Foods made in an air fryer tend to be healthier than deep frying because it doesn't require a lot of oil. You do not need to stand over the food while it cooks. Of course everything has its drawbacks. With an air fryer cooking will probably take longer. Also, since the food sits on the bottom of the air-fryer, you will have to flip the food halfway through cooking, otherwise you'll end up with a half-cooked meal. Today we are making Air-fryer roasted tofu. This is a simple, delicious and crispy vegetarian snack.
Cut the tofu into 1 cm slices (about 3/8 inch), like thick crackers.
400 g Tofu
Make the sauce:
Place the garlic and green onion in a heat-proof bowl. (Reserve some of the green onion for garnish in the final step.) Add the chili powder.
1 green onion, 1 tsp Chinese chili powder, 5 cloves garlic
Heat the oil in a pan over medium-low heat to 120°-140° C (248°-284° F). Pour the hot oil into the bowl containing the garlic, green onion, and chili powder. Then add the oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt, and stir well to combine.
Line the bottom of the air fryer with aluminum foil. Put the tofu in the air fryer and spread half of the sauce evenly over the tofu. Set the time and temperature: 200° C (390° F) for 12 minutes.
After 12 minutes, turn the tofu over and spread the remaining sauce on top, then set the time and temperature again: 200° C (390° F) for 12 minutes.
Sprinkle with some green onions and finish.
Notes
For best results, use firm tofu.
If you have an oven, you can save the time of the tofu flip baking because the oven can bake both sides at the same time.
For best flavor, use roasted rapeseed oil (caiziyou) and Chinese ground chili powder from the Mala Market. The typical chili powder sold in Western groceries uses mild Mexican chili peppers, along with sand and other fillers and the flavor profile is quite different. You can grind your own dried Chinese chili peppers, after roasting them, if you prefer, but it is more work.
(NOTE: My Chinese Home Kitchen does not receive any money for product endorsements.)