Crispy Outside, Soft Inside Tofu Bake
Super Easy Air Fryer Tofu Snack – Healthy & Delicious!
Today, we’re sharing a recipe for ‘Air Fryer Tofu Bake’. This dish is incredibly easy to make with just an air fryer and features a delightful texture: slightly chewy on the outside and wonderfully soft and moist on the inside. It’s a perfect healthy snack for those on a diet or a satisfying treat when you’re feeling peckish. Let’s create a wonderful tofu dish with simple ingredients and minimal effort!
Main Ingredients- 1 block firm tofu (approx. 300g)
- A little cooking oil (optional)
- A pinch of black sesame seeds (optional)
- Sweet chili sauce (for dipping)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Hello everyone! Today, I’ll introduce a very simple yet delicious tofu bake recipe using an air fryer. This recipe is an excellent choice, especially for those who are health-conscious or need a healthy snack while dieting.
Step 2
As you can see, the ingredients are remarkably simple! With such few ingredients, you can create a tofu bake that looks appealing and has a delightful texture – crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Step 3
First, prepare one block of firm tofu. Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm cubes, for instance. It’s best to cut them into appropriate sizes to prevent them from breaking apart too easily.
Step 4
Before baking, thoroughly removing moisture from the tofu is key to achieving a crispy texture! Place the cut tofu pieces on a tray or plate lined generously with paper towels.
Step 5
Cover the tofu with another layer of paper towels and gently press down with your hands to absorb as much moisture as possible. The more thoroughly you do this step, the crispier the tofu will be.
Step 6
Now, line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. This makes cleanup much easier later. Arrange the dried tofu pieces in a single layer on the parchment paper, making sure they don’t overlap. If your basket is crowded, it’s better to cook in two batches.
Step 7
If you’d like the tofu to be slightly more golden and savory, brush a little cooking oil onto the surface of the tofu using a pastry brush. However, if you are making this purely as a healthy diet snack, you can omit the oil in this step.
Step 8
For a nutty flavor and an attractive visual appeal, sprinkle some black sesame seeds on top. If you don’t have black sesame seeds, regular sesame seeds will also work nicely. Now that everything is prepped, place it in the air fryer and bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes.
Step 9
After about 20 minutes, you’ll notice the tofu has turned quite golden brown. For an even crispier texture, I baked mine for an additional 20 minutes at 180°C, for a total of 40 minutes. However, air fryer models can vary in performance, so it’s best to check the tofu’s condition periodically and adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly.
Step 10
You can also flip the tofu halfway through the baking process to ensure even browning and crispiness on both sides. I chose not to flip mine to prevent the sesame seeds from falling off, and they turned out wonderfully delicious regardless! It will look appetizing no matter how you bake it.
Step 11
Carefully remove the perfectly baked tofu from the air fryer and arrange it on a serving plate.
Step 12
Look how cute and appetizing these tofu pieces look, neatly arranged on the plate! Now, let’s prepare a dipping sauce. I’ve prepared a sweet chili sauce, which has a lovely sweet and slightly spicy flavor.
Step 13
And there you have it – our delightful air fryer tofu bake is complete! The sprinkled black sesame seeds add to its appealing look.
Step 14
When you take a bite, you’ll be surprised by how moist and tender the inside remains. The outside isn’t super crunchy, but it has a pleasant, slightly chewy texture that makes it so appealing. Baking in the air fryer gives it a distinct flavor profile compared to pan-fried tofu. It’s wholesome and delicious.
Step 15
Indeed, dipping the tofu bake in the sweet chili sauce makes it taste even better! As they say, food is often best when it has a bit of seasoning. For a healthy diet snack, enjoy the tofu’s natural flavor without sauce. If you’re having it as a beer snack or a simple treat, dipping it in sweet chili sauce will enhance the experience!
