Air Fryer Recipe
Crispy Air-Fried Tofu Strips
Crispy tofu strips are a delight when the exterior is perfectly craggy and the interior remains tender. The air fryer excels at achieving this texture, as its rapid heat circulation quickly removes surface moisture, allowing the starch and oil to form a brittle crust without the need for deep frying.
Ingredients
- 400g extra-firm tofu, drained weight
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp extra soy sauce if tofu is very plain
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (rapeseed or sunflower)
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice
- 1 tsp maple syrup or runny honey
- 1 tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt (only if using reduced-salt soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tbsp plain flour or rice flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp white pepper or black pepper
- Oil spray or 1 tsp extra oil for brushing
Method
- Drain the tofu and pat it dry, then wrap it in kitchen paper or a clean tea towel and weigh it down with a plate for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cut the tofu block into strips about 1.5cm thick and 6 to 8cm long.
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, neutral oil, sesame oil, vinegar or lime juice, maple syrup, garlic granules, smoked paprika, ginger, and pepper.
- Add the tofu strips to the bowl and turn gently until coated; leave for 5 to 15 minutes.
- In a separate shallow bowl, stir together cornflour, plain flour or rice flour, and baking powder.
- Lift each tofu strip from the marinade, let excess liquid drip off, then roll it in the flour mixture. Press lightly to stick the coating.
- Set the coated strips on a plate for 3 to 5 minutes while preheating the air fryer to 190°C.
- Arrange the strips in the air fryer basket with space between them. Spray lightly with oil.
- Air fry at 190°C for 8 minutes, then turn the strips with tongs. Spray or brush any pale areas with more oil, then cook for another 5 to 7 minutes until crisp and golden.
- Rest the tofu for 2 minutes on a rack or plate before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 250
