Air fryer tofu with sticky sesame sauce is a quick and easy dish to make. The tofu is crispy on the outside, tender in the middle and coated in an irresistible sweet and savoury vegan sauce. It’s a healthy and delicious dish, perfect for a weeknight dinner or as a side dish to complement your favourite Asian-inspired meal.
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Dive Right In
- Why Make Air Fryer Tofu?
- What Type of Air Fryer Do You Need?
- Ingredients
- How To Press Tofu
- How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- Other Tofu Recipes You Might Like
- Keep In Touch
- The Recipe
Why Make Air Fryer Tofu Or Sticky Sesame Sauce?
Crispy air fryer tofu with sticky sesame sauce is not only quick and easy to make but it has universal appeal too. This is true whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or simply looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet. In fact, it’s a great way to switch up your usual dinner routine and try something new and exciting.
Here are a few more reasons why you might like to make air fryer tofu – with or without the sticky sesame sauce.
- Healthy – Air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying as it requires little to no oil. This results in food which is lower in fat and calories. Tofu is a good source of protein and other nutrients, making it a great addition to a healthy diet.
- Quick & Easy – You can get a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in under half an hour with this crispy tofu covered in sticky sesame sauce. This makes it perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to whip up a tasty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.
- Tasty – Air frying tofu gives it a lovely crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and tender. Tofu itself doesn’t taste of much, but it’s great for absorbing other flavours. Sticky sesame sauce is a sweet and savoury sauce that’s packed with flavour. It pairs well with tofu and adds irresistible eat-me umami notes to the dish.
- Two Recipes – Air fryer tofu and sticky sesame sauce pair well together, but they also stand on their own. The tofu is delicious just as it is. Try it as a healthy snack or make it the base of any number of dishes. As for the sauce, use it for noodles and stir-fries. Or why not try thinning it down a little and using as a dipping sauce?
- Versatile – Crispy air fryer tofu with sticky sesame sauce is a versatile dish that you can serve in many ways. Try it as an appetiser, a main dish or as a side. You can also serve it with rice, noodles or vegetables to make a complete meal.
What Type Of Air Fryer Do You Need?
There are two main types of air fryer. One has a basket, the other has shelves. I have both. The basket is great for making chips, baking potatoes, roasting vegetables and frying tofu. It’s also useful for cooking sausages and burgers, cheese toasties and heating up baked goods such as pies.
The one with shelves is more like a mini oven, though it does have a rotating basket too. The oven is really good and far more efficient than a conventional oven for small quantities. However, the basket needed for “frying” is more of a faff to use.
Both are good in their way, but I found I used the basket HealthyFry more often. It’s just so quick and easy to use. So the Innoteck has been relegated to the garage for now. If you’re looking for a basket type air fryer*, there are a lot to choose from.
Air Fryer Tofu And Sesame Sauce Ingredients
I’m not going to list all of the ingredients for this air fryer tofu and sesame sauce recipe here, but there are a few that are worth pointing out.
Tofu
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine. It’s made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. It has a mild flavour and a spongy texture that is firm, soft or silken, depending on how it’s prepared.
It’s a good source of plant-based protein and contains the nine essential amino acids that our bodies need to function properly. It’s also low in calories and fat, but rich in minerals and vitamins. These include: calcium, manganese, iron and vitamin A. Tofu and other soy foods are also a primary source of isoflavones.
Tofu is also excellent for soaking up flavours, which makes it a highly versatile ingredient.
For this recipe, you want firm tofu, ideally extra firm. Extra firm tofu doesn’t need pressing before crisping it up in an air fryer. However, standard firm tofu does.
How To Press Tofu
Wrap the block of tofu up in a clean tea towel or layers of kitchen towel. Place something heavy on top. A frying pan or a board with a tin of tomatoes sitting on top both work well. Leave for thirty minutes and you’ll find your block of tofu is considerably smaller and a lot dryer.
If you use tofu a lot, you can buy a dedicated tofu press*.
Top Tip
Press your tofu on a draining board or in the kitchen sink, so your worktop doesn’t get soaked.
Tamari
I’ve written about tamari* many times on Tin and Thyme. It’s my go-to soy sauce. Not only is it excellent in quality with more taste and less salt than many others, but it’s also gluten-free.
Tamari is expensive, especially if you buy organic, but a little goes a long way and despite the cost, it remains one of my store cupboard staples.
Arrowroot
Arrowroot is a starchy root vegetable native to Central and South America. It’s ground down into a neutral tasting powder and is commonly used as a thickener in cooking and baking.
For this air fryer tofu with sticky sesame sauce recipe, I use arrowroot instead of cornflour (cornstarch) to thicken the sauce and give it a glossy and silky texture. I also use it to coat the tofu which helps to crisp it up.
I prefer it to cornflour as it has more health benefits. It’s not only high in protein, but also easy to digest. Arrowroot contains significant amounts of folate, phosphorous, iron and potassium. It’s also made up of 32% resistant starch, which helps feed gut bacteria and makes us feel fuller for longer (Ref: Healthline). And just like cornflour, it’s gluten-free.
However, feel free to use cornflour if that’s what you have in the cupboard.
Toasted Sesame Oil
Toasted sesame oil* is powerful stuff. You only need a teaspoon in this recipe, but it really imparts that delicious sesame flavour. Toasting the sesame seeds to scatter over the finished dish brings out the flavour and adds to the overall sesame effect.
Brown Rice Vinegar
Brown rice vinegar* is a type of vinegar made from fermented brown rice. It’s a common ingredient in many Asian cuisines, including Chinese. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavour and is less acidic than other types of vinegar.
It’s quite easy to find in the world food aisle of your local supermarket. Health food and Asian food shops stock it too. However, if you can’t find any or don’t have some to hand, you can substitute it with other types of vinegar.
If you have rice vinegar, but not brown rice vinegar, go ahead and use that. Otherwise use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. You’ll need to water them down slightly as both of these are more acidic than rice vinegar, although not as strong as others.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is such a popular ingredient these days, it’s often a store cupboard staple. Go with your favourite, whether that’s sriracha, tabasco or something else altogether. I use my own homemade chilli sauce and one teaspoon is enough to know that chilli is present, but not so much as to have you gasping.
If you don’t like the heat or you’re making this air fryer tofu and sticky sesame sauce for children, either go easy on the hot sauce or leave it out altogether.
Sweetener
A noticeable amount of sweetness is key to this sticky sesame sauce recipe. You’ll find that takeaways and Chinese restaurant recipes contain a lot of sugar. Sugar is cheap, but most of us already consume too much of it, so I try not to use it in savoury cooking.
I use date syrup* instead. Maple syrup works well too, but it’s expensive. If you’re not vegan, you can swap the date syrup for honey.
Tomato Paste
My secret ingredient for this recipe is tomato paste. It’s not traditional, but it acts as a thickener as well as giving rich umami notes. It gives slightly tart and sweet ones too.
How To Make Crispy Air Fryer Tofu With Sticky Sesame Sauce
An air fryer makes cooking crispy tofu a breeze and it creates a lot less mess. It only takes a few minutes to make the sticky sesame sauce. Then it’s just a simple process of tossing the tofu into the sauce.
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
This recipe for crispy tofu contains no fat, yet it’s still delicious. Don’t feel you need to coat it with the sticky sesame sauce, it’s good to eat just as it is. Alternatively, try my teriyaki sauce instead. It’s also vegan and healthy.
Step 1. Drain Tofu
Drain the tofu and pat dry with a sheet of kitchen towel. You’ll need to press it for thirty minutes if it’s not an extra firm variety. See how to press tofu for details.
Step 2. Tear Tofu
Tear the tofu block into bitesize chunks with your fingers (roughly two centimetres (¾ inch) in size)) and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Tearing it up gives ragged edges which exposes more of the tofu’s surface to the heat. This in turn makes for crispier pieces.
If you prefer more uniform pieces cut the tofu block into cubes or rectangles with a knife. It won’t, however, turn out quite as crispy.
Step 3. Add Flavour
Add the tamari, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and garlic, then give the tofu a good stir until the pieces are evenly covered. Leave the tofu to absorb the flavours for five minutes.
Use this time to get your rice cooking or prepare any other accompaniments.
Step 4. Cook Tofu
If necessary, heat your air-fryer. Stir the arrowroot into the tofu pieces. Again make sure they’re evenly coated, then tip into your air-fryer basket.
Air-fry for 12-15 minutes. The tofu is done when it’s well coloured and crispy all over. Shake the basket a couple of times whilst it’s cooking.
Sticky Sesame Sauce
This sticky sesame sauce works perfectly with the crispy tofu. However, thin it out a bit and it makes a useful stir-fry sauce instead.
Step 1. Fry Tomato Paste
Whilst the tofu is frying, make the sauce.
Place a large saucepan over a moderate heat. When it’s hot, add toasted sesame oil followed by tomato paste. Stir-fry the paste until it’s fragrant and bubbling.
Keeping the pan on the heat, add the date syrup, tamari, chilli sauce (hot sauce), vinegar and some of the water. Stir until smooth
Step 2. Thicken Sauce
Stir water into the arrowroot powder until you have a smooth paste. Add this to the pan and stir well whilst it heats up. Let it cook for a minute or two, then add the remaining water. Stir again.
Cook for another minute until you have a thick and sticky sauce. Be careful though, you don’t want it so thick that it sticks to the bottom of the pan.
Cook for a bit longer if it’s too runny or add a little more water if it’s too thick. It needs to be thick enough to coat the crispy tofu pieces, but not so thin that it just runs off.
Step 3. Prepare Garnishes
Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a moderate heat until they’re golden and fragrant. Toss the pan from time to time to avoid the seeds burning.
Trim the spring onion (scallion) and thinly slice it at an angle.
Step 4. Serve
As soon as the tofu is cooked to crispy perfection, add it to the pan of sauce and carefully stir to coat.
Turn out onto a warmed serving plate and scatter the sesame seeds and spring onion slices over the top. It’s best to eat this air fryer tofu straight away as it doesn’t stay crisp for long, especially when you coat it in sauce.
Serve with steamed rice and cooked greens, if liked. It’s also good with noodles or just with a plate of cooked vegetables. We like to serve it with brown rice and lightly cooked broccoli.
Top Tip
I like to chop and fry a sweet pepper, which I then stir into the sticky sauce along with the crispy tofu.
Other Tofu Recipes You Might Like
If you like the idea of crispy tofu, but don’t fancy this air-fried version, why not try this classic fried salt and pepper tofu at Six Hungry Feet?
- Beer battered tofish
- Samphire noodles with miso marinated tofu
- Smoked tofu, lettuce & tomato sandwich
- Tofu schnitzel
- Vegan rice bowl with maple tofu
- Wild garlic tofu patties
Keep in Touch
Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make either the crispy air fryer tofu or the sticky sesame sauce, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do you have any recommendations or advice for using tofu?
Please rate the recipe. If you post pictures of your creations on social media, use the hashtag #tinandthyme so I can see them.
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If you’d like more Asian recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious and nutritious, of course.
Choclette x
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu. PIN IT.
Air Fryer Tofu With Sticky Sesame Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Crispy Tofu
- 280 g extra firm tofu (can use firm tofu, but will need to press it first)
- 1 tbsp tamari (affiliate link) (or your favourite soy sauce)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 clove garlic grated or crushed
- 1 tbsp arrowroot (or use cornflour (cornstarch) if you don't have any))
Sticky Sesame Sauce
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil*
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp date syrup (can use agave syrup, maple syrup or honey, if not vegan)
- 1 tbsp tamari (affiliate link) (or your favourite soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp brown rice vinegar*
- 1 tsp chilli sauce (I use my homemade chilli sauce)
- 2 tsp arrowroot (or use cornflour (cornstarch) if you don't have any))
- 6 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp whole sesame seeds
- 1 spring onions (scallions)
Instructions
Crispy Tofu
- Drain the tofu and press it for thirty minutes if it’s not an extra firm variety. Pat dry with a sheet of kitchen towel.280 g extra firm tofu
- Tear into bitesize chunks with your fingers (roughly 2 cm (¾ inch)) and place in a bowl. If you prefer even pieces cut it into cubes or rectangles with a knife, but it won't turn out quite as crispy.
- Add the tamari, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and garlic, then give the tofu a good stir until it's evenly covered. Leave to absorb the flavours for five minutes.1 tbsp tamari (affiliate link), 1 tsp smoked paprika, ¼ tsp fine sea salt, ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 clove garlic
- Heat your air-fryer to 200℃ (400℉). Scatter the arrowroot over the tofu and stir, again making sure the pieces are evenly covered. Tip the lot into your air-fryer basket. Air-fry for 12-15 minutes. The tofu is done when it's well coloured and crispy all over. Shake the basket a couple of times whilst it's cooking.1 tbsp arrowroot
Sticky Sesame Sauce
- Meanwhile, prepare the sticky sauce.
- Warm a large saucepan over a moderate heat. Add the toasted sesame oil, followed by the tomato paste. Stir-fry the paste until it bubbles.1 tsp toasted sesame oil*, 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Add the date syrup, tamari, chilli sauce (hot sauce), vinegar and one tbsp of the water. Stir until smooth.1 tbsp date syrup, 1 tbsp tamari (affiliate link), 1 tbsp brown rice vinegar*, 1 tsp chilli sauce
- Stir 2 tbsp of the water into the arrowroot until you have a smooth paste. Add this to the pan and stir well whilst it heats up. Let it cook for a minute or two, then add the remaining 3 tbsp of water. Cook for another minute until you have a thick and sticky sauce, but not so thick that it sticks to the bottom of the pan. Cook for a bit longer if runny or add a little more water if too thick.2 tsp arrowroot
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a moderate heat for 4-5 minutes until they’re golden and fragrant.1 tbsp whole sesame seeds
- Trim the spring onion and thinly slice it at an angle.1 spring onions (scallions)
- As soon as the crispy tofu is cooked, add it to the pan of sauce and stir to coat.
- Turn out onto a warmed serving plate and scatter the sesame seeds and spring onion over the top.
- Serve with sticky rice and steamed greens, if liked.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
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Katie Jacques says
This air fryer tofu is absolutely perfect! Super easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Choclette says
Yes, it’s one of our favourites Katie. Good to hear you like it too.
Jenn Freedman says
Yum I can’t wait to try this with my kids – they are just getting more adventurous with sauces and this one looks divine! So gooey and delicious !
Choclette says
I wish I’d had food like this when I was a kid. Even though my mum was a really good cook, ingredients were decidedly limited.
Margaret says
Really easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing this.
Choclette says
Glad you liked it Margaret. Easy and delicious is my favourite sort of food. Thanks for letting us know.