Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables with rice.

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables – Air fried tofu is crispy and delicious, and an easy alternative to stir fry! Glaze the tofu with vegetables in a tasty sesame garlic sauce!

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables with rice.
Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables – Air fried tofu is crispy and delicious, and an easy alternative to stir fry! Glaze the tofu with vegetables in a tasty sesame garlic sauce! This recipe comes from Air Fryer All Day by Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West.

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables served over rice.

I confess that I was very late to the air fryer game. This appliance made it’s appearance into my kitchen about 2 years ago, and if you search this site, you won’t find any air-fried-centric recipes, at least until now. But the thing is, my air fryer is a heavy hitter, more than I expected! I use mine nearly every day, and it has become an essential part of my kitchen appliance team.

When I recently chatted with Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West on the podcast about their cookbook, Air Fryer All Day (affiliate link), I came away inspired. They dove deep into the air fryer’s capabilities, going beyond reheating chicken nuggets to making everything from lobster to cheesecake! But what I couldn’t wait to try was their air fried Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables. For me, it checked all the boxes for an easy weeknight meal; I always have tofu and veggies at the ready, and the sauce is made with pantry ingredients I always have on hand.

Air Fryer All Day cookbook by Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West.

How to Make Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables in the Air Fryer

The beauty behind air fried tofu is how the air fryer gives it a crispy exterior, with less oil than you would normally use in a wok or sauté pan.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables.

There are a few things that you need to do to the tofu to make sure you get that crispy texture. First, take the time to press and drain your firm tofu. Next, let it marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. This is the most time consuming part of the recipe, but most of this time is hands off cooking! A quick toss in cornstarch will give it that crispy exterior and is the final step before adding the tofu to the air fryer to cook.

While the tofu is cooking, toss the bell pepper, broccoli, snow peas, and tomatoes with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Add the veggies to the air fryer basket and cook until the tofu is crispy and the vegetables are tender.

Serve the crispy tofu and vegetables over rice or noodles!

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables over rice.

Listen to the Podcast with Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West

For more delicious air fryer recipes, check out my interview with Becky and Jen in Episode 92 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast!

More Tofu Recipes

Stir-fried String Beans With Tofu in Black Bean Sauce
Firecracker Tofu with Broccolini and Chili Garlic Oil
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo: A Crispy Tofu Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Crispy Tofu with Zucchini Noodles
Taho: Filipino Silken Tofu with Sago Pearls and Syrup

Air Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables in a bowl.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of Air Fryer All Day to review for the Kitchen Confidante Podcast Episode 92 with Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West. All opinions are, of course, my own. The post may have affiliate links; see my Disclosure page to learn more.

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables

Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables – Air fried tofu is crispy and delicious, and an easy alternative to stir fry! Glaze the tofu with vegetables in a tasty sesame garlic sauce! This recipe comes from Air Fryer All Day by Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West.
Air Fryer Sesame Garlic Tofu and Vegetables with rice.
Print This Pin This
5 from 1 vote
Course Main Course
Cuisine Air Fryer, Asian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 188kcal

Ingredients

FOR THE SESAME GARLIC TOFU

  • 16 ounces extra- firm tofu
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or liquid aminos
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

FOR THE VEGETABLES

  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 cup fresh snow peas
  • 10 cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 tablespoon sesame or extra- virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

FOR SERVING

  • Rice or noodles for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Drain the tofu and wrap it in paper towels. Set a weight (such as a pan) on top to press the tofu for 30 minutes. Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and sesame seeds and gently toss to coat the tofu. Let the tofu marinate for 15 to 30 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the cornstarch over the tofu and toss to coat. Add the tofu to the air fryer basket and air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes. While the tofu is cooking, make the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the bell pepper, broccoli, snow peas, and tomatoes with the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix well to coat the vegetables.
  • Once the tofu has cooked for 10 minutes, give it a toss in the air fryer basket, then add the vegetables and toss together. Air fry at 380°F for another 10 minutes, until the tofu is crispy and the vegetables are tender.
  • Serve with rice or noodles, if desired.

Notes

Recipe reprinted with permission from Air Fryer All Day: 120 Tried-and-True Recipes for Family-friendly Comfort Food by Rebecca Abbot and Jennifer West (Harvest, 2023).
Notes from Liren:
I find that the tofu absorbs much of the sesame garlic sauce in the marinating process. If you prefer a little more sauce to your dish, consider doubling the sesame garlic sauce and reserving half of it to glaze the tofu and vegetables in the last minute of air frying.
To prevent the tofu from sticking to your air fryer basket, lightly spray the basket with olive oil before adding the tofu. Allow the tofu to crisp, without touching/turning; once it forms a crust, it will be easier to flip the tofu without it falling apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1187mg | Potassium: 496mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1548IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

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  1. caroline

    5 stars
    Wow, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try it out this weekend. Thanks for sharing !I recently discovered FoodHub, and it’s been a game-changer for me! I love how easy it is to find new recipes, meal ideas, and even local restaurants all in one place. It’s like having a personal foodie guide at my fingertips!

    Reply
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