Skip the deep-fried food and enjoy Air Fryer Lemon Tofu! It has all of the flavor with none of the oil. And it's naturally vegan and gluten-free.
If you've tried Air Fryer Orange Tofu, this recipe for Lemon Tofu may remind you of it.
But I actually created this recipe first.
It came out of necessity since our Meyer lemon tree was weighed down with fruit.
Every day we tried to think of a new way to use all the lemons.
This was one of the first ideas I had.
I remember loving the lemon sauce in Chinese restaurants, but, of course, whatever it was on was deep fried and greasy.
But not anymore, thanks to the amazing air fryer!
Air Fryer Lemon Tofu is simple to make with only a few ingredients.
After I made it the first time and declared it a success, I put the scrap of paper I had written the recipe on aside.
Since I used Meyer lemons to create the sauce, I wanted to test it with the standard lemons that are commonly found in the supermarkets.
Have you ever tried a Meyer lemon?
They are a tad bigger and rounder than regular lemons with bright yellow skin.
But the main differing characteristic is that they have a slightly sweeter taste.
This is because Meyer lemons are a cross between a standard lemon and a mandarin orange.
If you can find them, pick some up and give them a try. They are wonderful in desserts and salad dressings.
And you can also use them to make this recipe.
You can still make Lemon Tofu if you don't have an air fryer.
While I love how crispy the tofu becomes without using any oil, if you don't have this handy small appliance, you can either bake the tofu or stir fry it.
I recommend using a neutral-flavored oil with these methods.
Refined coconut oil would be a good choice.
I like to serve this tofu with rice and a vegetable such as Sauteed Fresh Green Beans with Mushrooms.
And if you're looking to try more Asian-style tofu recipes, check out these favorites:
Now let's make Air Fryer Lemon Tofu!
Air Fryer Lemon Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra-firm tofu drained and pressed, or use super-firm tofu
- 1 Tablespoon tamari
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, or arrowroot powder
For the sauce:
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup water
- 2 Tablespoon organic sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, or arrowroot powder
Instructions
- Cut the tofu in cubes.
- Place the tofu cubes in a quart-size plastic storage bag. Add the tamari and seal the bag. Shake the bag until all the tofu is coated with the tamari.
- Add the tablespoon of cornstarch to the bag. Shake again until the tofu is coated. Set the tofu aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and mix with a spoon. Set aside.
- Place the tofu in the air fryer in a single layer. You will probably need to do this in two batches.
- Cook the tofu at 390 degrees for 10 minutes, shaking it after 5 minutes.
- After you're done cooking the batches of tofu, add it all to a skillet over medium-high heat. Give the sauce a stir and pour it over the tofu. Stir the tofu and sauce until the sauce has thickened and the tofu is heated through.
- Serve immediately with rice and steamed vegetables, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Geoff Offermann
Quick, easy, and so delicious! Should I try with orange?
Amy Katz
Thanks Geoff! I have a similar recipe with a spicy orange sauce you might enjoy: https://www.veggiessavetheday.com/air-fryer-orange-tofu/ Or you can make the lemon sauce with a combination of lemon, lime, and orange.
Denali
Yummy! First time using an air fryer and this recipe was quick and easy to follow will be making again :).
Amy Katz
I'm so happy to hear it. Enjoy your new air fryer!
Katrin
Made this earlier today, first time using an air fryer. Loving how easy it is to make crispy tofu with it (I used soy sauce and wheat starch as I didn't have tamari or cornflour and it worked well)
To add a bit of spice I added a teaspoon of grated ginger and a little more soy sauce when I cooked the tofu in the pan and added my steamed mixed veggies to soak up all the sauce. Yummy ♥ will make this again, thanks!!!
Amy Katz
This is fantastic to hear, Katrin! I'm glad your substitutions worked out well. And I love that you added veggies!
Lacey
Sounds amazing! Do you recommend any other substitutes for the tamari? Thanks!
Amy Katz
Thanks Lacey! You can use soy sauce or coconut aminos in place of the tamari.
Caitlyn
HI! How do you get your tofu to not stick to the air fryer basket?
Also, Is there a trick for keeping the tofu crisp? Once I mix it with the sauce, it gets soft again.
Thanks!!
Amy
Hi Caitlyn! It sounds like you need to cook the tofu a little longer in the air fryer. A few more minutes should make it more crispy and it shouldn't stick. I hope this helps!
Jules
Do you have a recommendation for an Air Fryer? I'm overwhelmed by all of the options and would love your input.
Thank you!
Amy
Hi Jules! These are the two I recommend: If you don't want to spend too much money, this is the one I would get: https://amzn.to/2Gv4A7J. And if you want to spend a little more money, I would get this one, which is the one I have: https://amzn.to/2IpcHip. I hope this helps!
Jack Smith | BBQRecipez.com
Excellent, followed the recipe exactly. Baked the tofu. My 5 yr. old grandson loved it also. New to your blog. Have shared it with friends. Thanks again.
Amy
I'm so happy you and your grandson loved it! Thank you!