Low Carb Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies Recipe

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Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies is a savory, guilt-free brunch that will surely indulge your palate and satisfy your appetite. 😋 Fry it, to believe it!

Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies bite shot
Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies bite shot

This recipe was inspired by Brunch Chicago’s Veggie Tofu Skillet.

Though I couldn’t crisp the tofu up like I would when frying them in a pan, I’m still quite impressed with the result. I’ll definitely add it to my keto-friendly food list.

You can skip the oyster sauce and egg if you want to make a vegetarian or vegan version of this dish.

Air Fryer Tofu & Veggies Ingredients

Ingredients for Air Fryer Tofu and Vegetables

Main Ingredients

  • Extra firm tofu
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell pepper
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Olive Oil
  • Sunny side up egg, optional

📣 You can find the exact measurements and adjust the number of servings in the recipe card down below.

Tofu

🚨 Important! Use firm tofu.

Extra firm tofu retains its shape better than soft ones. Make sure you get the right kind of tofu when making this dish. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time air frying your tofu.

Tomatoes

I made a rookie mistake when making this dish. Instead of cherry tomatoes, I bought grape tomatoes which taste a little sour. Sweeter cherry tomatoes would have complimented this savory dish.

To tell the difference between a cherry tomato and a grape tomato, pay attention to its shape. The former is more round in shape, while the latter is oblong, like grapes. Or, if you’re in doubt, read the label.

Marinade

  • Soy sauce
  • Oyster sauce
  • Mirin or any cooking wine
  • Sesame oil (optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Water

📣 You can find the exact measurements and adjust the number of servings in the recipe card down below.

The oyster sauce is optional. If you prefer a vegan dish. Though it adds umami (sweet and salty flavor) to the dish, using cherry tomato and soy sauce would achieve a similar result.

Slurry

  • Cornstarch
  • Cold water

Cornstarch diluted in cold water is a classic thickening agent for oriental recipes. The key here is to add the slurry gradually to get the perfect thickness of your sauce.

ASMR Recipe Video: Air Fried Tofu & Vegetables

Prefer to watch? Here’s a quick video on how to make air fryer tofu and veggies, ASMR style.

*You can find the exact amount of ingredients and adjust the number of servings in the recipe card below.

How To Cook Tofu and Veggies in an Air Fryer?

Making this Tofu and Vegetables brunch recipe in your air fryer can be a bit challenging, but it’s achievable. It will take approximately 40 minutes to prepare.

The only advantage is that you won’t have to deal with the oil splatter when frying your tofu.

1. Press the tofu to remove excess water.

pressing tofu with a spice jar, sandwiched between saucers and kitchen towel

To press the tofu, look for something heavy in your kitchen. Ideally, something with a flat base. It could be a spice jar or your skillet.

Then, sandwich the tofu with kitchen towel on a plate, saucer or something that would allow for water drainage.

You can skip this part if the tofu bought is vacuum sealed. It’s already been pressed and is ready for cooking.

💡Pro Tip: Removing the extra liquid from the tofu help the marinade absorb better.

2. Cut the tofu into large cubes.

slicing tofu on a chopping board

Larger portions of tofu are easier to work with. But it depends on your preference. Since tofu is the main ingredient of this Air Fryer Tofu & Veggie recipe, we opt for bigger chunks.

Time Saver: Slice the tofu in the middle, in such a way you’ll end up with two flat squares. Cube the tofu after air frying. It’s easier to flip than those small cubes.

3. Make the marinade.

mixing marinade in a large glass bowl using a small whisk

In a large bowl, mix the water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, sesame oil, and pepper.

4. Marinate the tofu for 30 minutes.

marinating tofu

In the same bowl, place the tofu chunks into the large bowl to marinate for 30 minutes.

Time Saver: You can skip this step since it will take half an hour. We are still going to add this flavorful marinade as a thickened sauce when we’re ready to serve the dish.

5. Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC).

preheating air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC)

You can skip preheating by adding 2-5 minutes to your cooking time.

6. Slice and dice your vegetables.

Slicing cherry tomatoes in half

While marinating, you can wash and cut the vegetables.

Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice your mushrooms, and dice your bell peppers.

7. Season your vegetables.

seasoning chopped vegetable in a large bowl

Place the vegetables in another large bowl. Then, drizzle vegetable oil over the veggies and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Toss the veggies to make sure all contents are coated with the seasoning.

8. Air Fry the tofu for 8 – 10 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC).

air fried tofu

Let’s cook the tofu first. Place marinated tofu cubes in the air fryer. Make sure there’s enough space between the tofu cubes and no overlapping pieces. Air fry for 8 – 10 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC).

Take the tofu from the air fryer, and set it aside.

💡Optional: Spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent them from sticking.

🚨 Important! Set your marinade aside. We’re going to reduce it into our sauce later.

9. Air fry the vegetables.

vegetables in air fryer basket

Place the veggies and air fry at 380ºF (193 ºC) for 5 – 8 minutes. For even cooking, shaking the vegetables halfway through the cooking time is highly recommended.

📝 Note: I used a 6-quart air fryer to make this recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on the type of your air fryer. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time, and add 1-2 more minutes until you’re satisfied with the finish.

10. Reduce the marinade into a sauce.

reducing sauce in a small pot

Add 1 tbsp cornstarch to your 1 tbsp cold water to make a slurry. Turn on your burner, and in a pan, add your marinade. Once it’s simmering, add the slurry gradually.

Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the heat when your marinade becomes thick.

This process can take 7 – 10 minutes.

11. Combine all the cooked ingredients.

mixing tofu, vegetable and sauce

Combine the cooked tofu and veggies in a large mixing bowl. Add the marinade and season with salt and pepper to taste. Go easy on the salt, as the marinade already has some soy and oyster sauce. Toss until everything is coated.

12. Serve and enjoy!

Air fried tofu and veggies served on a black plate

Look at that mouth-watering Air Fryer Tofu and Vegetables! Yummm!!! 🤤

What to Serve With Air Fryer Tofu And Veggies?

Since this is a brunch recipe, we topped it off with an over-easy sunny-side-up or a poached egg for extra protein.

You can also add breakfast potato as a side dish to this recipe or any other source of carbohydrates.

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Air Fryer Liners

Not a fan of post-cooking chores? Air Fryer Liners have your back. These specialized liners preserve the excellence of your air-fried creations while minimizing cleanup efforts. 🧼 So, don’t wait – stock up on these liners today for a more seamless cleanup.

Air Fryer Tofu & Veggies FAQs

What is the best type of tofu to use?

For air frying, the best type of tofu to use is firm or extra firm tofu. Soft tofu will easily break. It’s difficult to transfer without getting damaged. This brunch tofu recipe is a must try!

Air fryer tofu and veggies served on a black plate

Low Carb Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies

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Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies is a savory, guilt-free brunch that will surely indulge your palate and satisfy your appetite. 😋 Fry it, to believe it!
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 3 servings
Calories 185 kcal

Equipment

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Glass Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 block of tofu extra firm
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1.5 cups Mushrooms sliced
  • 1 Bell pepper diced
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Marinade

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons light soy sauce or all-purpose soy
  • 1 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon mirin or any cooking wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil optional
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup 185 ml water

Slurry (to thicken the sauce) 

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

Instructions
 

  • Remove excess water from the tofu.
    pressing the tofu with spice jar
  • Slice the tofu into large cubes.
    slicing tofu into cubes
  • Prepare the marinade by combining water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, sesame oil, and pepper in a large bow.
    make the marinade
  • Place the sliced tofu into the marinating bowl. Mix it gently and baste the tofu for maximum flavor absorption. Marinate the tofu for 30 minutes.
    marinating tofu
  • Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF (204ºC) for 5 minutes.
    preheating air fryer
  • While marinating and preheating your air fryer, you can wash and cut the veggies. Halve your cherry tomatoes, slice your mushrooms, and dice your bell peppers.
    slice the mushrooms
  • Place the vegetables in another large bowl. Then, drizzle vegetable oil over the veggies and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Toss the veggies to make sure all contents are coated with the seasoning.
    season the veggies
  • Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil, then place the sliced tofu. Make sure there’s enough space between them. Air fry for 8 – 10 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC). Then set them aside.
    tofu in air fryer basket
  • Place the veggies in your air fryer and cook them at 380ºF (193 ºC) for 5 – 8 minutes. Don’t forget to shake halfway.
    vegetables in air fryer basket
  • Reduce the marinade into a sauce. Add 1 – 2 tbsp cornstarch water to the marinade. Once boiling, lower the heat to simmer for 7 – 10 minutes. Then remove the pot from the heat.
    reduced sauce
  • After cooking the vegetables, combine the air-fried tofu, veggies, and the sauce (reduced marinade) in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste then toss to make sure everything is coated.
    mixing air-fried tofu, vegetables and sauce together
  • Serve the Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies, and enjoy your hearty brunch!
    air fryer tofu and veggies recipe

Video

Notes

  • If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, set the temperature to 400ºF (204ºC) and let it air fry for 5 minutes.
  • You can skip preheating by adding 2-5 minutes to your cooking time. Then check every 1-2 minutes to prevent overcooking your tofu and vegetables.
  • One of the easiest ways to remove the liquid is to sandwich it between kitchen towels and two flat surfaces like a plate or saucer. Then, put something heavy on it to apply pressure.
  • Another way to remove excess water from the tofu is to press it using something heavy from your kitchen. Perhaps a skillet.
  • Time Saver: If you don’t have much time, you can skip pressing and marinating the tofu. The air fryer will dehydrate the tofu anyway.
  • Spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent them from sticking. While most air fryer baskets are coated with non-stick compounds, it’s not foolproof.
  • Make sure the tofu cubes are spaced quite nicely. This step prevents them from sticking together and makes it easier to flip halfway through.
  • Another time saver: Flipping lots of tofu cubes is such a hassle. The easy fix would be slicing them in the middle (resulting in two flat squares). Then chop them into cubes after air frying.
  • Top the Air Fryer Tofu and Veggies with a sunny for extra protein.
  • I used a 6-quart air fryer to make this recipe. Cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time. Continue air frying until you achieve your desired finish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 728mg | Potassium: 367mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1485IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords: air fryer recipes, tofu and vegetables in air fryer, tofu recipes, vegetable recipe

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