Hi friends!
I posted this recipe on my Instagram “reel” a while back but so many of you said you like blog posts to reference in the future and this recipe for crispy tofu is so easy!! I recently got an air fryer (Black Friday 2020 gift to myself) so I’m a tad bit obsessed with air frying everything. The texture gets SO perfectly chewy and crispy. I could eat this for days. If you don’t have an air fryer, have no fear. You can deep fry, pan fry or even bake the tofu. The texture may not be as crispy but it’ll be delicious regardless.
I could write a whole review about my air fryer but I would recommend the Ninja brand for an air fryer. When I FINALLY decided to get one, I was so overwhelmed by all the choices for air fryers online so I settled on a well known brand that I think is worth the investment. I got the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer and personally love that it has 2 baskets! I cook a lot so it’s been nice to either cook the same thing or different things for dinner at the same time! For some reason, I find the one I have is hard to find (at least in Vancouver, Canada) so if you can’t find that one, I’d recommend the Ninja Foodi 6.5-QT Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer. The only reason I didn’t get the latter is because it has a pressure cook option, which I didn’t need as I have an Instant Pot.
SO why did I use chickpea flour? I come from a family of food allergies (one being corn) so cornstarch, which is often an ingredient that is used to get tofu nice and crispy is not used in this recipe. Neither is panko, which gets the traditional deep fried texture. INSTEAD… I used chickpea flour as the coating to get the tofu crispy. Bonus points because chickpea flour is high in protein, but you can definitely use cornstarch, if that’s all you have.
Did you know: Tofu is made from soybeans, which are an amazing source of plant based, vegan and vegetarian protein. We are not personally vegan but I like to swap animal protein for plant based protein now and again. We like tofu because it is inexpensive, easily accessible & comes in like 6+ type of textures so it’s never boring + high in protein! However, due to some soy being GMO, I do look for organic/non-gmo tofu. Thankfully it’s not much more in price to buy organic and Costco even carries a value pack.
I like my recipes to have lots of options for you! The dip in the center used tahini as a base but feel free to substitute peanut or almond butter, or even mayo.
I can’t for you guys to try this recipe! The two of us can literally eat this in no time and the tofu even makes an amazing protein option in buddha bowls for those that are plant based, vegan and vegetarian. Please tag me on socials @balancingandie when you try it! It makes my day to connect with you.
Notes
- Feel free to use cornstarch instead of chickpea flour.
- Extra firm tofu is best for this recipe for a crispy/chewy texture. I find softer tofu is too hard to handle for a recipe such as this.
- Cooking time will vary if cooked in the oven or pan fried but it will still be delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 package (350g) extra firm tofu, drained
- 1/4 tsp of EACH fine grain salt, black pepper, garlic, ginger powder
- 1/8 tsp hot chili powder (optional)
- 1/4 cup chickpea flour (or cornstarch)
- 3 tbsp oil
Sauce
- 2 tbsp tahini (sub: peanut or almond butter)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- sriracha to taste
Instructions
- Press the excess water out of the tofu (wrap in paper towel and gently press).
- Cut tofu once lengthwise and then across to make approximately 16 pieces.
- Preheat air fryer to 375F (just turn it on as if the tofu was already in the basket - if no preheat setting).
- In a large bowl, add tofu and oil - toss. Add spices and flour and toss again.
- Cook the tofu in a single layer for approximately 15-20 minutes until it is the texture you want.
- While the tofu is cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and enjoy with the tofu.
thanks for information
What are some alternatives suggested in the article for achieving crispy tofu without cornstarch?