Crispy Orange Tofu
Enjoy this crispy orange tofu recipe with sticky orange sauce rather than calling for takeout. This recipe delivers the best battered tofu served in a sweet and sour orange sauce.
This is an easy tofu recipe that you can fry in a skillet or even bake. Imagine this Chinese take-out classic, sauce and all, made in your very own kitchen. It’s the best way to go!
Serve orange crispy tofu with some Brown Rice, Cauliflower Rice, or even Zucchini Noodles.
It’s fun ordering take-out from time to time, but for the most part, we choose to eat in. That’s because I love to make such amazing homemade foods where I can choose the ingredients. This orange tofu is a great example.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- CRISPY — A cornstarch batter makes the tofu extra crispy and delicious
- FLAVORFUL — Using sesame oil adds depth of flavor to this recipe (toasted sesame oil is even better)
- SAVORY SWEET — The sweet orange sauce is made with fresh orange and adds deliciousness to every bite
Who would have thought that oranges would taste so good in a savory dish? But sweet and savory flavors have been coupled together since humans first discovered they had taste buds.
Key Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
- Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
- Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
- Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
- Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
- Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
- Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
- Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.
- Tofu — I use extra-firm tofu for the best orange chicken tofu texture. Here’s more on how to buy tofu.
- Flaxseed — You’ll need some ground flaxseed.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the sauce. You can substitute arrowroot powder.
- Flour — You can use all-purpose flour or even gluten-free flour.
- Sesame oil — This oil is so flavorful. You can find it in the Asian section of most grocery stores and health food stores.
- Green onions — These create a more subtle onion flavor.
- Orange — You’ll need one orange, and we’ll be using both the zest and the juice.
- Tamari or soy sauce — If you have issues with gluten, you can use Tamari, otherwise soy sauce works just fine.
- Rice vinegar — You can find this in the Asian aisles of most grocery stores. You can substitute white wine vinegar.
- Agave — I use agave, but you can substitute maple syrup.
Ingredient Spotlight
What Tofu is Best for Fried Tofu
Firm or extra-firm tofu is best for making fried tofu. It has a compact texture that produces the perfect mouth-feel. Tofu has a neutral flavor, allowing it to soak up the seasonings it’s cooked with. First, you press the packing water out of the tofu to make way for the flavors you’re about to cook it with.
Quick Fix Tip
Skip the pan-frying and use Air Fryer Tofu! Prepare the air-fried tofu as recommended, then add it to a skillet, coat it with the sauce, and serve it with rice and the orange sticky sauce.
Frequently-Asked Questions
What is orange tofu?
You make orange tofu by frying extra-firm tofu until crispy, then tossing it in a sticky orange sauce that’s both tangy and sweet. You can easily make orange tofu both vegan and gluten-free by using Tamari instead of soy sauce.
What is orange sauce made of?
Asian-style orange sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce made with fresh orange juice. You’ll also add things like sugar and soy sauce. Ydd additional flavorings such as ginger or red chili flakes.
How do you flavor and cook tofu?
Stir-frying tofu is a favorite way to add flavor to tofu. First, be sure to press the tofu to remove excess water, then chop it into cubes and add sauces and seasonings. The tofu will absorb the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with.
Marly’s Tips
It’s easy to adapt this sauce. For example, add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger to the sauce to make orange ginger tofu. Add 1 teaspoon red chili paste for more spicy orange tofu.
Serving Suggestions
Calling for takeout is always a temptation, but when you’ve got something like this vegan orange chicken tofu recipe it doesn’t have to be. Here are some great options to serve alongside your tofu stir fry:
- Brown Rice
- Cauliflower Rice
- Steamed Broccoli
- Cooked Noodles
Vegan Asian Recipes
If you love this orange tofu recipe, here are even more vegan Asian-inspired recipes to try:
That’s it for this tofu a la orange!
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Orange Chicken Tofu
Ingredients
Fried Tofu
- 14-ounce package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed dry (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- ¾ cup water
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup flour (all-purpose or gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (toasted sesame oil, olive oil)
Orange Tofu Coating
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (sesame, toasted sesame, or olive oil)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- zest of 1 orange (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (for gluten-free use tamari or coconut aminos)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup (substitute maple syrup)
Sticky Orange Sauce
- ¼ cup orange juice (the juice of one orange from the zest above)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup (or maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (for gluten-free use tamari or coconut aminos)
Instructions
For the Fried Tofu:
- Press the tofu and then chop it into 1/2-inch cubes. (See notes for how to press tofu)
- Create the Tofu Batter: Stir together the flax, water, cornstarch, and flour in a bowl until combined.
- Add the tofu (in batches works best) and thoroughly coat each piece. Use a fork to remove tofu pieces and gently tap on the bowl to remove excess batter. Add a tablespoon of additional water if the batter gets too thick.
- Place a skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Place 2 to 3 sheets of paper towels on a plate on the counter near your skillet.
- Use tongs to place half of the batter-coated tofu in the heated oil. Allow space between each piece for all the sides to get browned. Cook the tofu on each side until browned. Place finished pieces of tofu on the paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Add a little more oil to the pan and repeat with the remaining tofu.
For the Orange Tofu Coating:
- In a small bowl, stir together the orange coating ingredients.
- Return the tofu to the pan and add gently stir in the orange coating. Cook over medium heat until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
For the Sticky Orange Sauce:
- Prepare the sticky orange sauce by combining all the ingredients in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Stir to combine. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments until thickened. It shouldn't take very long. If it gets too thick, add a little hot water and stir to incorporate.
- Serve the tofu over brown rice with additional chopped green onions, sticky orange sauce, and sesame seeds. A side of steamed broccoli goes nicely with this dish too!
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
Regarding Tofu:
- You can substitute one batch of Air Fryer Tofu in place of the fried tofu from this recipe.
- To press tofu, remove it from the package and drain the liquid. Then wrap it in a kitchen towel or paper towels and place something heavy on top, like a heavy pan. Alternatively, use a tofu press. Allow 15 to 20 minutes to press the tofu.
- Tofu packages come in different sizes, anywhere between 14 and 17 ounces is the norm and will work for this recipe.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This post was originally published in 2018 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.
Good tasting. I’m not sure it even needs the tofu coating sauce.. the second sauce with the orange juice seems to be enough! I didnt have any oranges for the zest, only the juice, so used a few drops of Orange essential oil, and it was fantastic! Using the method of the recipe, the crispness of the tofu was lost after adding the tofu coating sauce. I usually make my crispy tofu with just plain salted cornstarch and it stays crispy forever and holds up to any sauces. My family enjoyed this dish.
So glad you liked this recipe, Gina! Thanks for your cornstarch tip. I do lots of different tofu coatings, too. Sometimes I’ll even cook the tofu in almond flour for a low carb version.
Super Easy, Super Healthy, Super Tasty. Loved it so much thank you for sharing
Thanks, Shweta. So glad you liked it!
Could I use your basic airfryer recipe then add the orange sauce at the end? I’m really trying to avoid regular frying anything at this point….
Hi Susan. I think that’s a great idea! And it makes this recipe easier to make too. I’ll add this as a note to the recipe. Thanks!
Can I use arrowroot starch instead of corn starch? Want to use what I have if possible. 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Natasha. Yes, absolutely you can use arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch! Hope you love this as much as we do!
Can I use almond flour in place of GF flour?
Hi Lawanda. I haven’t used almond flour in this recipe, but I certainly would give it a try. I think it should work just fine. Let me know how it goes!
Made this however I didn’t have flax seed so I omitted it, also used regular flour. I think it would’ve turned out even more amazing if I had used a gf flour. this was time consuming for 1 person to make however one of the tastiest dishes i’ve ever cooked. Thank you!
Hi Darsey! I’m so glad you liked this recipe! We’re out of town visiting family and you’re inspiring me to think about making this recipe for them! Sometimes spending a little more time on a dish can be so worth it. Hugs to you! ❤️