This Crispy Tofu is such a tasty dish and has great texture. You’ll love having this fried tofu as an addition to any stir fry or as a gluten-free option to eat on its own.
This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by the EZ Tofu Press.
Crispy Tofu
I can’t tell you how super easy this tofu recipe is. It’s such a simple way to have an awesome tofu taste without the hassle and worry of making a huge meal.
While the taste is out of this world good, the golden brown color is quite appealing as well. I’ve found that cooking this crispy tofu using extra firm tofu is a simple way to get a stellar taste and texture every single time.
How to make crispy tofu
My secret trip? I use our Air Fryer versus a deep fat fryer for cooking our super firm tofu every single time.
First off, I really think that deep-frying makes it a bit greasier than it truly needs to be. Secondly, I just love the fact that the Air Fryer gives it that crisp that makes it perfect for biting into or dipping into a homemade peanut sauce.
Many people tend to shy away from using an Air Fryer, and I was probably right along with them in the beginning…but the truth? Once I got over that worry, I literally can’t imagine cooking our vegetarian meals without it.
Food just tastes better and “lighter” than the traditional frying method.
Looking for some awesome Air Fryer recipes?
How to cook tofu (other ways)
As this post tells you, I like to cook my tofu in an Air Fryer, but there are a lot of different ways that you can cook tofu actually. This post talks about 6 different ways to cook tofu!
Some of the other common methods are:
- Sauteing
- Stir-fry
- Pan Frying
And truth be told, I actually use all of these methods depending on what the recipe is that I’m cooking. (but I will say that my favorite method is the Air Fryer method!)
Crispy Tofu Benefits
Cooking up a block of tofu and turning it into Crispy Fried Tofu actually has a ton of benefits. Some of the best benefits of tofu that I can think of are:
- Tofu is low in fat and high in protein. (many people actually cut out meat altogether and have tofu be one of their main sources of protein!)
- In addition to the benefits listed above, it is said that tofu also has increased cardiovascular strength, lowered risk of cancer, treatment of menopausal symptoms, and prevention of type II diabetes.
- If you’re asking me, eating tofu a few times a week is definitely worth the added benefits!
Crispy Fried Tofu with the EZ Tofu Press
Anytime I cook with tofu, I use my EZ tofu press. Literally every single time. I’ve had such a great success using it that there’s no reason for me to stop.
Wondering what the EZ Tofu Press does? With your tofu being packed in water, you’re going to need to have a way to remove all that moisture so it cooks correctly. This is where the tofu press comes into play. It removes the water from your tofu for better flavor, taste, and texture. Pressing your tofu is one of the most important steps you can take for making crispy tofu!
How to make Crispy Tofu
- Prepare your tofu by pressing it for 10-12 minutes, turning the knobs tighter every 3-4 minutes. Once tofu is pressed, remove from the press and cut into cubes. In a shallow serving platter combine the tofu cubes and the coconut aminos. Marinate for 10 minutes.
- Using a gallon sized baggie, combine the tofu cubes (not the marinate liquid) and the cornmeal. Gently toss to combine. The tofu cubes should be coated well.
- Place tofu cubes into your air fryer basket. Optional: You can give a little spray of oil to the cubes to help them brown and crisp better. Cook at 370 degrees F at 12 minutes. Be sure to shake the air fryer basket mid way through. (You can also give the tofu cubes another spray of oil when you shake it.)
- When time is completed, remove the crispy tofu from the air fryer basket. Enjoy!
Tips for Crispy Tofu
- Pick the correct kind of tofu when making crispy tofu. I use Firm or Extra Firm Silken Tofu. While the textures are very similar, the extra firm is the one that tends to hold out the best. It stands up to lighter cooking and holds together a little bit better.
- Press the tofu with your EZ tofu press to remove the liquid and get it ready to cook.
- Season your tofu so that it has taste and flavor. In this recipe, we used coconut aminos, but you can use a soy sauce as well. We also coated with cornmeal. Keep in mind that the tofu takes on the flavor of what you season it with. This means that you control the flavor outcome 100%.
How to season tofu
Seasoning tofu us something that each person has total control of. What this means is that whatever you choose to season with, you’re going to have control of the outcome and flavor.
Tofu tends to do a great job at taking on the tastes and flavors so keep that in mind when you’re starting to season it. It’s not like some meats that require a ton of seasoning…a little bit of seasoning goes a very long way.
How to fry tofu
If you’re going to fry tofu on the stove instead of in the Air Fryer, the steps are pretty simple.
Once you’ve used your EZ tofu press to get out the water, you’ve marinated and coated the tofu, you can pan fry the crispy tofu! Add 1-2 T oil to your skillet and cook tofu on all sides (over medium heat) until the coating crisps and turns golden brown!
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How to make Crispy Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 block tofu extra firm
- 4 T coconut aminos or gluten free soy sauce
- 1/4 c cornmeal
Instructions
- Prepare your tofu by pressing it for 10-12 minutes, turning the knobs tighter every 3-4 minutes.
- Once tofu is pressed, remove from the press and cut into cubes. In a shallow serving platter combine the tofu cubes and the coconut aminos. Marinate for 10 minutes.
- Using a gallon sized baggie, combine the tofu cubes (not the marinate liquid) and the cornmeal. Gently toss to combine. The tofu cubes should be coated well.
- Place tofu cubes into your air fryer basket. Optional: You can give a little spray of oil to the cubes to help them brown and crisp better. Cook at 370 degrees F at 12 minutes. Be sure to shake the air fryer basket mid way through. (You can also give the tofu cubes another spray of oil when you shake it.)
- When time is completed, remove the crispy tofu from the air fryer basket. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pick the correct kind of tofu when making crispy tofu. I use Firm or Extra Firm Silken Tofu. While the textures are very similar, the extra firm is the one that tends to hold out the best. It stands up to lighter cooking and holds together a little bit better.
- Press the tofu with your EZ tofu press to remove the liquid and get it ready to cook.
- Season your tofu so that it has taste and flavor. In this recipe, we used coconut aminos, but you can use a soy sauce as well. We also coated with cornmeal. Keep in mind that the tofu takes on the flavor of what you season it with. This means that you control the flavor outcome 100%.
Nutrition
Drop me a comment below telling me if you have made tofu before? Have you ever eaten crispy tofu? Did you like the texture?
Tara says
Love fried tofu! Yours look incredible. I will need to check out that EZ tofu press. Definitely makes things a lot easier.
Cindy Gordon says
Yes, we LOVE our EZ Tofu Press for all our tofu cooking needs. It is a MUST have for sure!
Beth Pierce says
Such a great recipe; full of flavor and perfectly crispy! Delicious!
Cindy Gordon says
Thank you Beth! I know that my family loves this crispy tofu! It is certainly delicious!
Alison says
I just bought myself an air fryer this weekend for the sole purpose of being able to make crispy tofu. This recipe is so easy and the tofu comes out crispy without all the added oil. Thank you!
Cindy Gordon says
You are so welcome! Crispy tofu is amazing! I can’t get enough! Enjoy your air fryer tofu!
Kushigalu says
Love tofu. This looks so perfect and crispy. I want to have this right now.
Cindy Gordon says
So delicious!! Thanks for loving crispy tofu as much as I do!
Beth Neels says
This is an inspired idea to use the air fryer! Can’t wait to try it!
Cindy Gordon says
Hope that you enjoy!