This teriyaki tofu is a fast and flavorful vegan dinner. Cooking the tofu in the air fryer makes it extra crunchy, the ideal complement to the sticky, sweet, and salty sauce. Broccoli florets cook alongside the tofu in the air fryer, making this a complete meal with warm rice. This recipe uses simple ingredients like firm tofu, low sodium soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil, and comes together in about 30 minutes total. Definitely a weeknight dinner winner!
Teriyaki tofu (and tempeh) has been a weekly fixture in our kitchen for the last month or so. Teriyaki sauce has that incredible salty-sweet flavor that I can’t get enough of. In this recipe, the sauce features some pretty wholesome ingredients and is sweetened with maple syrup. I would describe it as “not too sweet” with a hint of tang as well.
The inspiration for this recipe:
- The word teriyaki in Japanese points to the following: teri = the shine on food + yaki = grilling. This referred to a glaze that was brushed on fish as it grilled—a mixture of soy sauce, sweet rice wine and sake.
- In the 1950’s, the Kikkoman brand was trying to promote their products in the US to an audience beyond Japanese-Americans. With the brand’s soy sauce, Junki Yoshida began using his mother’s recipe for teriyaki when handing out samples in his grocery store.
- From NPR: “Teriyaki dishes have appeared on American menus since at least the 1940s. But Seattle’s Toshihiro Kasahara is credited with spurring a teriyaki trend in the 1970s that kicked this evolution into high gear.”
- Also from Kikkoman: “Over many generations, the Japanese-Americans in Hawaii added fresh ginger, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and green onions to the original flavor, and it gradually became the teriyaki sauce we’ve come to enjoy.” This is the approach I took with this teriyaki tofu! You can read more here.
You essentially thicken the sauce in a wide skillet on the stove, and then get your tofu crisping in the air fryer. The broccoli goes in for the last half of the tofu’s cooking time. Finally, you toss the tofu in that thick, luscious sauce, serve it over rice, and place the broccoli alongside. Pretty easy! This recipe works a lot better in a larger air fryer. I have the Instant Pot vortex, which has just the right amount of space.
I also don’t really press tofu anymore, favoring the salted hot water soak method that I learned from Serious Eats. It’s just as effective and less fussy!
The sauce will thicken up quite a bit after the starch (arrowroot or corn) is added. Right before adding the tofu, just turn the burner onto low and whisk in a splash of water if necessary. Fans of this recipe may also like my sticky ginger tempeh.
Sticky & Crunchy Teriyaki Tofu in the Air Fryer
This is a fast and flavorful dinner–ready in 30 minutes! Teriyaki tofu has a crunchy texture with a glossy coating of salty-sweet homemade teriyaki sauce. Broccoli cooks alongside the tofu in the air fryer for maximum ease.
Servings 2 -3
Ingredients
Teriyaki Sauce
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced with a Microplane
- 2-inch piece ginger, finely minced with a Microplane
- ¾ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch
Tofu, Broccoli & Assembly
- 1 block (1 lb/454 grams) firm or extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoons salt
- 2 ½ cups boiling water
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
- ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets (about 4 cups florets)
- cooked rice, to serve
- sliced green onions, to serve
Notes
- I have not been able to replicate the texture of air fried tofu in a normal oven. For folks working without an air fryer, I recommend checking out my crispy baked tofu bits recipe, which utilizes cornmeal for extra crunch. To bake the broccoli alongside in the oven, I would add it to the baking sheet with 15 minutes left of cooking time.
- My air fryer basket is quite large, so it can handle this volume of food. If yours is on the small side, you may have to do the cooking in batches.
- I have also used a pineapple & orange juice blend in place of pure pineapple juice and it was great!
Instructions
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Make the teriyaki sauce. In a large skillet, combine the soy sauce, pineapple juice, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over high heat. Then, lower heat to a simmer and continue to simmer until sauce has reduced by a third, about 4-5 minutes. In a small bowl, combine arrowroot and 1 tablespoon of cold water. Stir to combine and add to the sauce. Keep stirring until the sauce has thickened. Turn off the heat, leaving the skillet in place.
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Drain the tofu and tear it into 2-inch pieces. Place the tofu pieces in a medium bowl. Add the salt and pour over the boiling water. Give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes.
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Drain the tofu and thoroughly blot it dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Dry the bowl it was soaking in as well.
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Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Set the timer for 16 minutes.
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In the medium bowl, toss the tofu pieces with 2 tablespoons of the avocado oil, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Once coated, sprinkle the arrowroot starch. Toss until you can no longer see any white, powdery bits.
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Transfer the coated pieces of tofu to your air fryer basket, shaking the basket/arranging the pieces so that each piece has a bit of space. Pop the basket in.
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In the same medium bowl, toss the broccoli florets with the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil, salt, and pepper. When there’s 7 or so minutes left on the air fryer timer, push the tofu over to one side and add the broccoli to the open spot in the air fryer.
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Remember to give the tofu a little shake/stir every 5 minutes to evenly brown and crisp up the pieces. The tofu is done when it’s evenly deep golden brown and crisp on all sides.
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Right before assembling, turn the heat on under the teriyaki sauce to low. If the sauce has thickened a bit too much, whisk in a splash of water.
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Once the tofu is browned and the broccoli is tender, remove from the air fryer. Toss the tofu pieces in the gently warmed teriyaki sauce. Once coated, serve the tofu over cooked rice with the broccoli and sliced green onions to garnish.