Tofu seems to be a rage these days and is promoted as a good source of vegan protein. A lot of folks treat this as a meat alternative, especially as they transition to a vegetarian or vegan diet. There is a divided opinion on tofu’s health benefits, but there is no harm having it on occasion. I do not consider myself an expert on tofu – I have only been trying out a few recipes in the recent past.
What is Tofu?
I think it is important to delve into some details on Tofu. Also known as bean curd, tofu has its origins in China. It is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing into solid blocks. It has a texture that is similar to Paneer (Cottage Cheese). There are different varieties of tofu out there and it can get quite confusing for a newcomer, as it did with me. There are silken, soft, firm, extra and super firm varieties (I know!). I did my research and decided that extra-firm tofu would work best for the recipe I had in mind. I wanted to attempt something simple, like a spicy snack.
Most of the tofu that is available in US stores are genetically modified, so I’d strongly suggest that you opt for non-GMO, organic tofu, especially if the price difference is not significant or you eat tofu frequently.
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
While there are several recipes of tofu that can be cooked in different ways, I decided that the air fryer recipe would work best, for starters. Why take on complex recipes at the very beginning? I zeroed in on this simple recipe that involved cutting extra firm Tofu into cubes, mixing a few ingredients and cooking in an air fryer. The only step of pressing and draining the tofu seemed daunting, so I decided to skip it. I must say it turned out crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, even though I did not press it.
Air Fryer Tofu Pakoda
For the uninitiated, pakodas or pakoras are like fritters. There are all kinds of pakodas – onion, cauliflower, paneer (cottage cheese), chicken, you name it! These are dipped in a batter of chickpea and rice flour, with some spices. Cooking pakodas in an air fryer can be tricky since the batter is somewhat runny. My solution to this problem was to make a thick batter and coat it very light so you can get the taste and crispiness of pakoda. Not quite the same as the deep-fried variety, but far more healthy and quite delicious. Try it.
Tofu Pakoda
Tofu is a nutrient-dense food. It is low in calories but high in protein and fat, and this makes it a great choice not just for vegans and vegetarians, but for anyone that wants a variety in their diet. It also contains many important vitamins and minerals.
Check out some of our delicious air fryer recipes here:
- Crispy, Delicious, Banana Nuggets
- Cabbage Wada: Savory Cabbage Lentil Bites
- Crispy Air-Fried Masala Okra
- Air Fryer Masala Wada – Lentil Burger Patties & Fritters
Also try our healthy snack/appetizer recipes:
- Dehydrated Masala Karela Chips
- Crunchy Baked Plantain Chips
- Make Your Own Creamy Smooth Hummus
- Baba Ghanoush
- Guacamole
- Vegan, Spicy, Baked Eggplant
- Baked Okra
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Crispy Air Fryer Tofu & Tofu Pakoda
Equipment
Ingredients
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- 2 Cups Extra Firm Tofu - (about 2/3rd of 350-gram block of Tofu). Use Non-GMO variety
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic - Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Onion - Powder
- 3/4 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder - Or cayenne pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Corn Starch
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper - Fresh, ground
- 1 Teaspoon Tamari Sauce
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
Air Fryer Tofu Pakoda
- 1 Cup Extra Firm Tofu - (about 2/3rd of 350-gram block of Tofu). Use Non-GMO variety
- 1 Teaspoon Rice Flour
- 1 Tablespoon Chickpea Flour
- 1/2 Tablespoon Red Chili Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Ajwain seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 1/8 Cup Filtered water
Instructions
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- Cut tofu to cube-sized pieces. In a bowl, gather garlic and onion powder, corn starch, chili powder, ground black pepper and salt. Add tamari sauce and sesame oil, all ingredients in the bowl to the tofu and mix evenly with a spoon.
- Set tofu on the air fryer tray - make sure the cubes are spread out. Close the air fryer, set temperature to 400F and air fry for 11 minutes.
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu is ready. Serve hot.
Air Fryer Tofu Pakoda
- Cut tofu to cube-sized pieces. In a bowl, gather ajwain seeds, rice and chickpea flour, red chili and coriander powder and salt. Add avocado oil, water, and mix well. Transfer on to the tofu and mix evenly with a spoon.
- Set tofu on the air fryer tray - make sure the cubes are not touching. Close air fryer, set temperature to 400F and cook for 11 minutes.
- Tofu Pakoda is ready. Serve hot with sriracha sauce.
Very nice and simple recipie! We have been consuming extra firm organic tofu for many years. We
make grilled Tofu and veggies.
Making pakoras sounds simple!
Thanks.
Thanks for your comments, Visa. Yes, these healthy pakoras are wonderful.