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Air Fried Asian Tofu

With a crispy outside, soft and chewy inside, this Air Fried Asian Tofu will go great in salads, tofu bowls, or even just eat plain as a snack. This recipe only requires around 10 minutes of active cooking time while the rest is just marinading and air frying the tofu.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese, Japanese
Keyword air fried, air fryer, dinner, tofu
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cutting Board
  • Cast iron or something heavy

Ingredients

  • 1 block extra firm tofu
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp miso paste (make sure it doesn't contain fish or any non-vegan ingredients.)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tbsp neutral oil
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option.)
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp Trader Joes Mushroom Seasoning (you can substitute this for regular salt instead.)
  • 1/2 tsp liquid smoke (We find liquid smoke adds a level of flavor to the tofu that makes it meatier. You can leave this out if you'd like.)

Instructions

  • First, you need to prepare the tofu by slicing it into two equally thick pieces. 
  • Next, press out the excess liquid out of the tofu either by using a tofu press or placing the 2 slices of tofu in between two cutting boards and paper towels with something heavy on top. Use can use a pot, cast iron, books, or whatever you can find that’s heavy and stable to sit on the cutting boards. 
  • Let the tofu sit like this for 20 minutes, changing the paper towels out if needed.
  • Once the tofu has been pressed, cut the tofu pieces into bite-sized pieces around ½ inch thick.
  • In a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container mix together all the ingredients except the tofu. You will want to make sure that the ginger and miso paste is properly dissolved/mixed in with the wet ingredients. 
  • Next, add the tofu to the marinaded. Tossing it around until all the pieces are evenly coated. 
  • Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes, or you can prepare this in the morning and let it sit all day. 
  • After you have marinated the tofu preheat the air fryer to 375° F. 
  • When your air fryer is preheated add the tofu and cook it for at least 12 minutes, but you can go up to 18 minutes if you want it more crispy. Make sure to toss your tofu halfway through to ensure it all gets evenly cooked.
  • Let the tofu cool for 2-3 minutes before serving in your favorite dish, or even just eating alone as a snack.