Air Fryer Crispy Tofu with Sweet Chili Glaze
Make perfectly crispy tofu in your air fryer and coat it with a simple, sticky sweet chili glaze for a fast vegan main dish or appetizer.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 18 min
- Total Time: 33 min
- Yield: 3 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 block (14 oz) extra-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
Instructions
- Press the tofu for at least 30 minutes to remove excess water. Cut the pressed tofu into 1-inch cubes.
- In a medium bowl, gently toss the tofu cubes with soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic powder until lightly coated.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch over the tofu and toss again until every piece has a thin, even coating. This is key for crispiness.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the coated tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, shake the basket, then air fry for another 5 to 8 minutes, or until the tofu is golden brown and crispy on all sides.
- While the tofu cooks, prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, and lime juice. Heat over medium-low heat until just simmering. Remove from heat.
- Place the hot, crispy tofu into a clean bowl. Pour the warm glaze over the tofu and toss gently until the pieces are fully coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the coated tofu with cooking spray before the first air fry cycle.
- If you do not have rice vinegar, you can substitute it with white vinegar, but reduce the amount slightly.
- This recipe works best with extra-firm or super-firm tofu varieties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/3 of recipe
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 0