Crispy Air Fryer Tofu with Soy Glaze (Printer-Friendly)
Golden-crispy tofu cubes with a savory-sweet soy glaze. Plant-based, dairy-free, and ready in just 30 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Tofu Base
01 - 14 oz extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
02 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or neutral oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Soy Glaze
06 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
07 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon water
10 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
11 - 1 clove garlic, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
13 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water as slurry
→ Garnishes
14 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
15 - 2 spring onions, sliced
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Gently toss the pressed, cubed tofu with cornstarch, oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange tofu cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.
04 - In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, water, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
05 - Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Toss the hot, crispy tofu with the soy glaze in a large bowl until evenly coated.
07 - Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onions.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cornstarch trick creates a restaurant-quality crispiness without deep frying that will make even tofu skeptics ask for seconds.
- The balance between the crispy exterior and the pillowy interior with that sticky-sweet glaze makes this dish impossible to stop eating once you start.
02 -
- If you skip the pressing step, your tofu will steam rather than crisp in the air fryer, wasting all your efforts and ingredients.
- The glaze thickens substantially as it cools, so remove it from heat when its slightly thinner than you want the final result to be.
03 -
- Freeze your block of tofu completely, then thaw before using - this creates air pockets that absorb more flavor and produce an even better texture when air-fried.
- Keep your air fryer clean between batches, as any loose cornstarch that falls to the bottom can smoke and impart a bitter flavor to subsequent batches.