Air Fryer Spicy Garlic Tofu - Tiffy Cooks (2024)

Back with another Air Fryer recipe – Spicy Garlic Tofu, seriously SO good!

Spicy Garlic Tofu iscrispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, coated with the BEST spicy garlic sauce, and requires ZERO deep-frying. If you’re looking to elevate your tofu game and tantalize your taste buds, look no further than Spicy Garlic Tofu.

This delightful dish combines the satisfying crunch of perfectly cooked tofu with the bold flavors of spice and garlic, creating a mouthwatering experience that even non-vegans will crave.

If you want more TOFU recipes, I also have a bunch of them that are easy to recreate at home!

The secret to making air fryer spicy garlic tofu is salt water.

Soak the tofu in salt water for at least 5-10 minutes, which will help the tofu air-fry extra crispy! This trick also works well when you are pan-frying or deep-frying the tofu. If you have extra time, soak the tofu for even longer, up to overnight!

The longer you soak it, the crisper the tofu will become. The salt will also help season the tofu and get rid of the soy water taste, allowing the tofu to absorb the sauce better.

The star of this Spicy Garlic Tofu recipe is the savory homemade spicy garlic sauce drizzled on top.

All you need is soy sauce, black vinegar, red chili flakes, chili oil, sesame seeds, white parts of the green onion, LOTS of garlic, and HOT OIL. This sauce goes well with EVERYTHING, but especially on top of this crispy air-fried tofu!

The sauce is the copycat spicy garlic sauce you find at night market but 100 times better. If you have any leftover sauce, drizzle it on top of the steamed vegetables and dumplings, or toss it with noodles, and you will thank me later!

I am using an Air Fryer today to make my Spicy Garlic Tofu since it saves time and is mess-free.

I’m going to be honest; I was a little skeptical about the hype when I first heard about air fryers and didn’t realize how EASY it was to make delicious meals with them. As I incorporate air fryers more and more into my cooking arsenal, I realize how useful they are!

I did a blog post breaking down and comparing the top 4 selling air fryers on Amazon based on pricing, size, function, and even a crispy chicken wings test! So if you are interested in buying an air fryer, check out the blog post!

Do you want more AIR FRYER recipes? Here are some of my go-to recipes that you will LOVE!

• Creamy Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
• Ginger Glazed Salmon Bites
• Air Fryer Bread Pudding
• Honey Glazed Pork Belly

Ingredients

• 1 Pack of Medium-firm Tofu
• 1.5 tbsp of Homemade Chilli Oil
• 2 tbsp of Soy Sauce
• 3 tbsp of Black Vinegar
• 1 tbsp of Crushed Red Chilli Flakes
• 0.5 tbsp of Sesame Seeds
• 1 green onion, separate white and green
• 2clovesgarlicminced
• 4 tbsp of HOT oil
• Cilantro to garnish

1. In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 cups of water. Cut tofu into bite-size pieces and soak tofu in water for at least 5 – 10 minutes.
2. Heat up 4 tablespoons of oil and prepare the sauce by mixing, add in 2 tbsp of Soy sauce, 3 tbsp of Black Vinegar, 1.5 tbsp of Homemade Chilli Oil, Crushed Red Chilli Flakes, Sesame Seeds, white parts of the green onion, and the top layer, minced garlic.
3. Once the oil is hot, pour the oil over the sauce ingredients, mix well.You can test if the oil is hot by dipping in a wooden utensil. If it bubbles, it’s ready.
4. Line the air fryer with the tofu and air fryer at 400F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. Optional – brush on or spray oil on top of the tofu, which will help crisp up the tofu.
5. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to increase the cooking time to 28-30 minutes.
6. Drizzle the sauce over the tofu and garnish with cilantro.