Air Fryer Lemon Tofu (Oil-Free)

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 Stir Fried Sugar Snap Peas.

And if you’re looking to try more Asian-style tofu recipes, check out these favorites:

• Peanut Sauce Tofu
• Air Fryer Orange Tofu
• Baked Teriyaki Tofu

Now let’s make Air Fryer Lemon Tofu!

5 from 1 vote

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Air Fryer Lemon Tofu

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.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 112 kcal

Author Amy Katz

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
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tablespoon organic sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Instructions

1. Cut the tofu in cubes.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Meanwhile add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and mix with a spoon. Set aside.
5. Place the tofu in the air fryer in a single layer. You will probably need to do this in two batches.
6. Cook the tofu at 390 degrees for 10 minutes, shaking it after 5 minutes.
7. 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.
8. Serve immediately with rice and steamed vegetables, if desired.

Recipe Notes

If you use Meyer lemons instead of the lemons commonly found in the market, you may not need as much sugar. Try adding half the sugar and give the sauce a taste before adding more as needed.

If you make Air Fryer Lemon Tofu, or any of the other recipes on the website, I would love to see your creations! 

Use the hashtag #veggiessavetheday on Instagram and tag Veggies Save The Day so I don’t miss seeing what’s cooking in your kitchen. In addition, you can post your photos on the Facebook page Veggies Save The Day. 

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Lemon Tofu

Amount Per Serving

Calories 112 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 3g 5%

Sodium 294mg 12%

Potassium 250mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 13g 4%

Sugars 8g

Protein 8g 16%

Vitamin C 10.3%

Calcium 3.6%

Iron 7.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.