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Crispy, full of flavor, and so easy to make, this air-fried herbed tofu makes for the perfect component to so many meals.

overhead image of crispy air fryer herbed tofu on a plate

We’ve been really into air-frying tofu recently, and for a good reason. It’s such an easy and delicious way to prepare tofu. With air-frying, you can achieve the crispy, crunchy texture we all know and love without having to pan fry or deep fry.

overhead image of ingredients on white slab

This herbed tofu recipe is inspired by both our easy crispy tofu recipe and Italian seasoned tempeh. We are taking the herb inspiration from the Italian seasoned tofu, +/- a few ingredients, and using a similar method to the easy crispy tofu.

Here’s What You Need to Make This Air Fried Herbed Tofu:

  • Extra Firm Tofu – For this recipe we are using extra firm tofu because of how nicely it holds its shape. Extra firm tofu a more dense variety of tofu making it perfect for cubing. One thing to keep in mind is that the more firm tofu is, the less it absorbs flavor, so making the seasonings stick to the outside is key. We like to use either House Foods or Nasoya tofu.
  • Red Wine Vinegar – This will add a bright, tangy, but clean flavor to our tofu. If you don’t have any red wine vinegar, you can substitue it with white wine vinegar or just white vinegar. One thing to note is that white vinegar will not have as much flavor.
  • Tamari or Soy Sauce – This will add some umami flavor and saltiness to our herbed tofu. If you want this recipe to be entirely gluten-free, we recommend using tamari over soy sauce. We like to use Lee Kum Kee soy sauce!
  • Olive Oil – Olive oil will add some fat to this recipe and also help the marinate stick and coat the tofu. We recommend using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for this recipe because it will help enchance the flavor, but you can also use avocado oil or any other oil of your choice.
  • Spices – The spice blend for this air fried herbed tofu is as follows: Italian seasoning, red pepper, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. If you aren’t a huge fan of spicy food, you adjust the amount of red pepper you are using accordingly.
  • Cornstarch – This will help thicken our marindae and make it more like a batter when coating the tofu. If you don’t want to use corn starch, or don’t have any on hand, you can also substitue it for arrowroot powder or tapioca powder.
  • Nutritional Yeast – Nutritional yeast, aka “nooch”, will add a nutty and cheesy flavor to our herbed tofu. Nooch also has B vitamins and is packed with protein.

Looking for More Tofu Recipes? Here Are a Few of our Favorites:

Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you recreate any of our recipes, we love to see your photos!

overhead image of herbed tofu on a plate
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overhead image of herbed tofu on a plate

Easy Air Fried Herbed Tofu


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Chris Petrellese
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

Crispy, full of flavor, and so easy to make, this air-fried herbed tofu makes for the perfect component to so many meals.  


Ingredients

  • 1 block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ½ tablespoon nutritional yeast

Instructions

  1. Drain and press your tofu for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Learn how to press tofu here. Once the tofu has been pressed, cut it into about 1-inch cubes and set it aside.
  2. In a medium-sized sealable bag or container, add in the remainder of the ingredients besides the tofu and whisk until combined and all of the clumps are removed.
  3. Add in the tofu, seal the bag (or container) and give it a good shake to fully coat the tofu.
  4. Air Fryer: Arrange the tofu in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer (you may need to do 2 batches depending on the size of your basket). Air fry at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes, tossing halfway through. Remove the tofu from the oven and cool before serving to allow it to fully crisp up.
  5. Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat. We have had the best results with a silicone mat for this recipe. Parchment paper can be used but it may stick. Evenly distribute the tofu onto the baking sheet in a single layer and place it into the oven for 35-45 minutes, or until golden and crispy. The longer it bakes, the crispier it will get, but it will also have a more “charred” taste when you get closer to 45 minutes. We bake ours for 40. Remove the tofu from the oven and cool before serving to allow it to fully crisp up.

Notes

  • This tofu is best when served the day of making it. If you are going to eat it at a later date, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To rewarm, we suggest toasting or air frying it until crisped up.
  • Add any additional seasonings of your choice, have fun with it!
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: Air Fryer

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Meet The Bloggers

hey there! we’re jasmine & chris.

Hi, we’re Jasmine and Chris! We share fresh and fun recipes to show you that vegan cooking is easy, approachable and delicious. When we’re not blogging, you will probably find us enjoying live music, tending to our backyard garden or playing with our dogs Berry and Louie

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3 Comments

  1. 10/10 would recommend!!!! This was my first time cooking tofu and it was a lot easier than I thought. Plus the flavor in the marinade is really universal. I didn’t have any nutritional yeast, so I just skipped that and didn’t think it was missing anything. My dad who is a “meat and potatoes” man even said it was good. (This is the ultimate win in my book)

    I’m so glad I saw this recipe on TikTok!