Air Fryer Crispy Tofu with Brown Sauce
This air fryer crispy tofu with brown sauce recipe is so good, you’ll be having this meal on repeat. The tofu is crispy on the outside, tender in the center and tossed with the most delicious sticky brown sauce. Plus, this entire meal comes together in under 30 minutes with the air fryer.
Smothered in a sticky brown sauce, you’re going to fall in love with this dish. Serve it up alongside some cooked rice and steamed vegetables. Oh, and don’t forget to top everything with sesame seeds, green onion and crushed cashews for some extra texture and flavor. If you give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know!
Tips and Tricks for Crispy Tofu
For this recipe, you’ll need extra firm tofu. Be sure to press out any excess moisture using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Pressing out the moisture is what allows the tofu to get crispy in the air fryer.
Once pressed, you’ll cut the tofu into evenly sized cubes or rectangles. Next, add cornstarch, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl or plate and dredge the tofu through the mixture making sure it’s well coated on all sides. Shake off any excess cornstarch and place the breaded tofu in the air fryer basket. Also, do not let the tofu sit in the cornstarch mixture for an extended period of time as it will get too pasty.
Once all the tofu is in the basket, spray it with olive oil cooking spray and bake it for 14-16 minutes at 400 degrees. Make sure to toss the tofu halfway through air frying. Spray it again with olive oil cooking spray at the halfway point to ensure it gets extra crispy.
Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Crispy Tofu with Brown Sauce
Tofu – You will need super firm tofu for this recipe. Please see above for steps on how to prepare it for this recipe. Once the tofu is cubed, gently toss it in cornstarch, salt and pepper.
Sticky Brown Sauce – You’ll need avocado or vegetable oil to lightly brown the minced ginger and garlic. In a separate bowl, combine low sodium soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar and cornstarch. Mix well. Add it to the ginger and garlic and let the sauce simmer over low heat. It will quickly thicken.
How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Tofu with Brown Sauce
Press all excess moisture out from the tofu. Detailed instructions listed above.
Cube the tofu or cut it into triangles.
Combine cornstarch, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
Toss the tofu in the cornstarch mixture making sure it’s well coated on all sides. Shake off any excess cornstarch and place the breaded tofu in the air fryer basket.
Spray the tofu with olive oil cooking spray and air fry it for 14-16 minutes turning halfway through.
While the tofu is air frying, make the sauce.
Heat avocado oil in a pan and add the minced ginger and garlic.
In a small mixing bowl, combine low sodium soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar and cornstarch. Mix well.
Once the garlic and ginger are lightly browned pour in the soy sauce mixture. Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens to your liking.
Once the tofu is done, toss it in the pan with the sauce and serve it hot over a bed of rice. Top with chopped green onion, sesame seeds and crushed cashews.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat tofu in the microwave until heated through.
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Air Fryer Crispy Tofu with Brown Sauce
Ingredients
Air Fryer Crispy Tofu
- 1 block super firm tofu, press out moisture
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Sticky Brown Sauce
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil, or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced, about 2-3 cloves
- 2 teaspoons ginger, minced be sure to remove the skin
- ¼- ½ cup water, or vegetable broth
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons green onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons cashews, crushed
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 non-stick sauce pan
Instructions
- Press moisture out from the tofu. Detailed instructions listed above.
- Cube the tofu or cut it into triangles.
- Combine cornstarch, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Toss the tofu in the cornstarch mixture making sure it’s well coated on all sides. Shake off any excess cornstarch and place the breaded tofu in the air fryer basket.
- Spray the tofu with olive oil cooking spray and air fry it for 14-16 minutes turning halfway through.
- While the tofu is air frying, make the sauce.
- Heat avocado oil in a pan and add the minced ginger and garlic.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine low sodium soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar and cornstarch. Mix well.
- Once the garlic and ginger are lightly browned pour in the soy sauce mixture. Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Once the tofu is done, toss it in the pan with the sauce and serve it hot over a bed of rice. Top with chopped green onion, sesame seeds and crushed cashews.
