Crispy Buffalo Tofu with Caesar Salad Recipe
This Crispy Buffalo Tofu with Caesar Salad recipe features crispy air-fried tofu coated in a spicy buffalo butter sauce, served atop a fresh kale Caesar salad. It’s a delicious and easy plant-based twist on classic buffalo wings, perfect as a dinner option for vegetarians wanting bold flavor and satisfying texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Crispy Tofu:
- 16 ounce package of firm or extra firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Buffalo Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot)
For Serving:
- Salad with Caesar, ranch, or bleu cheese dressing (avocado kale Caesar salad recommended)
Instructions
- Prep the Tofu: Remove tofu from packaging and drain excess water. Wrap tofu in a clean dish towel or paper towels and gently press to squeeze out moisture, spending less than a minute to avoid breaking it.
- Cut and Season: Pull the tofu into bite-sized chunks. In a bowl, toss the tofu pieces with cornstarch, soy sauce, avocado oil, paprika, and garlic powder until all pieces are well-coated.
- Air Fry the Tofu: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place tofu chunks in the basket and air fry for 8 minutes. Shake or toss tofu, then air fry for an additional 5–6 minutes until the tofu is golden brown and crispy. (Alternatively, bake in an oven at 400°F for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through.)
- Make Buffalo Sauce: Melt the butter in a small bowl or pan. Whisk in the hot sauce until combined to create the buffalo sauce.
- Coat the Tofu: Toss the crispy tofu in the buffalo sauce until evenly coated and saucy.
- Serve: Serve the buffalo tofu on top of your favorite salad—such as an avocado kale Caesar salad—or enjoy as a snack with ranch or blue cheese for dipping. It also works great in wraps or bowls.
Notes
- Oven baking alternative: bake tofu at 400°F for 20 minutes on parchment-lined tray, tossing halfway to crisp evenly.
- Tofu brand note: extra firm tofu works best for crispiness; if using softer or wetter brands, add 2-4 extra minutes to air frying time.
- Buffalo sauce can be adjusted for spice tolerance by reducing hot sauce or serving some tofu without sauce for kids.
- Leftovers: keep some tofu plain (unsauced) for reheating later to retain crispiness before tossing with sauce again.
- Great served on avocado kale Caesar salad or with ranch / bleu cheese for milder flavor options.
Keywords: tofu recipe, buffalo tofu, buffalo caesar, air fryer tofu, vegetarian buffalo wings
