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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Vegan Finger Foods

    Air Fryer Tofu Satay

    Published: Apr 17, 2017 · Modified: Nov 13, 2023 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print

    This recipe was sponsored by EZ Tofu Press. All opinions are my own.

    Tofu Satay cooks up incredibly quickly in the air fryer. It's perfect dipped in my quick-and-easy, blender peanut sauce. Serve it as an appetizer or entree!

    A person holding a skewer of tofu satay dipped in peanut dressing

    When I was a kid, we would go out for Thai food once a week, on average, and I so looked forward to Thai food night!

    My family orders big when we eat out, and we'd order mee grob, massaman curry, and at least one order of chicken satay. This Tofu Satay is me trying to veganize that childhood favorite.

    Like most of my tofu recipes, pressing before you make your Tofu Satay is super important. In this recipe, pressing does two things:

    1. Gets the water out, so the marinade can soak in.

    Tofu is very watery, and when you press out the extra water, it gets thirsty, which is ideal for soaking in alllll of the flavor.

    tofu satay on a serving platter with one skewer dipped into the peanut dressing

    2. Makes your tofu more firm.

    Yes, the tofu will soak in marinade, but you'd not adding back nearly as much liquid as you press out.

    I've measured the water many times, and 10 minutes of pressing in the EZ Tofu Press gets out as much as ½ cup of water.  A half hour of marinating doesn't put back that much liquid, so you end up with firmer, more toothsome tofu. Perfect for skewers!

    📖 Recipe

    A person holding a skewer of tofu satay dipped in peanut dressing

    Air Fryer Tofu Satay

    Tofu Satay cooks up incredibly quickly in the air fryer. It's perfect dipped in my quick-and-easy, blender peanut sauce. Serve it as an appetizer or entree! 
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Air Fryer, Vegan
    Keyword: air fryer tofu satay
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • juice of 1 fresh lime
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger - no need to peel, coarsely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
    • 2 cloves of garlic
    • 1 block tofu - see video, cut into strips
    • 1 batch 5-Minute Peanut Butter Sauce - Use the full 6 tablespoons of water that the recipe calls for

    Instructions

    • Combine the soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, ginger, sriracha, and garlic in your blender or food processor, and puree until smooth.
    • Pour the marinade over the tofu strips*, and marinate for 15-30 minutes. While the tofu marinates, soak 6 bamboo skewers in enough water to cover.
    • When your marinating time is up, use a wire cutter to cut your skewers in half, so you now have 6 half-sized skewers. A full bamboo skewer won't fit into your air fryer basket, but these half-skewers will! Remove any splinters from the cut skewers, then, skewer 1 tofu strip onto each little stick. Make sure you are sticking the UNCUT side through your tofu. You do not need to eat any splinters today!
    • Transfer the mini tofu skewers to your air fryer. Cook at 370F for 15 minutes, DO NOT SHAKE. While the tofu cooks, make your 5-Minute Peanut Butter Sauce, if you haven't already.
    • When the air fryer beeps, you are ready to eat!

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Video

    Notes

    • Pro tip: You can reserve the leftover marinade and use it as salad dressing! It's lovely over a green salad or even as a slaw dressing.
    • Satay marinade adapted from Food Network Kitchen.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Air Fryer Tofu Satay
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    241
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0.3
    g
    2
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    Sodium
     
    1436
    mg
    60
    %
    Potassium
     
    217
    mg
    6
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    21
    g
    7
    %
    Fiber
     
    0.2
    g
    1
    %
    Sugar
     
    15
    g
    17
    %
    Protein
     
    13
    g
    26
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    2
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    45
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Paula Dieli

      November 10, 2023 at 8:13 pm

      I don't see the video link

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        November 13, 2023 at 5:30 pm

        The video was just above the recipe card, but I have moved it into the recipe card based on this comment to make it easier to find. :)

        Reply
    2. Marc

      April 24, 2017 at 8:28 am

      Swedish pancakes with butter and sugar was a favorite of mine.

      Reply
    3. Milt

      April 24, 2017 at 8:24 am

      I enjoyed delicious,Baked Mozzarella Sticks.

      Reply
    4. Rob

      April 24, 2017 at 8:18 am

      I always liked some tasty Lasagna.

      Reply
    5. Jill

      April 23, 2017 at 10:36 pm

      5 stars
      Learning how to make cookies and cupcakes when I was little!

      Reply
    6. Maryann D.

      April 23, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      I loved when my mother made soup when I was a child. Any of her soups were wonderful and I try to make them like she did now.

      Reply
    7. Fiona

      April 23, 2017 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      My favorite childhood for memory is making crispy fried tofu with sweet sauce at home, and then bring them to school for my best friends to try :)
      Thank You

      Reply
    8. Richard Brandt

      April 23, 2017 at 5:44 pm

      My favorite childhood for memory is my mom's fried chicken and gravy.

      Reply
    9. Elicia

      April 23, 2017 at 1:30 pm

      Watching my Baba bake and cook. She died in January and I would love to go back in time to watch and taste her food.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 23, 2017 at 2:03 pm

        I am so sorry to hear about your Baba. I know what you mean. I'd give anything to cook with my Nani Dorothy again.

        Reply
    10. Christine

      April 23, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      Yum! This looks so good. Definitely on my "to-make" list.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 23, 2017 at 1:42 pm

        Thank you, Christine!

        Reply
    11. angie w

      April 23, 2017 at 10:05 am

      Having the apple pot pie my gram would make :)

      Reply
    12. Dolores

      April 22, 2017 at 11:16 pm

      My favorite memory is cooking with my Mother!

      Reply
    13. Janet

      April 22, 2017 at 6:41 am

      5 stars
      Every Wednesday night my mom would make spaghetti. Oh it was so good. There is a picture of me in my high chair was spaghetti sauce all over my house looking quite happy.

      Reply
    14. Jenna

      April 22, 2017 at 1:07 am

      This recipe sounds so delicious! My favorite memory is pot pies! So comforting and filling! Yummmm!

      Reply
    15. Terri Cole

      April 21, 2017 at 10:24 pm

      All my favorite childhood food memories center around my grandma's kitchen. She made everything from scratch, cakes, pies, doughnuts. She taught me how to cook and she even wrote down the beloved German potato salad recipe for us. My daughter and I have successfully veganized several of my childhood favorites, including that famous potato salad, and a Christmas macaroon that has cornflakes as an ingredient!

      Now if I could just make a vegan version of Grandma's bread pudding with caramel sauce, I could die happy. LOL!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 21, 2017 at 10:35 pm

        Aw, I love this! All of my Nani Dorothy's recipes got lost, and it breaks my heart. I'd love to veganize her chocolate cake or matzoh ball soup!

        Reply
    16. Gail

      April 21, 2017 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Favorite childhood food memories. Watermelon! YUM!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 21, 2017 at 1:16 pm

        Yum!

        Reply
    17. Scott

      April 21, 2017 at 12:43 pm

      Best childhood food memory is my mom's beef stew! I've come along way since then since we are 100% plant based now.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 21, 2017 at 1:16 pm

        Aw my dad made a good beef stew also. It was even better the next day!

        Reply
    18. Scott

      April 21, 2017 at 12:40 pm

      We eat tofu very often and this tool and recipe all look/sound amazing!

      Reply
    19. Libby

      April 21, 2017 at 12:11 pm

      5 stars
      My favorite child food memory - while in Dallas, there was a vegetarian restaurant and I had the best sub sandwich. First time I ever had avocado OR sprouts!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 21, 2017 at 1:15 pm

        Oh wow! I bet that was gamechanging.

        Reply
    20. Linda @ Veganosity

      April 20, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      Tofu Satay is the best! I'm drooling over that peanut sauce.

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 20, 2017 at 7:57 pm

        Thank you, Linda!

        Reply
    21. Mel |avirtualvegan.com

      April 20, 2017 at 1:41 am

      This tofu looks so good! I could easily eat the whole lot dipped in that gorgeous sauce!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 20, 2017 at 7:50 am

        Thank you, Mel!

        Reply
    22. Stephanie

      April 19, 2017 at 9:36 pm

      4 stars
      This recipe looks so yummy. I loved watching my mom cook in the kitchen when I was younger...and getting to taste all the food. :-)

      Reply
    23. Sarah

      April 19, 2017 at 2:15 am

      I'm so impressed! I hadn't had thai food until I was in my 20s! You're so cultured :) Peanut Satay is my favorite thing ever—we'll have to give these a try!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 19, 2017 at 10:55 am

        Ha! We were lucky in the food department. At the time, though, my friends mostly thought we are weird food. Good preparation for going vegan later, where everyone thinks that again!

        Reply
    24. Dianne

      April 18, 2017 at 5:27 pm

      This looks amazing! You know exactly how I like my tofu!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 18, 2017 at 5:42 pm

        Thank you, Dianne!

        Reply
    25. Sadie

      April 18, 2017 at 2:21 pm

      I"m so excited to try this recipe in my air fryer!

      My favorite childhood food memory is making chicken and dumplings with my grandmother. It's the ultimate comfort food to me. I have a photo of me standing on a chair to be able to reach the counter and roll out the dough. I need to find a way to vegan-ize the recipe!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 18, 2017 at 3:00 pm

        Aw that is so sweet!!

        Reply
    26. Janeen

      April 18, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      OH this recipe is wonderful !!!! Great idea using sticks, sure it makes turning in oven easier also. Thanks for recipe and chance to win

      Reply
    27. Mary Ellen | VNutrition

      April 18, 2017 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      Thai food is amazing and so is this tofu! I wish my parents took me for Thai when I was little, it was the same old McDonald's for us as a treat (blah). Love the video!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 18, 2017 at 12:38 pm

        Aw thank you! At the time, most of my classmates thought our food was sooooo weird.

        Reply
    28. Kristina

      April 17, 2017 at 5:48 pm

      as we head into summer and BBQ parties, I love a food on a stick! :) this is my kind of tofu - love the flavors!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 8:37 pm

        Thank you, Kristina! I agree: sticks make any food special.

        Reply
        • Kristina

          April 19, 2017 at 12:02 pm

          this video is mesmerizing. cannot stop watching. :)

          Reply
          • Becky Striepe

            April 19, 2017 at 12:35 pm

            Aw thank you! <3

            Reply
    29. Jenna Urben

      April 17, 2017 at 4:58 pm

      Great post and a great giveaway! My favorite childhood food is my moms banana bread. She added chocolate chips and nuts, sometimes even peanut butter!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 8:37 pm

        Peanut butter in banana bread is genius!

        Reply
    30. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day

      April 17, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      5 stars
      I'm drooling! I love Thai food so much! We usually have it every weekend, but our local restaurant doesn't serve tofu satay. I should suggest it to them since they make everything else vegan for us. Anyway, my food memories are of things at home, like Lipton's onion dip with potato chips and eating black olives off my fingers. And licking the "stuff" out of Oreos and leaving the cookies behind. LOL

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 8:36 pm

        Ooh you totally should! And ruffled chips with Lipton dip will forger remind me of grade school sleepovers. So fun!

        Reply
    31. sarah

      April 17, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      making oatmeal cookies with my granny :)

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 3:32 pm

        Aw, I love that!

        Reply
    32. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite

      April 17, 2017 at 3:10 pm

      I love satay sauce! And anything on sticks is right up my alley. Looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 3:32 pm

        Thank you, Sophia! I agree - skewers male everything more delicious.

        Reply
    33. Ginny

      April 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great video to go along with your recipe. You really help it showing the steps. I am jumping on this recipe right away!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 2:50 pm

        Enjoy it, Ginny!

        Reply
    34. Jenn

      April 17, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      I'm feeling a little behind the times lately since I don't (yet) have an air fryer. It soared to the top of kitchen must haves pretty darn quickly. I think I need one if for no other reason than this tofu satay! LOVE crispy tofu - so totally addictive. NEED!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        April 17, 2017 at 2:19 pm

        Thank you, Jenn! It's so good!

        Reply

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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