Make tofu bites in an air fryer as a healthy snack, side dish, or appetizer. This is a low cost, healthy, high protein, and easy recipe with a delicious sweet and savory dip. Or you can serve the tofu bites with your own favorite dip.
Disclaimer: Please check that all ingredients are suitable for your allergies and be sure to ask your medical care team regarding any allergy related questions (I do not share medical advice). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jump to RecipeYummy Tofu Bites
You will love these tofu bites with a golden, crispy crust. It’s a simple recipe, coat drained cubes of tofu in seasoned cornstarch, then cook them in an air fryer and make a dip while you’re waiting.
I love eating tofu these days because it’s an inexpensive, satisfying, and plant-based protein that I can serve as a snack, side dish, or appetizer.
The tofu bites are crispy, crunchy on the inside and hot when they’re fresh out of the air fryer. When it cools down, the outer crunch softens up a bit but the tofu bites are so flavorful and much easier to eat.
You can also make them for a rice bowl meal, top a bowl of rice with the tofu bites, some cooked or raw chopped veggies, a fried egg, beans, and drizzle on some sauce, and you have a delicious meal.
Why Air Fry Instead of Deep Fry?
I recently purchased an Instant Pot Vortex air fryer which I love to use instead of turning on my oven for little dishes such as reheating baked goods or cooking frozen heat and serve items.
In this recipe, I wanted to know if cooking foods in an air fryer an acceptable alternative to deep frying foods. We know that there are health risks associated with deep frying. Deep frying is also messy and I don’t like the clean up.
What if we can satisfy our desire for deep fried foods with air fried foods? According to Baylor College of Medicine, “air frying is a healthier substitute since hot air circulates around the food, creating a crust that does not affect nutritional value.”
When we live life with food allergies, our dietary nutritional intake is already limited by what we cannot eat due to food allergies, which is why I prefer making crispy tofu in an air fryer. It’s definitely not as greasy and has a great crispy, crunchy texture on the outside that is satisfying.
Tofu Bites Preparation Tips
This recipe is definitely easy, doesn’t require a lot of hands on time, and is very straight forward. It’s helpful to drain the tofu in advance. The easiest way is to drain the tofu is to cut some slits in the box and then drain over a bowl in your refrigerator for an hour or more. But if you don’t drain in advance, you can drain for 15 minutes and then press with some paper towels.
I add Chinese 5 spice to the cornstarch to season it. But if you are allergic or don’t like any of the ingredients in Chinese 5 spice (different blends have different ingredients), feel free to use your favorite powdered spices. It will taste great if you use flavors you already like.
As I was coating the drained tofu cubes with cornstarch, some of the coating would stick to my dish and come off of the tofu because the tofu was still draining. And I would coat the tofu pieces again. Allowing more time to drain the tofu before coating with cornstarch will help.
Allergy Aware Tofu Bites
This recipe is free of peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, dairy, sesame, and egg, with easy adaptations for other allergens.
Soy allergy – If you are not allergic to other legumes, look for soy-free tofu made from beans. If you are making the dip, use my recipe for soy-free soy sauce, which is free of top 9 allergens.
Wheat allergy, gluten intolerance – for the sauce, use tamari sauce that is labeled gluten-free.
Air Fryer Tofu Bites, An Easy Nut-Free Recipe
Make tofu bites in an air fryer as a healthy snack, side dish, or appetizer. This is a low cost, healthy, high protein, and easy recipe with a delicious sweet and savory dip. Or you can serve the tofu bites with your own favorite dip.
Ingredients
- 1 19 oz box tofu
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon 5 spice powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sichuan peppercorns freshly ground (optional)
- 2 teaspoon olive oil or other neutral oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions reserve some for garnish
Instructions
Cut slits in 1 19 oz box tofu and drain the liquid. Place the tofu container sideways in a large bowl and continue to drain in the refrigerator for 1 hour or more (use the same day).
Remove the tofu from the box and then pat dry with paper towels. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes and continue to drain on paper towels.
Combine 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1/2 teaspoon 5 spice powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the tofu cubes to the bowl and gently toss the tofu cubes in the cornstarch to coat.
- Preheat an airfryer 400F° and place the tofu pieces into the airfryer basket for 15 minutes. Shake the basket at the halfway point.
Sauce Instructions
While the tofu is in the air fryer, combine 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Set aside.
Grind approximately 1/4 teaspoon sichuan peppercorns, set aside.
Preheat a medium saucepan on medium heat for a few minutes, add 2 teaspoon olive oil or other neutral oil, 2 cloves garlic(minced), and sichuan peppercorns and saute until fragrant. Add sauce mixture and cook until thickened, remove from heat.
When the tofu pieces are crispy, transfer them to a serving dish, garnish with 1/4 cup chopped scallions, and serve with the dipping sauce on the side.
Recipe Notes
If you don’t have time to drain the tofu: cut slits on the tofu box and drain the tofu for 5 minutes. Remove the tofu from the box and transfer to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Allow the tofu to cool to room temperature, drain the tofu. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes and pat dry with paper towels.
Related Recipes
More tofu recipes:
- Easy cold tofu side dish, perfect for warmer weather – Cold Tofu Recipe, A Non-Spicy & Easy Side Dish
- Pan Fried Tofu with Teriyaki Sauce is a great side dish or an entree for 2 people
- Pure comfort food, serve over rice – Minced Beef with Tofu, Peas, and Oyster Sauce Recipe
- Make Steamed Pork Spareribs with Tofu Recipe, the flavors of the steamed pork flavor the tofu, wonderful to eat with rice and vegetables
More air fryer recipes and air fryer review:
Thanks for reading, please help Nut Free Wok!
If you like this post or recipe, please be sure to give a 5 star rating, leave a comment, and share this post! Your support means a lot to me.
Subscribe to Nut Free Wok’s email subscription (be sure to respond to the confirmation email). You will be notified by email next time I publish another post or recipe and I won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.
Disclosure/Disclaimer:
I may mention the names of stores and/or brand names of products that I use because readers ask and I share products and sources which I use and think may be helpful to readers, all opinions are my own. Please note that manufacturing practices and ingredients can change at anytime without notice and readers are always responsible for assuring allergen safety before buying or consuming foods. NutFreeWok.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thank you for reading!
