I have been one. Tofu Lover for my entire adult life. Although it wasn’t usually on the menu in my household growing up, I started reaching for it as soon as I got to college as a tasty and affordable protein option. I was so strongly drawn to tofu, in fact, that I ate it mostly raw for the first few years.
And while I still snack on tofu out of the package, I’ve since learned to cook this soy product in a variety of delicious ways. That said, there’s no such thing as too many great tofu recipes in your back pocket, so I asked six chefs for their favorite ways to enjoy this versatile ingredient, and they all had Said the same thing.
The chefs I asked
The best way to cook tofu, according to chefs
Despite the variety of culinary backgrounds among these chefs, they all agree on one of the best ways to cook tofu. Air fryer. “My favorite way to cook it is for a crispy outside and a firm, creamy inside. The air fryer gives you a delicious, deep-fried texture, but with significantly less oil,” explains Clark. .
If you’ve ever tried to make tofu crispy without an air fryer, you know that while it’s totally possible, it takes some serious skill and patience. The Air Fryer takes the guesswork out of the equation as a delicious way to cook crispy tofu to perfection. “I prefer this method over pan-frying because it’s hands-off and easy to clean,” says Donofrio.
“Crispy tofu is one of my favorite ways to prepare tofu, the texture is addictive,” adds Maris. “A slightly crispy outside with a satisfyingly soft yet chewy inside is the perfect pairing for any dish.”
These chefs offer some helpful tips to make sure your first go at air-fried tofu is nothing short of a home run. “It’s best to slice the tofu so that more of the surface is exposed to the hot air, resulting in more crunch,” says Gallagher. Many chefs also cited its importance. Press your tofu To drain and discard any excess water before cooking Corn starch For an even more impressive crunch.
Once your tofu is perfectly air-fried, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy it. Guo offers air-frying as an alternative to pan-frying in her recipe. Salt and pepper tofua classic Chinese dish full of aromatic flavor.
Meanwhile, Clark “likes to dip tofu cubes in peanut sauce, add them. Stir friesor use them as a source of protein for salads.” Maurice flavors it with tamari, garlic powder, and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast, and Donafrio uses her crispy tofu “in stir fries, Bowlsand more.”
One of Wong’s favorite tofu dishes is Buddhist Chef. Spicy Peanut Tofu. “I often make this recipe from her cookbook. The sauce is super easy. My daughter has been making it since she was seven or eight years old. And while this recipe traditionally uses tofu straight from the package, You can easily add in air fried tofu.
Crunchy plant-based proteins pair with absolutely any flavor combination you can think of. Ultimately, the possibilities for eating air-fried tofu are really only limited by your imagination.