Step 1

Drain the tofu, wrap in a clean dish towel and microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Unwrap, rewrap with a fresh towel, and repeat. (This gets rid of excess liquid.) Unwrap, and cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and white or black pepper. Add the tofu cubes and gently stir to coat, taking care not to break the pieces. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch over the tofu and carefully stir to coat. Repeat with the remaining cornstarch.

Step 3

Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and preheat for 5 minutes or until the appliance signals it’s ready. Add the coated tofu to the basket in one layer, ensuring that none of the pieces touch. Air fry for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the tofu is crisp and deeply golden, shaking the basket halfway through.

Step 4

While the tofu is in the air fryer, make the sauce. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, honey, cider vinegar, ginger, red pepper flakes and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. (The mixture will start to boil, which is why you need to use a large enough bowl. Don’t walk away either, so you can keep an eye on it.) Remove from the microwave, whisk to combine and continue heating in 1-minute increments, whisking after each round, until the sauce is the consistency of melted honey and has reduced to just less than 1/2 cup. (Alternatively, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sauce ingredients and simmer until it has reached the same consistency and amount as the microwave method.) Let cool slightly.

Step 5

When the tofu is done, transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle half of the sauce over the tofu and stir so the pieces are evenly coated. Add more sauce to taste. Serve, with rice and more sauce on the side, if desired.