, rice vinegar (or lime juice), honey (or maple syrup), 13 g sauce water, sesame oil and freshly grated garlic in a small saucepan. Simmer for 30–60 seconds. For an especially glossy, clingy glaze, mix the optional 2.6 g cornstarch with its separate 13 g cold water, stir into the sauce and cook for another 10–15 seconds. Remove from heat.

  8. Glaze off heat and serve

    Turn off the heat under the crisp tofu. Toss gently with just enough glaze to coat, or drizzle after plating for maximum crunch. Serve immediately.

Technique and variation notes

One 350 g block per recipe. Pan-frying gives the best crust: dry → tacky pre-coat → starch → rest → hard fry → brief steam → re-crisp → sauce off heat. Keep steam water, sauce water and optional slurry water separate. 400°F / 200°C for 12–16 minutes, shaking halfway through. Uses less oil: 9 g cooking oil is a suggested starting amount in addition to the 4.5 g pre-coat oil. No steam water or pan-steam step.

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