This air fryer tofu katsu is a vegan twist on the classic Japanese dish. It's super crispy and so tasty it'll make anyone a tofu fan. Pair it with rice and tonkatsu sauce for an awesome homemade Japanese meal.
Not everyone loves tofu, but it's absolutely one of my favorite foods. Whether it's crispy or soft, in savory meals or desserts, to me you can't go wrong with tofu. Plus, it's super nutritious according to the Cleveland Clinic.
But, not everyone likes tofu as much as I do. The good news is that this recipe is for everyone - including the tofu haters out there. The tofu comes out nice and crispy and the tonkatsu sauce tastes amazing.
I love using my air fryer to make food crispy without all the oil of frying. For more air fryer recipes, try my air fryer glazed carrots and air fryer acorn squash.
Lots of people think you need egg when breading something. But the good news is that there are many alternatives to egg. In this recipe, I use cornstarch and water to get the breadcrumbs to stick so no eggs needed.
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Why You’ll Love Recipe
- Kid-friendly: This recipe is a delicious way to make tofu. Even my son who “hates tofu” loves this recipe!
- No/low oil: Using the air fryer eliminates the need to deep fry the tofu. You do use an oil spray but that’s just a tiny amount.
- Great texture: Because it’s sliced thin and coated in crispy panko bread crumbs, this tofu cutlet has amazing texture. This is especially good for those who don’t like the traditional soft texture of tofu.
Ingredient Notes
- Tofu: I recommend using extra-firm tofu and using the freezing method (see below).
- Panko: You can find panko breadcrumbs in most grocery stores. Make sure you don’t buy any flavored ones. You want the original plain version which is vegan-friendly.
Please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and amounts needed.
Freezing Tofu
If you want your tofu to have a meatier texture, then you might want to try the freezing technique. All you need to do is freeze your block of tofu and then let it thaw in the fridge. It changes the texture of the tofu and it works incredibly well in this recipe.
Make sure you still press the tofu once it’s thawed.
Check out my tofu vegetable curry and my tofu veggie stir fry for more delicious ways to make tofu.
How To Make Air Fryer Tofu Katsu
Step 1: First, press your tofu to remove some liquid.
Step 2: Cut the tofu in 3 "slabs" from the top to the bottom so you'll have 3 flat pieces. These will be thinly sliced after cooking in the traditional katsu way. You can also cut it in strips to make tofu “chicken fingers”.
Step 3: You are going to have 3 dishes for dipping and coating. Place the flour in one dish. Mix the cornstarch and water in a separate shallow dish and set aside. Mix the panko bread crumbs and the salt and black pepper in a shallow dish.
Step 4: To bread it, take a tofu slab and coat each side in flour. Next, dip it in the cornstarch and water mixture ensuring it's fully coated, even the sides. Lastly, press it into the panko crumbs, both sides, making sure it's completely covered. Repeat with the other two pieces of tofu.
Step 5: Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray. Place the tofu inside and also spray the top of the tofu. The oil spray helps the panko brown so spray liberally. Bake at 390° for 7 minutes, flip and bake for an additional 7 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 6: Slice the tofu in thin strips and place on a bed of rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional). I highly recommend tonkatsu sauce drizzled on top, if desired. (Recipe is below.)
Expert Tips
- For each breading step, make sure the tofu is completely covered, including the sides.
- Make sure you liberally spray the basket and tofu with oil spray to help it get crispy and browned.
Tonkatsu Sauce Recipe
While it’s optional, homemade tonkatsu sauce is incredibly delicious and perfect to drizzle on top of the tofu. To make it, simply mix together the following ingredients:
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sugar
What To Serve With Air Fryer Tofu Katsu
Definitely make a batch of white or brown rice to go with the vegan tofu katsu. My oven roasted bok choy or peanut butter green beans are the perfect side dishes to serve with it. Or for another air fryer recipe, serve with my air fryer miso eggplant.
Storage and Recipe FAQs
While I like to make my recipes as easy as possible, in this case it’s important to press the tofu to get out the excess water. If not, there will be too much liquid in the tofu and it won’t get crispy.
I like using a tofu press, but you don’t need one. You really just need a frying pan and a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. For easy step-by step instructions, check out How To Press Tofu.
Katsu is a Japanese dish made by breading and frying thin pieces of meat. Think of a thin cutlet. In this case we’re using tofu and an air fryer for a lighter alternative.
No, regular Worcestershire sauce often contains fish ingredients. Luckily, Whole Foods’ 365 Organic Worcestershire sauce is vegan. Also, Annie’s Naturals Organic Worcestershire is vegan and can often be found at a regular grocery store.
You can, but you won't get the crispy texture that panko breadcrumbs give. Instead of katsu it'll be more like nuggets. But it'll still be delicious.
Once cooled, store leftover tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you're ready to reheat it, use either the air fryer or oven to keep its crispy texture. Using the microwave will make it much softer.
More Dinner Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Tofu Katsu Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Katsu
Ingredients
- 1 14 oz. package extra-firm tofu, pressed
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Press your tofu to remove some liquid. Cut the tofu in 3 "slabs" from the top to the bottom so you'll have 3 flat pieces.
- You are going to have 3 dishes for dipping and coating. Place the flour in one dish. Mix the cornstarch and water in a separate shallow dish. Mix the panko bread crumbs with the salt and pepper in another shallow dish.
- To bread the tofu, take one piece and coat each side in flour. Next, dip it in the cornstarch and water mixture insuring it's fully coated. Lastly, press it into the panko bread crumbs, both sides, making sure it's completely covered.
- Repeat with the other two pieces of tofu.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with oil spray. Place the tofu inside and also spray the top of the tofu. The oil spray helps the panko brown. Bake at 390° for 7 minutes, flip and bake for an additional 7 minutes.
- Slice the tofu in thin strips. Serve over rice with tonkatsu sauce on the side, if desired. (Sauce recipe in comments.)
- Refrigerate leftover tofu in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Notes
- I highly recommend freezing and thawing the tofu before pressing and using it. It’s a simple step that gives the tofu a meatier texture.
- For each breading step, make sure the tofu is completely covered, including the sides.
- Make sure you liberally spray the tofu and air fryer basked with oil spray to help it get crispy and browned.
- Tonkatsu sauce: Mix together ½ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce (find vegan Worcestershire if you're plant-based), 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 2 teaspoons sugar.
Jen says
This is by far my kids' favorite way to eat tofu. The tonkatsu sauce is also a favorite and I always make it with the tofu. The tofu has a bit of a crunch to it and that added texture really makes this dish.