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This vegan Bang Bang Tofu recipe is seriously the best! The combination of the sweet and spicy sauce with crispy air fryer tofu bites cannot be matched.
Around this time last year, I became obsessed with bang bang sauce!
And my favorite way to enjoy it is to make bang bang tofu. The tofu is subtly spicy and extra crispy from the air fryer, a perfect match for vegan bang bang sauce.
I know most people think of bang bang shrimp, but trust me, this tofu recipe is crave-worthy in its own right!
Serve it in bowls with some rice, lettuce, and green onions on top and you have a simple but delicious dinner you will keep coming back to.
Ingredients
You will need these simple ingredients to make bang bang tofu:
Crispy Tofu
- Tofu - Extra firm or firm tofu both work great! You don't need to press it beforehand, just rip it into pieces like BBQ tofu bites or nutritional yeast tofu nuggets.
- Olive oil - Makes this tofu extra crispy.
- Sriracha - Kicks up the spice a notch, you can leave it out though if you a want a slightly milder bang bang tofu (there's some in the sauce too).
- Seasoning - Chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper give this tofu extra flavor before you even get to that amazing bang bang sauce!
Vegan Bang Bang Sauce
- Vegan mayonnaise - You can use storebought or make your own using silked tofu for some extra protein.
- Sweet chili sauce - Helps balance the spiciness and gives that classic bang bang flavor.
- Seasoned rice vinegar - Adds a slight tang and a touch of sweetness.
- Sriracha - Adds some heat, you can adjust the amount based on your preference.
Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.
How to Make Bang Bang Tofu
Bang bang tofu starts with making crispy air fryer tofu bites. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Step 1: Rip pressed tofu into bite-sized pieces.
- Step 2: Mix wet rub ingredients in a small bowl.
- Step 3: Coat tofu bites with wet rub.
- Step 4: Place tofu in a single layer.
- Step 5: Air fry tofu bites until crispy.
- Step 6: Mix together the sauce.
- Step 7: Drizzle the tofu with bang bang sauce, and enjoy!
Oven Instructions
You can also make crispy tofu in the oven, although it takes a bit longer. This is a great option if you are doubling the recipe.
Bake the tofu bites at 425°F on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 30 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway.
Serving Ideas
Vegan bang bang tofu is an excellent appetizer or main dish. Here are a few different ways to serve it for a main meal:
- Bowl - In a rice or quinoa bowl with vegan coleslaw.
- Salad - Over a salad with extra bang bang sauce as dressing.
- Wraps - In wraps with vegan flour tortillas, black beans, and avocado.
- Tacos - In tacos with chickpea flour tortillas and mango salsa.
- Noodles - With bang bang noodles or pasta.
Storage
Bang bang tofu is best enjoyed immediately, but if you plan to have leftovers, wait to drizzle or coat the tofu with the sauce.
Instead, store the crispy tofu and sauce in separate containers. Reheat the tofu in the air fry for about 5 minutes at 400°F. Then, drizzle the tofu with the sauce.
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Bang Bang Tofu
Equipment
- air fryer see notes for oven instructions
Ingredients
Crispy Tofu
- 14-18 ounces extra firm tofu see notes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Vegan Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup vegan tofu mayo or store-bought vegan mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon sriracha sauce
Instructions
- Press or squeeze your block of tofu to remove most of the excess water. I like to just wrap the block with a clean kitchen towel and gently wring out the block.
- Break the block of tofu into bite sized pieces by ripping it. This gives the tofu more texture and surface area to crispy up.
- Place the remaining ingredients for the crispy tofu in a small bowl and mix to make a wet rub.
- Pour the wet rub over the tofu and toss to coat. Make sure the seasoning is evenly distributed across all the pieces.
- Place the tofu bites in an air fryer basket lined with parchment paper. Make sure none are overlapping, leaving a little space between the pieces. If needed, air fry in two separate batches.
- Air fryer at 400°F for 16 to 18 minutes. You do not need to flip the tofu.
- While the tofu is cooking, mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl.
- Once the tofu is finished cooking, drizzle it with bang bang sauce. Garnish with chopped green onions, and enjoy!
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