1/2teaspoonsrirachaor any red chili paste, adjust to taste
1/4teaspponsaltoptional (since soy sauce and chili sayce already have salt in them), to taste
Instructions
Drain all the water from the pack of extra-firm tofu and place it on a flat surface. Then place the block of tofu on top. I like to place a double layer of clean kitchen towel over the surface before placing the tofu.Place a heavy object on top of the tofu, like a cast iron skillet or can of beans. It should be pressed evenly. You can also use a tofu press if you have one. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. It is important to press the tofu to drain the excess water from it so do not skip this step. I replace the paper towels once it between while the tofu is draining. Once pressed, cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes.
Transfer the cut tofu cubes to a large bowl and add the following: soy sauce, sesame oil, avocado oil (or olive oil/vegetable oil).
Then add the remaining ingredients: smoked paprika, garlic powder, corn starch, sriracha (or any hot sauce, adjust to taste) and 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional since sauces already have salt).Using a spatula, gently toss the tofu cubes until they are well coated with everything.
Pre-heat your air fryer according to manufactures instructions. Mine pre-heats at 400 F for 2 minutes. Once pre-heated, place the tofu pieces in the air fryer basket in a single later.
Air fry at 400 F degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking once in between at the halfway mark. Serve immediately! I like sprinkling some green onions on top.
Video
Notes
Remember to buy extra firm tofu only for this recipe and not the soft tofu. Make sure to drain the tofu well before using. If you don't drain the tofu or skip this step, then the tofu won't turn out that crispy.
Arrange tofu cubes in single layer in the air fryer basket for best results, do not stack the tofu on top of each other in the air fryer. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may want to do this in two batches.
Make sure that you have diced your tofu cubes of relatively the same size. The smaller ones crisp up fast so if your tofu pieces are of different sizes then the entire batch won't be done at the same time.
Every air fryer is different so keep an eye on your batch after the 10 minute mark. I have a Gourmia air fryer and it usually takes around 14 minutes in mine for the tofu to crisp up to my liking.
I have used soy sauce which is not gluten-free, use tamari to make this recipe gluten-free.