
Tofu– I have used extra firm tofu for making this recipe and recommend this highly.Here is a list of all the stuff you need to make this recipe. You can press tofu ahead of time and store it in the fridge only when you are going to use it up the same day. Can you press tofu ahead of time and store it? But you do not need to press longer if you are not trying to achieve a crispy tofu.įor recipes like this tofu that is air fried, I recommend that you press the tofu for 15 minutes before you begin cooking. Ideally, anywhere between 20 minutes to 40 minutes is recommended. The longer you press your tofu, the more water you draw out. But you can check out Amazon for different models. I bought mine from a small store near home. Here is also a picture of tofu being pressed using a tofu press. Now, using another paper towel, blot them down by pressing over the cut tofu. Place the cut tofu pieces over a layer of paper towels. If you forgot to press your tofu, then you can cut them as per your recipe requirements. This will take sometime between 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how firm the tofu is. And allow the tofu to release all the water. Now, place a heavy wooden chopping board or a similar flat but heavy object. Cover the tofu with a few kitchen towels on the top as well. Line a deep dish with some kitchen towels. Open the tofu and wash it once under running water. Otherwise, I think some heavy books and a mortar and pestle will give you equally good results. Invest in a tofu press if you eat it at least thrice a week. So, I find a tofu press very useful and effective. And I also tend to use tofu in fried rice or curry recipes too. I make this air fryer recipe so many times in a month. Moisture does not do any good during pan-frying and alters the texture completely. If you are planning to pan fry the tofu to achieve a crisp outer crust, then I recommend that you press it. Extra firm and firm tofu do well without pressing in curry recipes. Otherwise, I really will not bother because it is just one extra step. You should press your tofu if are marinating it. The end result is a flavorful meaty dish. Drier the tofu, the more marinade it absorbs. Now, when we press out the excess water, we essentially dry out the tofu. It is like a block of sponge that can absorb a lot of liquid. Tofu has a lot of water even after all the pressing it goes through. Here is why-īefore we get into the debate, let us try and understand why we should press tofu. Let’s get this out of the way, shall we? The short answer is yes and no. This is the biggest doubt most beginner cooks have. Try this vegan ranch sauce which uses silken tofu as the base to begin with. You can use silken tofu to make puddings, sauces, dips and even in baking. The choice of your tofu will depend on what you plan to cook with it.Ĭhoose extra firm or firm tofu for stir fries, scrambled tofu, to toss into curry bases or for any recipe that calls for pan-frying the tofu. As a result, this variety is silkier and has lot more water than regular firm tofu. Unlike firm tofu that is pressed to squeeze out all the water, silken tofu is just soy milk coagulated and allowed to set on its own till firm. This is great for stir fries, pan fried tofu and in dishes like this recipe. Extra firm tofu is very dense and has minimal moisture/ water content. Tofu can be firm, soft, silken or extra firm in texture. Allow me to explain the different types of tofu you may come across in an Asian store or even at a supermarket. If you are a first time tofu buyer, then the varieties out there may overwhelm you. In many south east Asian countries, this is a staple food. The process of making tofu begins by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resultant curds. Also known as bean curd, this is high in protein. Before we begin, let us address a few doubts that come up frequently. We have all the Umami, great flavors and high nutrition in this easy dish. Crispy air fried tofu with spicy sauce Jump to: Join our Facebook group for more Instant Pot and Air Fryer Recipes. Easy, effortless and quick, you can use this dish to make nutritious meals or serve this as a starter with a spicy dipping sauce.įollow us on Pinterest for delicious pins. This protein packed appetizer can be made quickly and is perfect for meal prep too. Making the perfect crispy air fryer tofu is so easy.
