Air fryer recipe · Starters
Sweet Chilli Tofu Bites
Lacquered cubes of tofu, crackly outside and silky within, glazed in glossy sweet chilli.
- 22 minTotal time
- 200°CAir fryer
- 6Serves
- VegetarianDiet
Nutrition per serving
- 130kcal
- 9.0 gprotein
- 8.5 gcarbs
- 7.5 gfat
- 0.6 gfibre
Per serving, about 6 servings. Figures are estimates from standard ingredient databases, not medical, dietetic, or nutritional advice.
Ingredients
- Firm tofu400 g
- Cornflour3 tbsp
- Sweet chilli sauce4 tbsp
- Soy sauce1 tbsp
- Garlic, grated2 cloves
- Sesame oil1 tsp
Method
Press and cube
Press the tofu under a weighted plate for ten minutes to drive out moisture, then cut it into bite-sized cubes. Drier tofu crisps far better and absorbs the glaze without going soggy.
Dust for crunch
Toss the cubes with soy sauce and sesame oil, then coat them in cornflour until lightly powdered all over. The thin starch layer is what turns into a shattering crust in the hot air.
First crisp
Arrange the tofu in a single layer with space between each cube. Crowding traps steam and you will lose the crunch you worked for.
Mix the glaze
While the tofu cooks, stir the sweet chilli sauce with the grated garlic in a bowl. A quick warm-through mellows the raw garlic and loosens the sauce for coating.
Glaze and finish
Air-fry at 200C for 14 minutes, shaking twice, then toss the hot cubes through the sweet chilli glaze. Serve immediately while the contrast of crisp shell and sticky coating is at its peak.
