Air Fryer Tofu Salad with Salsa

Marinate tofu in your favorite salsa and then roast it in the air fryer. Serve it over an easy salad and serve. It’s a vegan’s answer to grilled chicken salad and only 2 ingredients needed

The phrase, “tastes just like chicken” is perfectly suited for this recipe, lol.

Once you air fry the tofu, you get a dense and moist texture thanks to the wonderful air fryer technology.

The salsa marination helps too!

Tips for making this salad

• Be sure to use extra firm tofu or even super firm tofu. It absorbs salsa better.
• Marinate the tofu in the salsa for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Less time for marination means a rubbery tofu.
• The type of air fryer you use can change your tofu texture. I used COSORI Air Fryer Max XL 5.8QT. Here is my affiliate link -> https://amzn.to/2YgcTOk
• Top it on any salad you make because it will make that salad so much better. But, you can also eat it by itself. I ate it right out of the air fryer the first time I made it.
• If you don’t have an air fryer, you can grill it stove top, on an outdoor grill or even in the oven.
• I would love it if you used an organic or a homemade salsa. For this air fryer tofu, I used a homemade salsa (recipes coming someday, lol).
• My favorite store bought salsa is Saucy Gourmet Salsa. It’s made with all natural ingredients and tastes sooo good. I get it from Publix. I am not affiliated with them in any way, just a huge fan girl. To find it near you, Saucy Gourmet has a store locator on their site.
• If you like your tofu to be a little crispy, keep it in air fryer for 18 Minutes at 350°F (177°C). For a softer tofu, keep it for 15 Minutes.
• I prefer sliced tofu over cubed. You can do cubed tofu too, just make sure ever cube is coated in the salsa.
• Watch the video for how I recycle the Zip Lock bag for future use.

The origin story

I have been marinating tofu in salsa ever since I used it in my vegan tostada recipe. It’s a ridiculously delicious way of making tofu interesting and tasty!

After that, I have used it frequently because I just love the ease of making it. Can you believe that you just need 2 ingredients???

Most of my recipes have at least 5 ingredients and lots of steps to make the recipe. This air fryer tofu needs just 2 ingredients and less than 10 steps!

Give me tofu over croutons any day!

The first time I used tofu in a salad to replace croutons, I was FLOORED by the taste of the salad.

Tofu gives the salad a simple texture and doesn’t overpower the salad. Tofu is also packed with proteins and essential nutrients (Source: BBC Good Food) that only add to my diet.

Can’t say the same for croutons, though!

Croutons have a place in other recipes like a Thanksgiving stuffing recipe and tomato soups.

If you are interested in trying a vegan Caesar salad where I used tofu instead of croutons, check it out here. And, if you want to make your own croutons, here is my way of making them.

Using this air fryer tofu in meal prep

There is good news and bad news about this tofu when it comes to meal prep!

Starting with the good news. Tofu can be refrigerated and used within 5-7 days of making it. I sprinkle a little water on the cooked tofu and wrap it in wax paper.

Then, I put it into a glass container, close the lid and refrigerate. When I am ready to cook it, I remove the wax paper and drizzle about a 1/4 tsp of extra virgin olive oil. The step is to heat it up quickly in a mini oven for about 5 minutes.

Done!

Now for the bad news!

Now, brace yourself for the bad news! Cooked air fryer tofu CANNOT be frozen!!!

I tried it and it was the worst experience. It lost all its texture, taste and became this rubbery mess!

So, rule of thumb is “refrigerate, don’t freeze!”

How do I freeze opened tofu?

Unused portion of an opened tofu can be put into a glass container submerge it in the liquid from the original container.

The unopened tofu can be refrigerated for 5 days at the most! Use it up quickly because it gets slimy.

I used half of the tofu block for this recipe (which I sliced into 4 slices). In the video, you see me using just 2 because it’s easier to film.

Hope you like my take on a vegan version of grilled chicken salad.

This salad includes plain olives, but you can also add my olive salad to it. Adds an amazing taste texture to this recipe

P/S: If you can’t find Saucy Gourmet Salsa near you, you can get it via Amazon (Affiliate Link) -> https://amzn.to/3BtrqEv

I also like making tortilla chips, potato nibbles and garlic bread in the air fryer. Have you tried it?

Top this tofu on any of these salads:

Mediterranean Lentil Salad

Quick, 10 minute Mediterranean Lentil Salad made in the Instant Pot is a healthy, protein-packed lunch

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Spinach Salad With Bagel Chips

Quick, Healthy Spinach Salad Recipe with easy ingredients

Check out this recipe

Vegan Tofu Wraps (Protein-Rich)

Vegan Tofu Wraps made with Tofu marinated in Peanut sauce. Quick snack idea, Healthy recipe. If you are looking for an easy dinner or easy lunch recipe, this is a perfect vegetarian lunch recipe or post workout snack

Check out this recipe

Air Fryer Tofu Marinated In Salsa

Healing Tomato

Marinate tofu in your favorite salsa and then roast it in the air fryer. Serve it over an easy salad and serve. It’s a vegan’s answer to grilled chicken salad and only 2 ingredients needed

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Marinating Time 30 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 2 people

Calories 248 kcal

Equipment

• COSORI Air Fryer
• Zip loc bag

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 block extra firm tofu If you can find superfirm, use that.
• 2 cup salsa Don't use chunky.

Instructions

 

• Press the whole tofu (see notes)
• Cut half of the tofu block and save the rest for future use
• Make 4 slices out of the tofu.
• Place the tofu in a zip loc bag and add salsa
• Spread the salsa so that it covers all the tofu. Set it aside for 30 Min
• Place the marinated tofu in your air fryer tray
• Set your Air Fryer to 350°F (176°) and time to 15-18 minutes depending on your text preference. Start it
• Once done, remove it immediately from the air fryer.
• Let it cool before chopping it and topping on salad

Video

Notes

**** Calorie information is approximate.

• Be sure to extra firm tofu or even super firm tofu. It absorbs salsa better.
• Marinate the tofu in the salsa for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Less time for marination means a rubbery tofu.
• The type of air fryer you use can change your tofu texture. I used COSORI Air Fryer Max XL 5.8QT.
• Top it on any salad you make because it will make that salad so much better. But, you can also eat it by itself. I ate it right out of the air fryer the first time I made it.
• If you don’t have an air fryer, you can grill it stove top, on an outdoor grill or even in the oven.
• I would love it if you used an organic or a homemade salsa. For this air fryer tofu, I used a homemade salsa (recipes coming someday, lol).
• My favorite store bought salsa is Saucy Gourmet Salsa. It’s made with all natural ingredients and tastes sooo good. I get it from Publix. I am not affiliated with them in any way, just a huge fan girl. To find it near you, Saucy Gourmet has a store locator on their site.
• If you like your tofu to be a little crispy, keep it in air fryer for 18 Minutes at 350°F (177°C). For a softer tofu, keep it for 15 Minutes.
• I prefer sliced tofu over cubed. You can do cubed tofu too, just make sure ever cube is coated in the salsa.
• Watch the video for how I recycle the zip loc bag for future use.

Keyword Air Fryer Recipes, Air Fryer Tofu Recipes, can you make vegan recipes in the dutch oven