Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (2024)

Asian Recipes/ Japanese/ Recipes/ Side Dish

04/11/2021

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For a delicious appetiser that’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, look no further than Agedashi Tofu! This simple air fryer version of the traditional Japanese deep fried tofu recipe is paired with a tsuyu sauce of dashi, mirin and soy sauce.

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (1)

Why We Love This

Air fried agedashi tofu is a healthier version of the traditional deep fried tofu dish. Using an air fryer means you only need a fraction of the cooking oil, but the tofu is still just as crispy and delicious, with no mess or splatter of cooking in hot oil!

This is such a light side dish, it’s perfect for serving up as an appetiser before a bigger Japanese dish like okonomiyaki or spicy miso ramen!

Love tofu? See more amazing tofu recipes and marinade ideas here.

Related: Hiyayakko Cold Tofu for Summer / Simple Tofu Hot Pot (Yudofu)

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (2)

What is Agedashi Tofu?

Agedashi tofu (揚げ出し豆腐 in Japanese) refers to a dish of fried tofu served in a light tsuyu sauce made from dashi stock broth seasoned with soy sauce and mirin. It’s usually enjoyed as an entree or side dish at Japanese restaurants alongside a small portion of rice, Japanese salad, stir fried burdock and/or pickled vegetables (takuan).

Where the traditional agedashi tofu recipe is usually deep fried, today we’ll be using an air fryer so that we can use less cooking oil and avoid waste.

What You’ll Need

  • Tofu – Medium firm tofu is a great choice as it will hold its shape well during frying. You can also use silken tofu.
  • Cornstarch – We use cornstarch as it’s more readily available in our area, but you can also use potato starch.
  • Dashi Make your own dashi stock using kombu and/or bonito flakes, or use powdered dashi stock for convenience.
  • Mirin – A sweet rice wine for cooking. If you can’t find it at your supermarket, you can omit or add in a 1/2 tsp of sugar instead. You can sometimes find this in regular supermarkets, otherwise head to your nearest Asian grocer or online.
  • Soy Sauce – Use regular or light soy sauce – avoid dark soy sauce as this will make the tsuyu sauce too salty.
  • Cooking Oil Spray – This helps to brown the outer coating on the tofu and crisp it up. Use a high quality cooking oil spray such as extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour. If you don’t have a spray, just use regular oil and lightly brush it over the tofu and air fryer cooking basket with a basting brush.
  • Garnish – Traditional options include thinly sliced green onion and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi). You can also top with a small dab (½ to 1 tsp) of freshly grated ginger, onion or daikon radish to taste.
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (3)

How to make Agedashi Tofu:

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (4)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (5)
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  1. To make the agedashi tsuyu, pour the dashi stock into a medium saucepan along with the mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then turn off heat and set aside.
  2. Drain the tofu and wrap in a piece of paper towel to absorb any excess water.
  3. Slice into segments, and gently wipe each piece with paper towel to dry.
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (7)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (8)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (9)
  1. Coat each piece of tofu in cornstarch and tap off any excess. Spray or brush air fryer basket with oil, then preheat for 2 minutes at 200˚C / 390˚F.
  2. Place tofu pieces into the air fryer, making sure there’s plenty of space around each piece for the hot air to circulate, then spray or brush each piece with oil. Air fry for 6 minutes, then spray or brush once again with oil. Air fry for a further 6 minutes then flip over each tofu piece. Cook for a further 2 minutes until lightly browned and crispy!
  3. Transfer tofu onto serving plates. Gently ladle tsuyu into the dish (for the best presentation, don’t pour it straight over the tofu), then top with spring onion, katsuobushi, shichimi, daikon and/or your other chosen garnishes.

Wandercook’s Tips

  • Extra Crispy Coating – Always wipe away any moisture from the surface of the tofu pieces using a piece of paper towel or cloth to avoid it becoming soggy. Don’t forget to lift the lid half way through and reapply more oil if required for an extra crispy finish!

FAQs

Is agedashi tofu vegan?

You can make this recipe vegan as long as you use kombu dashi (made with just kombu, no bonito flakes), or shiitake dashi.

I want to deep fry the tofu instead. Which oil should I use?

Vegetable oils with a high smoke point such as canola or rice bran oil are best, as they will cook the tofu quickly without burning or filling your kitchen with smoke.

What can I do with leftover stock?

Use it to make zosui rice soup! It’s also a great way to use up leftover sushi rice.

Variations

  • Make it Spicy – Add a drop or two of rayu chilli oil or a tiny smear of yuzu kosho.
  • Make Yudofu Instead – Simmer fresh tofu (without the cornstarch coating) in the dashi broth instead. This is known as yudofu – hot simmered tofu.
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Flavourful Japanese appetisers to pair with your tofu:

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (11)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (12)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (13)
Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (14)

★ Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and a star rating below!

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe)

For a delicious appetiser that’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, look no further than Agedashi Tofu! This simple air fryer version of the traditional Japanese deep fried tofu recipe is paired with a tsuyu sauce of dashi, mirin and soy sauce.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Servings: 2 serves

Calories: 235kcal

Author: Wandercooks

Cost: $5

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 300 g medium firm tofu drained, moisture wiped off, sliced into 6 cubes
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch / cornflour sub potato starch
  • ¾ cup dashi stock or 3/4 tsp dashi powder in ¾ cup warm water
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • vegetable oil or cooking spray

Optional garnishes:

  • 1 spring onion / green onion finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp bonito flakes / katsuobushi
  • shichimi togarashi to taste
  • 2 cm daikon radish finely grated

Instructions

For the Tsuyu Sauce:

  • To make the agedashi tsuyu, pour the dashi stock into a medium saucepan along with the mirin and soy sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then turn off heat and set aside.

    ¾ cup dashi stock, ¼ cup mirin, ¼ cup soy sauce

For the Agedashi Tofu:

  • Drain the tofu and wrap in a piece of paper towel to absorb any excess water.

    300 g medium firm tofu

  • Slice into 6 even cubes, and gently wipe each piece with paper towel to dry.

  • Coat each piece of tofu in cornstarch and tap off any excess. Spray or brush air fryer basket with oil, then preheat for 2 minutes at 200˚C / 390˚F.

    2 tbsp cornstarch / cornflour

  • Place tofu pieces into the air fryer, making sure there’s plenty of space around each piece for the hot air to circulate, then spray or brush each piece with oil. Air fry for 6 minutes, then spray or brush once again with oil. Air fry for a further 6 minutes then flip over each tofu piece. Cook for a further 2 minutes until lightly browned and crispy!

    vegetable oil

  • Transfer tofu onto serving plates. Gently ladle tsuyu into the dish (for the best presentation, don’t pour it straight over the tofu), then top with spring onion, katsuobushi, shichimi, daikon and/or your other chosen garnishes.

    1 spring onion / green onion, 1 tbsp bonito flakes / katsuobushi, shichimi togarashi, 2 cm daikon radish

Video

Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (16)

Recipe Notes

  • Extra Crispy Coating – Always wipe away any moisture from the surface of the tofu pieces using a piece of paper towel or cloth to avoid it becoming soggy. Don’t forget to lift the lid half way through and reapply more oil if required for an extra crispy finish!
  • Make it Spicy – Add a drop or two of rayu chilli oil or a tiny smear of yuzu kosho.
  • Make Yudofu Instead – Simmer fresh tofu (without the cornstarch coating) in the dashi broth instead. This is known as yudofu – hot simmered tofu.
  • Tofu – You can also use silken tofu.
  • Dashi – Make your own dashi stock using kombu and/or bonito flakes, or use powdered dashi stock for convenience.
  • Mirin – A sweet rice wine for cooking. Sub with 1/2 tsp of sugar.
  • Soy Sauce – Use regular or light soy sauce – avoid dark soy sauce as this will make the tsuyu sauce too salty.
  • Cooking Oil Spray – This helps to brown the outer coating on the tofu and crisp it up. Use a high quality cooking oil spray such as extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour. If you don’t have a spray, just use regular oil and lightly brush it over the tofu and air fryer cooking basket with a basting brush.
  • Garnish – Traditional options include thinly sliced green onion and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi). You can also top with a small dab (½ to 1 tsp) of freshly grated ginger, onion or daikon radish to taste.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts

    Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe)

    Serving Size

    300 g

    Amount per Serving

    Calories

    235

    % Daily Value*

    Fat

    7

    g

    11

    %

    Saturated Fat

    1

    g

    6

    %

    Polyunsaturated Fat

    4

    g

    Monounsaturated Fat

    2

    g

    Sodium

    2145

    mg

    93

    %

    Potassium

    162

    mg

    5

    %

    Carbohydrates

    25

    g

    8

    %

    Fiber

    2

    g

    8

    %

    Sugar

    8

    g

    9

    %

    Protein

    19

    g

    38

    %

    Vitamin A

    63

    IU

    1

    %

    Vitamin C

    1

    mg

    1

    %

    Calcium

    226

    mg

    23

    %

    Iron

    3

    mg

    17

    %

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (17)

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    2 Comments

  • Reply

    dina tate

    06/07/2022 at 10:53 am

    the tofu just doesnt crisp up in the air fryer. i’ve done this numerous times. the dashi is great, but the air fryer doesnt cut it with silken tofu unfortunately. works ok with medium/firm.

    • Reply

      Wandercooks

      06/07/2022 at 11:56 am

      Good to know re: silken tofu. The higher moisture content may affect the crispiness if using silken tofu. In that case, you could try using a little extra cornstarch / potato starch and turn up the air fryer a little higher (maybe 220C / 430F) to try and burn off that moisture. Otherwise, stick with the medium firm. 🙂

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    Easy 20 Minute Agedashi Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (2024)

    FAQs

    Why is my tofu not crispy air fryer? ›

    First, too much water. If you don't press the water out of your tofu, it can easily become soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature won't allow it to crisp properly.

    How long does it take to air fry tofu? ›

    Air fry at 400°F for 11-15 minutes, tossing halfway so that the tofu cooks evenly on all sides. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and browned around the edges. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking, as the exact cooking time will depend on your specific air fryer. That's it!

    Why can't I get my tofu crispy? ›

    2) Squeeze out as much moisture as possible.

    Water-logged tofu never gets super crispy. The key here is to slice the tofu into pieces before pressing it. Have you ever tried pressing a whole block, or even two halves? They just sit in soggy puddles.

    Should you coat tofu in cornstarch before frying? ›

    it in olive oil. It gives it a crispy crust when you coat it.

    Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

    Frying your tofu adds calories

    If you want to reduce the calorie content of your dishes, baking or air-frying are better options. Air-frying is an excellent alternative to traditional frying methods, as it delivers the same delicious flavor and crispy texture without the added oil.

    How do you keep tofu from sticking to the air fryer? ›

    After the hot water soak, it's still important to completely blot the pieces of tofu dry so that they don't stick to the air fryer. Combining the soak, thorough blot drying, and a good dusting of arrowroot powder will get you nicely crispy results! It only takes about 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

    Is tofu good or bad for you? ›

    Nutritionally, tofu offers much to love. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, half a cup of firm tofu offers 21.8 grams of protein with 181 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is of the healthy polyunsaturated kind. The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat.

    How do restaurants make tofu crispy? ›

    There are a few tricks to perfect tofu. First, tossing cubed tofu with cornstarch will help you get a crispier exterior when baking or stir-frying. Pressing the block of tofu to eliminate excess moisture also helps. And you'll want to make sure you're using high enough heat.

    Should you marinate tofu before frying? ›

    The minimum time to marinate small cubes, thin slices and grated or 'scrambled' tofu is 15 minutes. For the tastiest results, marinade the tofu overnight. Roll slices or cubes of marinated tofu in some rice flour, potato starch, corn flour or grated coconut before pan-frying for an extra-crispy crust.

    Why does restaurant tofu taste different? ›

    This difference in taste is largely due to one key ingredient: salt. In the culinary world, salt is a key flavor enhancer that unlocks and elevates the natural tastes of food. When it comes to tofu, which is naturally quite mild-tasting, salt becomes a critical component in transforming it into something delicious.

    What not to mix with tofu? ›

    What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

    What not to do with tofu? ›

    The 8 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Cooking Tofu
    1. You bought the wrong kind. ...
    2. You didn't remove the liquid. ...
    3. You cut it too large. ...
    4. You used oil in your marinade. ...
    5. You breaded it. ...
    6. You didn't cook it long enough. ...
    7. You used the wrong pan. ...
    8. You didn't store it well.
    Apr 13, 2018

    What can I coat tofu with instead of cornstarch? ›

    If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

    Why are things not getting crispy in air fryer? ›

    Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

    Why aren t my air fryer chips crispy? ›

    Why did chips not brown in the air oven fryer? The most common reasons would be moisture or wrong temperature. Potatoes contain a lot of moisture so you should dry the chips with paper towel before cooking. Also, if the temperature you're cooking at is too low, this could cause the chips to look a little pale.

    Why is my air fryer not crisping fries? ›

    If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches. When I use 2 russet potatoes, I cook 3 batches of fries.

    Why is my fried tofu soggy? ›

    You're not pressing out excess moisture.

    Before frying, tofu should be pressed to eliminate any excess water. Sometimes, in a hurry to get dinner done, I skip this step. But I always regret it. The still-sort-of-wet tofu never gets as golden brown or as crisp.

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