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!

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

Description

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!

Ingredients

Scale

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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Instructions

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 amount of time.
Prep: If air frying, preheat your air fryer (optional). If baking, line a rimmed sheet pan or baking tray 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 fry 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 the air fryer, 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 lined baking tray 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 until lightly golden brown. Transfer to a plate or tray lined with 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.
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.

Notes

Note 1: I’m talking about the kind of tofu 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. 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.
Note 2: 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!
Note 3: 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 cornstarch 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.
Note 4: The nutritional yeast 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. If you don't want the flavor of the nutritional yeast you can just leave it out of the recipe.

Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Side, Snack, Dinner
Method: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American, Tofu