Easy Tofu Fries Recipe (Vegan) (Air Fryer or Oven)

Name: Easy Tofu Fries Recipe (Vegan) (Air Fryer or Oven)
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 Ounce Block Super Firm tofu (see Note 1); Spray Oil, as needed (see Notes 2 and 3); 1.5 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast (see Note 4); 1.5 Teaspoons Onion Powder; 1.5 Teaspoons Garlic Powder; 1.5 Teaspoons Sweet Paprika (regular paprika, not smoked); .5 Teaspoon Sea Salt (or any fine salt); .5 Teaspoon Dried Basil; .5 Teaspoon Dried Oregano; .5 Teaspoon Dried Parsley; .25 Teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper; .25 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, Optional

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Easy Delicious Crispy Tofu Fries are within your reach if you've got a brick of super firm tofu (or pressed tofu) and some spices! You're going to love this super simple recipe for air fried or baked tofu fries and so will all the tofu haters in your life!

Hey Internet, do you have tofu skeptic in your life? Or maybe you yourself have not discovered the wonders of a crispy tofu recipe?

It's no secret that we at ZardyPlants are literally obsessed with tofu. We've got so many Tofu Recipes we could pretty much write a book on tofu! Hey, that's a good idea...

But for now, some of our favorite tofu recipes include our Crispy Tofu which gets made at least once or twice a week, Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets, Spicy Tofu, Hoisin Tofu, Salt and Pepper Tofu, Vegan Cordon Bleu, Sticky Tofu, and SO much more. We're also often making tofu into other things like our Tofu Cheese Recipes or sauces like our Harissa Whipped Tofu!

I digress because I get so excited when talking about tofu, obviously. Let's discuss these amazing tofu fries. We've cut ours with a crinkle cutter but you can cut yours in thin strips with a regular knife and they'll still turn out amazing.

This recipe is an excellent one for anyone who is not a fan of tofu, but it's also ideal for anyone on a vegan diet or even a non-vegan one! Tofu is incredibly high in plant-based protein (and the firmer the tofu, the higher it is in protein).

These tofu fries count as the protein in your main dish but they can also be a fantastic protein-packed snack. (We have a whole list of high protein vegan snacks, by the way.)

Tofu is one of those bare bones staples that we eat multiple times a week. We love super firm tofu (the kind that comes vacuum sealed in plastic, NOT in a tub of water) so we stock up on it every time we go to Trader Joe's (other stores such as Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Sprouts, and some supermarkets also carry this tofu). Don't worry, if all you can find is firm or extra firm tofu, you can just press it (more on that later).

What takes these tofu fries to the next level is the seasoning blend we've created. So much flavor! We'll talk about other things you can do as well as our favorite sauce recipes to dunk our fries in.

And bonus, these look like regular fries, but they've got tons of protein and of course feel different but we think they're more satisfying.

We think this recipe comes out fantastic in the air fryer or oven, but if you prefer to cook on the stove top (you'll likely need to do this in batches), we'll provide instructions for that too. Let's bust open that block of tofu!

Why You'll Love These Tofu Fries

Easy to Make: There's just a few simple steps to make this tofu recipe and we'll give you three different methods for making it. Air fryer or oven are easiest because you don't have to cook in batches. But do what works best for you!
Crispy and Flavorful: These tofu fries are so delicious thanks to seasoning blend we make (I promise it comes together quickly, and it's worth it!) and there's no complicated wet batter and dry batter. Just toss your tofu with a little oil spray (or feel free to use traditional oils OR soy sauce for oil-free) and then dredge each one in the seasoning blend!
Family Friendly: Tofu fries are fun to eat and an easy way to pack more protein into your family! Perfect for picky eaters too. Serve with their favorite sauce and they will gobble them up! My favorite thing to dip them in is my Garlicky Vegan Aioli which is also REALLY easy to make.

Ingredients

Pick up these simple ingredients for these fries the next time you're at a grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredients, instructions, and accurate nutrition information (to the best of my ability; please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs or need to meet certain daily values of any nutrient). I give substitutions for the ingredients in the section below this one, so most people can still make this recipe!

16-Ounce Block Super Firm Tofu: I’m talking about the tofu block that comes in a vacuum-sealed plastic wrapper, not a tub full of water. I recommend the super firm tofu if you can find it. I can usually find it in grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s, supermarkets, Asian markets, and even Costco on occasion.
Spray Oil: I just used some avocado spray oil for this recipe, but you can use a tablespoon or two of any heat oil you like such as olive oil or avocado oil (see substitutions section below to make oil-free). The reason I use spray oil is that it easily coats the tofu sticks without having to toss them in oil. The tossing motion makes it more likely that the thin pieces of tofu break and we don't want that to happen if we can help it!
1.5 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast: This is part of our seasoning blend, but if you're new to nutritional yeast you might think it's odd that it's in a tofu french fries recipe. I promise it adds a lot of great flavor (nutritional yeast gets extra flavorful and nutty when toasted/exposed to heat). If you are not a fan of "nooch," as it's affectionally called by most plant eaters, give it a try in this recipe. It's not a dominant flavor at all, it just adds to the savory flavor profile in this recipe.
Spice Blend: While you can customize this spice blend to your preferences, we played around with this a lot to get a great flavor for our tofu fries. We used onion powder, garlic powder, paprika (we used sweet paprika, not smoked), sea salt (any salt is fine), dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper for a kick of spice! Feel free to omit the cayenne if you don't want your fries to be spicy (or add more if you like it extra spicy!). You can also use red pepper flakes, but we found these don't stick as well to the tofu.

Substitutions

Super Firm Tofu: If you only have firm or extra firm tofu (that comes in water), you can still make this deliciousness. Drain all the excess water from the package and then use a tofu press or two plates or cutting boards, a paper towel or clean tea towel, and a heavy object (like books or a cast-iron skillet) to press the tofu for 20-30 minutes. Otherwise the tofu may turn out soggy—I speak from experience.
Oil: If you want to make your tofu without oil, you can use either aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) or soy sauce on the tofu to make the seasonings stick. I do think the aquafaba works a little better (the soy sauce adds a little too much moisture). Alternatively, use soy sauce (or vegetable broth) and add a tablespoon or two of corn starch or arrowroot powder to the seasoning blend to increase the crispiness. Also, if you're using soy sauce, you may want to omit or reduce the salt in the recipe since soy sauce is quite salty.
Nutritional Yeast: If you don't want the flavor of the nutritional yeast you can just leave it out of the recipe.
Spices: Feel free to play around with the spices to customize the flavor profile!
Additions: You can add whatever you like to further customize the recipe to your preferences. Try things like sesame oil or store bought seasoning blends.

How to Make Tofu Fries

Note: The time estimation for this recipe assumes you're air frying them because that's how we prefer to make these. Oven and pan frying methods may take a different cooking time.
Prep: If air frying, preheat your air fryer (optional). If baking, line a rimmed sheet pan or rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (we like silicone baking mats too, but your fries won't get as crispy) and preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Prepare Tofu: Open the tofu package, drain the excess liquid, and blot excess moisture off with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. On a large cutting board, slice tofu in thin slices. The thinner they are, the quicker and crispier they'll cook up, however they will also be more likely to break. We went somewhere between a quarter and a half inch. You can use a crinkle cutter like we did, or just use a large knife. Just try to make the slices as even as possible. Spray the tofu with oil, gently flip and spray again.
Coat the Tofu: Add nutritional yeast and all spices to a shallow bowl and mix them together (we like to pre-mix the spices to ensure all tofu fries get an even amount of each spice). Gently oll each tofu strip in the spice mixture and place in your air fryer, on your lined baking tray, or just on a plate (if pan frying). Repeat until all fries are coated, making sure to place the tofu slices in a single layer and give each one at least a little breathing room. (You can toss them all together in the seasoning blend, but thin tofu strips can break easily so we found it safer to roll each one in the spices. It doesn't take long.)
Air Fryer Method: Note that depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. We have a large 5.8 quart air fryer which accommodates a whole block of tofu. Once the tofu is all lined up in your air fryer basket, you can cook for 10-14 minutes on 370 degrees F (190 degrees C). If your air fryer won't do 370, do 375 and check it a little sooner. Gently shake the basket halfway through (do NOT shake hard or you may break the tofu. It will be less fragile once cooked thoroughly). Cook until golden brown and desired level of crispness.
Oven Method: Add all fries to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake on the center rack for 20-30 minutes, gently flipping each fry and rotating the tray halfway through. Depending on your oven you may choose to cook them a little longer if you want them crisper.
Pan Fry Method: Heat oil of choice in a large cast iron skillet or large rimmed skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu fries in a single layer. You may need to cook in batches to give each fry enough room to be turned and crisp up. Use tongs to flip fries as they cook, cooking on all sides for about 2-3 minutes, and keeping a close eye on the tofu until lightly golden brown. Transfer to a plate or tray with layers of paper towels (or a rack with something underneath to catch the dripping oil) to remove excess oil. Repeat until all tofu fries are cooked to desired level of crispness. Note that the pan may get hotter in between batches, so you may want to reduce the heat to medium heat so the fries don't burn.
Serve: Serve your tofu fries with your favorite sauce! We personally do two sauces: ketchup and our garlicky vegan aioli.
Storage Instructions: Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer, toaster oven, traditional oven, or a pan on the stove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this recipe work with non-soy based tofu?

Yup. Depending on which tofu you use, you may have different cooking times, but it will work! Our favorite non-soy tofu is fava bean tofu because it's super high in protein, low in fat, low carb, but you can use any you like.

Can I make this recipe for meal prep?

Yes, but you'll need to cook in batches (or if cooking in the oven, multiple trays) to ensure the tofu can be cooked in a single layer. Just use two blocks of tofu and double the spice mixture if you do!

How can I make these even crispier?

If you're willing to do a double dredge, you make EXTRA crispy tofu fries: Just add a little flour of choice to almond milk or soy milk in a small bowl. Then in another shallow dish, mix panko breadcrumbs with the seasoning blend. You can still air fry or bake, but you'll get even crispier tofu in you pan fry them with some canola oil (or high heat oil of choice) in a cast iron pan (or whatever pan you have). Pan fry over medium-high heat until lightly golden brown and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the extra oil. Serve immediately.

What other sauces can I dip the fries in?

Besides ketchup and Vegan Aioli (our choice), here's some other great sauce options: Vegan Ranch, Vegan Honey Mustard, Vegan Mayo, Vegan BBQ Sauce, Maple Mustard Tahini, Lemon Miso Tahini, Spicy Almond Butter Sauce, Vegan Chipotle Sauce, buffalo sauce, spicy sriracha, etc. If you need more ideas, check out our big list of Vegan Sauce Recipes and Vegan Dip Recipes!

What else should I serve with this recipe?

These fries definitely count as the protein in your meal, so any side dish that's got veggies and carbs (or two side dishes) would work well. Try any of our great carb recipes like Vegan Creamy Pasta, Boiled Baby Potatoes, or anything you like. Great veggie options include broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts, but those are just a few of my favorites. A stir fry would work great too!

More Great Tofu Recipe Ideas