Hello lovelies, in summer a big salad lands on our table almost every day – but it has to be one that genuinely fills you up. That's exactly what this crispy tofu salad is made for: golden air-fryer tofu cubes, crunchy snap peas and a creamy matcha-sesame dressing that turns a simple bowl of greens into something really special.
Crispy tofu from the air fryer
The tofu is the secret star here. Instead of frying it in lots of oil, I marinate the cubes with soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic powder and pop them in the air fryer. That way they turn lovely and crisp on the outside while staying juicy inside – no deep-frying needed. Tofu also brings plenty of plant protein, which takes the salad to around 20 g of protein per serving.
I blanch the snap peas only very briefly and plunge them into cold water right away – that keeps them crisp and bright green. Then everything goes into a big bowl with the fresh greens and black sesame. The dressing is whisked together in no time, and the matcha powder gives it a delicate, slightly grassy note and that pretty green colour.
I fold the crispy tofu through and add the dressing only just before serving, so everything stays nice and crunchy. Sprinkle over a little extra sesame if you like. At our place this salad is just as popular as a light dinner as it is alongside whatever is on the grill.
If you love fresh salads with tofu as much as I do, take a look at my spring salad and tofu with pistachio crust, the soba noodle salad with peanut dressing and the summery panzanella with tofu.
