Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Maple Sriracha Tofu
Air fryer sweet and spicy maple sriracha tofu tossed in a tahini sauce and cooked until golden and tender inside. An easy sweet-spicy vegan tofu recipe.
Ingredients
- (1) 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu pre-pressed or pressed well, see Notes
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Cut pressed tofu into evenly sized 1-inch blocks.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together maple syrup, tahini, sriracha, tamari, and rice vinegar.
- Gently incorporate tofu into the mixture to coat.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until smooth.
- Sprinkle over tofu and gently toss until evenly coated.
- Add to preheated air fryer and cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking or gently flipping with a spatula halfway. Cook until golden and crispy.
Notes
- Use pre-pressed tofu if you can. It saves time and gives the best texture. If you don't have it, wrap extra-firm tofu in a clean towel, place something heavy on top, and let it press 15-30 minutes. The drier the tofu, the crispier it gets.
- Loosen thick tahini. If your tahini is stiff (especially near the bottom of the jar), whisk in 1-2 teaspoons warm water so the sauce coats evenly instead of clumping. You want glossy, not pasty.
- Oil option: If you don’t have tahini, use 1 tablespoon neutral oil. If using sesame oil, stick to 1–2 teaspoons; it’s very flavorful and a little goes a long way.
- Cook the full batch at once. Because the sauce has maple in it, small batches can burn fast. A fuller basket helps the glaze caramelize instead of scorching.
- Air fryers vary. If yours runs hot, lower the temp by 10-20°F.
Nutrition
Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
