These air fryer tofu fries are so crispy outside and stay firm inside. Best of all, they retain flavour. My family really enjoyed it, and they were over in a jiffy.
It also helps that it is such an easy recipe to make. I played around with the sauces for marinating tofu so that it acquires a delicious flavour. You can vary them as per your taste.
These crispy brown tofu bites are high protein and such a great snack. They come together in less than 30 minutes out of which 15 minutes is the marinating time.
You may also like: salt and pepper tofu in air fryer, tofu manchurian, Buffalo tofu in air fryer, Teriyaki tofu, Tandoori tofu, tandoori soya chaap, Kung pao tofu and air fryer tempeh.
Ingredients
Firm tofu: 1 block of tofu is used in the recipe.
Extra virgin olive oil: Helps to crisp up the tofu in the air fryer.
Cornstarch: Gives the fries a nice crispy coating.
Pepper and minced garlic: Used for seasoning.
Sauces: Soy sauce, Sriracha, Maple syrup, Apple cider vinegar are used to flavor the tofu.
Variations and Substitutions
You can use chickpea flour in place of cornstarch for a gluten-free healthier option. You can also use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavour.
Vary the sauces as per your liking. The sauces I have used give a nice savory, spicy and sweet kick.
Serving Suggestions
These crispy tofu fries are perfect as a snack with a dipping sauce.
You can also use them in Buddha bowls, wraps, salads or serve them with rice and veggies for a meal.
Instructions
Preparing the tofu is the most important step in the recipe. Use extra firm or firm tofu so that it does not fall apart. Also you need to dry it really well so that the fries come out crispy and not soggy.
I take the tofu block and firmly press it to release water. Use your hands or a heavy dish on top to press the tofu. You can use a tofu press as well.
Once done, I place it between paper towels to dry it thoroughly.
.Then cut the tofu block in the shape of fries. Again dry it with paper towels. Keep aside.
Prepare the marinade: Combine together soy sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and Sriracha sauce in a bowl. Add pepper to it.
Add tofu fries to the marinade and mix it well.
Let it marinate for 10 minutes. Toss the marinated fries in cornstarch and let it coat the fries.
Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes or use the preheat function. Spray the basket with olive oil. Now lay the coated tofu fries in one single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 8-11 minutes at 180C or 360F. This time will vary depending upon the thickness of your tofu fries. You can spray the tofu with some oil midway if it looks too dry.
Once done, take out the crunchy tofu fries and serve hot with a dip of choice. Enjoy.
Expert Tips
1. Pressing the tofu well and removing as much moisture as possible is the most important step in achieving crispy fries. Please spend the time in drying tofu block.
2. Use extra firm tofu so that it retains its shape after air frying.
3. You may change the sauces or reduce the quantity used as per taste.
4. Please keep an eye on the time when air frying tofu for the first time. In my case, 9 minutes were enough for crunchy browned tofu.
5. Using oil in the marinade is important so that the tofu does not get too dry.
6. Storage: Air fryer tofu fries can be stored in the fridge for 3 days in air tight container. They will lose their crunch so air fryer for 2-3 minutes to reheat completely before consuming. I do not advise freezing tofu as its texture changes.
Here’s the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Air fryer Crispy Tofu Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 block firm tofu 15 oz. or 400 gm.
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- ½ tsp. Sriracha or hot sauce of choice
- 1 tbsp. corn starch or chickpea flour
- ½ tsp. Pepper
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Instructions
- Preparing the tofu is the most important step in the recipe. Use extra firm tofu so that it does not fall apart. Also you need to dry it really well so that the fries come out crispy and not soggy.
- I take the tofu block and firmly press it to release water. Use your hands or a heavy dish on top to press the tofu. You can use a tofu press as well.
- Once done, I place it between paper towels to dry it thoroughly. Then cut the tofu block in the shape of fries. Keep aside.
- Prepare the marinade: Combine together soy sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and Sriracha sauce in a bowl. Add tofu fries to the marinade and spread it all around.
- Let it marinate for 10 minutes. Toss the marinated fries in cornstarch and let it coat the fries.
- Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes or use the preheat function. Spray the basket with olive oil. Now lay the coated tofu fries in one single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 8-11 minutes at 180C or 360F. This time will vary depending upon the thickness of your tofu fries. You can spray the tofu with some oil midway if it looks too dry.
- Once done, take out the crunchy tofu fries and serve hot with a dip of choice. Enjoy.
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