Crispy Chili Tofu in air fryer

If you need a tofu recipe that’s easy and delicious, then this Tofu Crispy Chili is just what you need! It’s crunchy, tangy and has that addictive Indo-Chinese street style flavor we all love so much!

If you haven’t yet found a tofu recipe that you love to eat over and over again or one that you can add to your list of favorites, then I think Crispy Chili Tofu might just be it. There are crispy chunks of tofu that we air fry until crisp and golden brown, and a glistening sauce bursting with flavor that coats everything. The result is a dish that has the same delicious taste and texture as street-style Indo-Chinese, but made cleaner and healthier in your kitchen.

I made this chili tofu recipe as a replacement for my chili paneer recipe for dinner one night, and my family just couldn’t get enough of it. We like to eat this with fried rice with vegetables for a classic easy weeknight dinner. But you can serve it with it right noodle, plain riceor even use it as a filling to make rice paper rolls; the possibilities are endless!

Ingredients for Tofu with Fresh Chili Recipe

Tofu: I used extra firm tofu as it holds its shape and doesn’t fall apart during the cooking process. Extra firm tofu also gives the recipe a nice bite

Seasoning: White pepper powder, Kashmiri red chili powder give a spicy kick

Corn flour: It is used as a coating for tofu to make it light and crispy. We also mix it in water to make a liquid which helps to thicken the sauce

Oil: Sunflower or neutral flavor oil with high smoke point

Sauces: A mixture of schezwan sauce, light soy sauce and oyster sauce for color, heat and those authentic Indo-Chinese flavors

Vegetables: Diced bell peppers. (I used red and green, but you can use whatever you have)

Garlic: Finely ground for flavor and aroma

Chicken Dip: To adjust the consistency of the sauce as well as to add flavor. Feel free to swap in vegetable stock or just water for a vegan or vegetarian version

Greens with spring onions: Used as a garnish for freshness and crunch

Salt and sugar: For spice and balance

Frequently asked questions

Richa’s top tips

• Use firm tofu for this recipe. Firm or extra-firm tofu works perfectly in this recipe as it holds its shape, doesn’t fall apart and has the perfect amount of texture and chewiness required for this Indo-Chinese dish.
• Handle the tofu gently. The coating can peel off if you toss or roll the tofu too aggressively. Use a pair of tongs or a spatula to carefully turn the pieces.
• Add crispy tofu at the end. Once the sauce has thickened, toss in the air-fried tofu and scallion greens and toss until coated. This keeps the tofu fresh instead of letting it sit in the sauce and become soggy.
• Get everything ready before you start frying. The sauce comes together quickly, so chop the vegetables and measure the sauces in advance.

Storage tips

• Refrigerator: Crispy Chili Tofu is best eaten right away while the tofu is still fresh. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• For the best texture, keep the crispy tofu sauce and stir-fry separate if you know you will have leftovers.
• Reheat tofu in an air fryer at 180°C for 3–5 minutes until hot and crisp, then heat the sauce separately and toss everything together just before serving.
• If the tofu is already mixed with the sauce, reheat it in the air fryer or in the oven, not in the microwave. The microwave will warm it up, but the tofu will lose most of its freshness.
• The will not recommend freezing this recipe because the texture of tofu can become spongy after thawing.

Ideas for service

• Along with fried rice: We serve it alongside VEGETABLESchicken, or egg fried rice or for a light restaurant-style meal at home. Crispy tofu and delicious rice make a truly satisfying combination.
• Combine with noodles: Pair it with Noodles with chili garlic OR Hakka noodles for a spicy and delicious Indo-Chinese dinner. I especially love the noodles with this because you get a mix of crunchy tofu, veggies and chewy noodles in every bite.
• Make a bowl of rice: Spoon in the tofu steamed basmati rice AND stir fry vegetables and top with some extra onions. It’s a simple option when you want something filling without making several dishes.

This Crispy Chili Tofu recipe is the easiest way to make authentic Indo-Chinese street-style cooking at home. It’s clean, healthier and so delicious. Making this chili tofu recipe in an air fryer also means we don’t need extra oil and the whole process is mess free!

If you make this air fryer tofu recipe, don’t forget to DM the photos @my_foodstory. Until then, happy cooking!

Watch the Crispy Chili Tofu recipe video