Air fryer popcorn tofu

Air fryer popcorn tofu has a crisp, breaded coating with firm tofu inside. The tofu is dipped in a simple soy-seasoned flour and corn flour batter, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, and air fried until golden without deep frying.

Mixing a little oil directly into the breadcrumbs helps the coating brown in the air fryer. Serve these breaded tofu bites as a snack or appetizer with your favourite dipping sauce, or pack them in a bento box. If you enjoy air fryer tofu recipes, try my air fryer tofu puffs, sticky tofu or tofu Manchurian.

Jump to:

• Air fryer popcorn tofu video
• Ingredients
• How to make popcorn tofu in the air fryer
• Tips for crispy popcorn tofu
• More air fryer tofu recipes
• air fryer breaded tofu recipe
• Popcorn tofu FAQs

Air fryer popcorn tofu video

Ingredients

Firm tofu: Drain the tofu and remove excess moisture before coating it. A drier surface helps the batter and breadcrumbs stick better.

Wet batter

• all-purpose flour / plain flour
• corn flour (cornstarch)
• soy sauce
• water
• salt

The plain flour and corn flour make the coating batter, while soy sauce adds seasoning before the tofu goes into the breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumb coating

• breadcrumbs
• oil
• salt, as per taste
• red chilli powder or your preferred spice mix

I mix the oil directly into the seasoned breadcrumbs so the coating can brown and crisp in the air fryer without deep frying. See the recipe card below for exact quantities.

How to make popcorn tofu in the air fryer

1. Drain the firm tofu and press or pat it dry to remove excess moisture. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. Mix the plain flour, corn flour, soy sauce, salt and water until you have a smooth batter. Dip the tofu pieces into the batter and coat them evenly.

2. Mix the breadcrumbs with salt, red chilli powder or your preferred spice mix, and oil. Transfer the battered tofu pieces into the breadcrumb mixture.

3. Gently roll each tofu piece in the breadcrumbs until well coated.

4. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C / 355°F. Arrange the coated popcorn tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. You can use a perforated air fryer liner if preferred. Lightly spray or brush the tofu with oil.

5. Air fry for 13-14 minutes. Check the tofu halfway through cooking and lightly spray or brush with more oil if the coating looks dry. The outside should be golden and crisp when ready.

Serve the popcorn tofu hot with tomato ketchup, chilli sauce or your favourite chutney.

Tips for crispy popcorn tofu

Remove excess moisture from the tofu. Wet tofu makes it harder for the batter and breadcrumb coating to stay crisp.

Keep the tofu in a single layer. Leaving space around the pieces allows hot air to circulate around the breaded coating.

Oil the breadcrumbs. Mixing oil into the breadcrumb mixture helps the coating brown more evenly without deep frying.

Air fryers vary. Use the 13-14 minute cooking time as a guide and look for a crisp, golden coating before removing the tofu.

More air fryer tofu recipes

• Air fryer tofu puffs
• Air fryer sticky tofu
• Air fryer satay tofu
• Air fryer tofu nuggets
• Air fryer tofu Manchurian

Popcorn tofu FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy in the air fryer?

Excess moisture can prevent the breading from crisping properly. Drain and press or pat the tofu dry before coating it. Also avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so hot air can circulate around the pieces.

What seasoning can I use for popcorn tofu?

Red chilli powder works well in the breadcrumb coating. You can also use paprika, garlic powder or another spice blend that suits the dipping sauce you plan to serve with the tofu.