Salt and Pepper Tofu (Stovetop or Air Fryer!) (VIDEO)
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Salt and Pepper Tofu is super crispy on the outside, while soft and tender on the inside, and tossed in the classic Chinese Salt and Pepper seasoning that we all know and love! Make it on the stove or in the air fryer!
Watch the Salt and Pepper Tofu recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
Salt and Pepper Tofu is so good!
Do you love the classic Chinese Salt and Pepper dishes at Chinese restaurants? I love it so much, I have three recipes that incorporate these flavors – Salt and Pepper Squid, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings!
If you love tofu, make sure to try my Spicy Honey Garlic Tofu, Korean Braised Tofu or Mapo Tofu!
I have made this 10+ times and each time I’ve had people asking for this recipe. This is by far the best recipe on the site!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- firm or extra firm tofu, drained and patted dry – Firm or extra firm tofu has the least amount of water, is dense, and holds up very well when fried. Do not use soft tofu as it will fall apart.
- jalapeno and fresno chili peppers – I used both de-seeded and diced, stir-fried at the end to add flavor. If you are sensitive to spice, I would consider omitting them and substituting with green or red bell peppers.
- white pepper – white pepper is woodier and more floral than black pepper – this is the main spice for “Salt and Pepper” – black pepper will not work as a substitute.
- MSG – if you don’t want to use MSG, you can use chicken bouillon powder.
How to Make Salt and Pepper Tofu
Cut, Blanch, and Dry Tofu – Remove the block of firm tofu from the package, drain well, and pat dry. Cut lengthwise in half then in the opposite direction to form 2″ cubes. Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with a tablespoon of kosher salt. Add tofu cubes to the boiling water, cover and turn the heat to low. Blanch for 5 minutes then drain. Pat the tofu cubes completely dry with a kitchen or paper towel.
Season and Dredge Tofu – In a bowl, add the tofu cubes and season with salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp of cornstarch. Add the cornstarch to a bowl. Mix in a beaten egg to cover the tofu and mix to form a wet batter around the tofu. Dust the tofu cubes in the cornstarch until fully coated.
Fry the Tofu – In a large dutch oven or wok, heat the oil to 375F and fry half of the tofu for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain the tofu from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. Fry the rest of the tofu in the same way. Remove and drain the tofu of any excess oil. (Refer to recipe card for air fryer instructions.)
Saute Aromatics & Peppers; Season Tofu – In a separate large pan or wok, add 1 tbsp of neutral oil over medium high heat and add the garlic and scallion whites. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the red and green chilis and saute for another minute. Add back the tofu and season with kosher salt, white pepper, sugar, and msg and toss until well coated throughout. Garnish with scallion greens and enjoy!
Key Tip
CJ’s Storage Tips
Store any leftover Salt and Pepper Tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Refrigerating will change the crispy texture of the Salt and Pepper Tofu. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 6-8 minutes until the tofu cubes are crispy and hot! (You can also reheat until warmed through in the microwave if you don’t care about restoring any crispiness.)
If you tried this Salt and Pepper Tofu or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Salt and Pepper Tofu (VIDEO)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb firm or extra firm tofu, drained and pat dry
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 cup cornstarch, plus 2 tbsp
- 1 egg
- 2 quarts neutral oil
- 1 red chili, I used fresno, de-seeded, chopped
- 1 green chili, I used jalapeno, de-seeded, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 scallions, chopped, whites and greens separated
Seasoning Mixture
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp msg
Instructions
- Remove the block of firm tofu from the package, drain well, and pat dry. Cut lengthwise in half then in the opposite direction to form 2" cubes.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with a tablespoon of kosher salt. Add tofu cubes to the boiling water, cover and turn the heat to low. Blanch for 5 minutes then drain. Pat the tofu cubes completely dry with a kitchen or paper towel.
- In a bowl, add the tofu cubes and season with salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp of cornstarch.
- Add the cornstarch to a bowl. Mix in a beaten egg to cover the tofu and mix to form a wet batter around the tofu. Dust the tofu cubes in the cornstarch until fully coated.
- In a large dutch oven or wok, heat the oil to 375F and fry half of the tofu for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain the tofu from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. Fry the rest of the tofu in the same way. Remove and drain the tofu of any excess oil.
- In a separate large pan or wok, add 1 tbsp of neutral oil over medium high heat and add the garlic and scallion whites. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the red and green chilis and saute for another minute. Add back the tofu and season with kosher salt, white pepper, sugar, and msg and toss until well coated throughout. Garnish with scallion greens and enjoy!
Notes
Air Fryer Instructions
Follow the recipe through steps 1 through 4. Lay the dredged pieces of tofu onto your air fryer basket, then spray generously with a neutral oil spray such as avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. Air fry the tofu pieces at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Give them a flip and air fry for another 5 minutes until they’re super crispy. The time may need to be adjusted depending on the strength of your air fryer, so be sure to check the tofu throughout the air frying process to ensure they come out to a crisp golden brown! Finally, follow step 6 in the recipe and serve!Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Salt and Pepper Tofu recipe was originally published in December 2023, and updated in March 2026.
I made this twice already and it’s my current favorite!
@nicolemarimc
Yummy
Ig: d3e.ana
Great recipe! The air fryer method works really well 💯
@christina__27
Love this
ralphyssa315@gmail.com
IG: abreyesmd
I always wonder how to make this. I tried this one today and it was easy. It turned out well; although, I should have dried the tofu more. Overall, it was an easy to follow recipe.
@loutkdphil
I made this for my niece who is vegetarian and she was over the moon! Said it tasted like a restaurant dish. Delish!!
Insta: Leilani.bloomquist
I have made this 10+ times and each time I’ve had people asking for this recipe. This is by far the best recipe on the site!
This recipe is one of my family’s favorite. So simple yet so delicious. Thank you!
So delicious and easy to make, definitely better than the restaurant! I can’t wait to bring it to share with friends
@mima_luk
One my absolute favorite CJ Eats recipes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
@casey._.s