These air fryer tofu puffs are crisp, flaky, and filled with a simple tofu mixture cooked with onion, ginger, soy sauce, and spices. They are easy to make with store-bought puff pastry and work well as a vegan snack, appetizer, or tea-time bite.
This recipe is different from ready-made fried tofu puffs or frozen tofu cubes. Here, tofu is used as a savory filling inside puff pastry, then cooked in the air fryer until golden brown. If you like easy pastry snacks, you may also enjoy these air fryer paneer puffs and vegetarian puffs.
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Why Make This in the Air Fryer?
The air fryer gives these tofu puffs a crisp, flaky outside with less oil than deep frying. It is also convenient for small batches, and the puff pastry cooks evenly when placed with space in the air fryer basket.
Quick Summary: Cook the tofu filling until dry, cool it fully, fill cold puff pastry, freeze the puffs, then air fry at 190°C or 375°F until golden.
How to make tofu puffs in air fryer? (recipe video)
Ingredients
- Oil
- Onion
- Ginger
- Curry powder or seasoning of choice
- Tofu
- Soy sauce
- Salt
- Paprika
- Puff pastry sheets
- Oil spray
- Tomato ketchup or chutney
Pro Tip: Use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. If the tofu has too much water, press it lightly before cooking so the filling does not make the pastry soggy.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Cook the onion and add tofu
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and ginger, cook until the onion softens. Now Add curry powder, salt, and paprika, then mix for a few seconds. Add tofu and soy sauce, toss gently.
2. Make the tofu filling
Cook the tofu mixture for a few minutes until the filling looks dry. Turn off the heat and let it cool completely. Thaw puff pastry until it is soft enough to fold but still cold. Cut into rectangles and place the tofu filling in the center.
Example: If the pastry becomes too soft, keep it in the fridge for a few minutes before sealing. Cold pastry puffs better in the air fryer.
3. Freeze and air fry
Seal the edges firmly. Freeze the prepared tofu puffs for 3 to 4 hours or overnight. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C or 375°F for 5 minutes. Place the frozen puffs in the air fryer basket with space between them. Spray lightly with oil.
Cook until golden brown
Air fry the tofu puffs until puffed, crisp, and golden brown. Serve hot with tomato ketchup, green chutney, or your favorite dipping sauce. For more easy air fryer snacks, see this air fryer snacks collection.
Variations
For spicy tofu puffs, add more paprika, chilli flakes, or hot sauce to the filling. For a curry puff style filling, add garam masala or curry powder with a little mashed potato. If you want a vegetable tofu filling, add finely chopped capsicum, peas, or carrots and cook until the mixture is dry.
For a more protein-rich snack, use extra-firm tofu and keep the tofu pieces slightly chunky. For a softer filling, crumble the tofu instead of cutting it into cubes.
Substitutions
You may use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free tofu filling, but remember the puff pastry itself may still contain gluten. Use vegan puff pastry if you want to keep the recipe fully vegan.
Use chilli sauce, sweet soy sauce, or teriyaki sauce instead of regular soy sauce for a different flavor. If you do not have curry powder, use a mix of cumin powder, coriander powder, and paprika. You can also use leftover cooked tofu from a dry stir fry, as long as the filling is not wet.
Related recipes
Air Fryer Tofu Puffs
Equipment
- Air fryer
- frying pan for filling
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger chopped
- 1 teaspoon curry powder or seasoning of choice
- 200 grams firm tofu cubed
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or to taste
- Salt to taste
- Paprika to taste
- 2 puff pastry sheets thawed
- Oil spray as needed
- Tomato ketchup or chutney to serve
Instructions
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and ginger. Cook until the onion turns soft and lightly pink.
- Add curry powder, salt, and paprika. Stir for a few seconds.
- Add tofu cubes and soy sauce. Toss gently so the tofu is coated with the onion and spice mixture.
- Cook for a few minutes until the filling becomes dry. Turn off the heat and cool the filling completely.
- Thaw the puff pastry sheets for about 5 minutes, or until they are foldable but still cold.
- Cut the pastry sheets into rectangles. Add a spoonful of tofu filling to each piece.
- Fold and seal the puffs firmly. Repeat with the remaining filling.
- Freeze the prepared tofu puffs for 3 to 4 hours, or overnight.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C or 375°F for 5 minutes.
- Place the frozen tofu puffs in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each puff.
- Spray lightly with oil.
- Air fry for 15 to 16 minutes, or until the puffs are crisp, flaky, and golden brown.
- Serve hot with tomato ketchup or chutney.
Video
Notes
FAQs
These puff pastry tofu puffs take about 15 to 16 minutes at 190°C or 375°F when cooked from frozen. The time may vary slightly based on the air fryer model and the size of the puffs.
Yes, you can shape the tofu puffs and freeze them for 3 to 4 hours or overnight. Once firm, store them in a freezer-safe container. Air fry them directly from frozen when needed.
This recipe uses firm tofu as a filling inside puff pastry, not the ready-made deep-fried tofu puffs sold in Asian grocery stores. If using frozen fried tofu puffs, you can air fry them separately until crisp and use them in stir fry, curry, or noodle bowls.
The filling may have been too wet or warm. Cook the tofu mixture until dry, cool it completely, and keep the puff pastry cold before filling and sealing.
Yes, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 200°C or 400°F until puffed and golden brown. The oven may take a few extra minutes compared with the air fryer.
Conclusion
Air fryer tofu puffs are a simple way to turn tofu and puff pastry into a crisp, savory snack. The filling is easy to cook, the puffs can be frozen ahead, and the air fryer gives them a golden, flaky finish with very little oil. Serve them hot with ketchup, chutney, or a simple dipping sauce.
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