5.0 from 12 votes
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Tofu
Crispy tofu tossed in a sweet tangy sauce with crunchy bell peppers, onions, and juicy pineapple. This quick and easy air fryer sweet and sour tofu is a great main dish that's better-than-takeout. I also share how to deep fry the tofu. [Vegan]
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 276 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra-firm tofu or sub with firm tofu but be gentle!
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup pineapple diced (or sub with strained canned pineapple chunks)
- ⅓ cup cornstarch or sub potato starch
- ½ teaspoon salt to season tofu
- vegetable oil for air frying or deep frying tofu
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for stir frying
- 1 green onion finely chopped for garnishing
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar or sub with white or cane sugar
- ¼ cup white vinegar or sub with rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon water cold
- 1 tablespoon Regular soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or sub with potato starch
Instructions
- First in a small bowl, combine the sweet and sour sauce ingredients as listed above. Set aside.
- Then strain your tofu of the liquid in the package. Dice tofu into 1-inch cubes. Pat very dry with paper towel to remove as much excess moisture as possible.
- On a baking sheet or a large plate, generously coat the tofu cubes in cornstarch until evenly coated.
- Next lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil. Transfer coated tofu in a single layer into the air fryer basket giving each piece enough room. You'll need to air fry in small batches depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
- Choose ONE cooking method below:To Air Fry the Tofu: Then lightly spray 1 tablespoon or 15 ml vegetable oil over the tofu and evenly season with salt. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes on one side. Flip the tofu over, lightly spray with another tablespoon or 15 ml vegetable oil and season with with ¼ teaspoon salt. Air fry for another 5 minutes until crispy and golden. If it’s not crispy, air fry for 1-2 more minutes.To Deep Fry the Tofu: Heat 2 cups or 500 ml vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat or 350 F with a digital instant read thermometer. Fry coated tofu on both sides until golden crispy brown. Remove and transfer fried tofu to a wire rack or paper-towel lined plate to remove excess oil. While the tofu is still hot, season with salt.
- Heat 1 teaspoon or 5 ml vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Fry onions and bell peppers until softened. Then toss in pineapple chunks. Pour in the prepared sweet and sour sauce and mix everything together. Increase to medium-high heat and simmer the sauce to thicken it. Once thickened, reduce to low heat.
- Toss in fried tofu and gently mix. Remove off heat. Garnish with green onions. Enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
276kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
55g
(18%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
2g
(3%)
Saturated Fat
0.4g
(2%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.4g
Sodium
809mg
(34%)
Potassium
374mg
(11%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
38g
(76%)
Vitamin A
167IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
24mg
(27%)
Calcium
78mg
(8%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 276
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 276kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 55g | 18% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sodium | 809mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 374mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 38g | 76% |
| Vitamin A | 167IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 24mg | 27% |
| Calcium | 78mg | 8% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.