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Homemade Perfect Air Fryer Tofu photo

Perfect Air Fryer Tofu

Crispy, golden air-fried extra-firm tofu tossed in toasted sesame and tamari. Optionally coated in arrowroot (or corn/tapioca) starch for extra crispness.
Prep Time14 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 9 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 14 ounce blockextra-firm tofu(not silken)
  • 2 tablespoonstoasted sesame seed oil
  • 2 tablespoonstamari gluten-free soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoonarrowroot starch optional; or corn/tapioca starch

Instructions

Instructions

  • Remove the 14-ounce block of extra-firm tofu from its package and drain. Cut the tofu into roughly 1-inch cubes.
  • Lay the cubes in a single layer on a lint-free towel and cover with the other side of the towel. Place a heavy, flat object on top to press out moisture and let rest for at least 10 minutes.
  • While the tofu is pressing, whisk together 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seed oil and 2 tablespoons tamari in a small bowl.
  • After pressing, transfer the tofu cubes to a large bowl and pour the sesame-tamari mixture over them. Gently toss to coat all pieces.
  • If using the starch, sprinkle 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch evenly over the coated tofu and stir/toss until the white powder is fully incorporated and no dry streaks remain.
  • Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) if your model requires preheating. Arrange the tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping; cook in batches if needed.
  • Air fry at 375°F for a total of 15 minutes, tossing or shaking the basket every 5 minutes (at the 5- and 10-minute marks) so the pieces brown evenly and don’t stick.
  • The tofu is done when it is golden and firm to the touch. Serve warm, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • lint-free towel
  • heavy flat object
  • air fryer basket

Notes

Notes
Nutrition information is for 1/4 of this recipe, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
For a spicy flavor, try adding 1-2 tablespoons of sriracha. For a sweet & spicy flavor, I like to add equal parts maple syrup and sriracha.
You can omit the arrowroot starch, if you prefer. The tofu just won't have much of a coating in that case.