Crispy Orange Tofu

This Crispy Orange Tofu recipe is our take on classic orange chicken. Ready in just about an hour, it features ultra-crispy tofu coated in a zesty orange sauce and finished with a drizzle of sesame oil for the perfect touch.

Growing up, orange chicken was always a favorite when ordering Chinese-American takeout. And this quick and easy tofu recipe is our take on vegan orange chicken and like many of our takeout inspired dishes, tofu is the star. 

It has all of the flavor and texture of the original dish while using ingredients that are completely free of animal products! 

Ingredients You’ll Need 

• Tofu: We find firm tofu to be the perfect texture for this recipe. For best results, we also recommend pressing your tofu to remove excess moisture to ensure maximum flavor. 
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is used to marinate the tofu before frying and added to the orange sauce for a rich, salty umami flavor. 
• Cornstarch: Creates a crispy coating for the tofu when pan-fried and also helps to thicken the orange sauce, giving it that glossy, sticky texture. 
• Aromatics: Garlic and ginger add depth of flavor and added warmth to the orange sauce. 
• Sugar: Brown sugar is ideal to use in your orange sauce, but regular granulated sugar or coconut sugar works in a pinch! If you want to ensure that the sugar being used is vegan-friendly, make sure it’s organic. We like to use the Wholesome brand. 
• Vinegar: We recommend using rice vinegar for this recipe. Bringing an acidic element to our sauce will help balance all of the flavors. If you don’t have rice vinegar, regular white vinegar will also work. 
• Spices: Red pepper flakes provide a subtle heat, while salt and white pepper enhance the tofu’s flavor during preparation and frying. 
• Oil: We like to use a high-heat neutral oil like avocado oil for pan-frying. To add some additional flavor to our dish, we also drizzle toasted sesame oil over the finished orange tofu.
• Oranges: You’ll need both orange juice and orange zest for the best orange flavor. 

How to Make Orange Tofu

1. Prep the tofu. We recommend pressing the tofu for 30 minutes to 1 hour using a tofu press, heavy book, or our favorite way to press tofu without a tofu press. Once the tofu has been pressed, cut it into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a large bowl.
2. Season the tofu. Add the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper to the bowl with the tofu. Sprinkle over half of the cornstarch, mix, add the second half, and mix. Set aside. 
3. Pan-fry the tofu. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Add the tofu and fry until golden brown. Remove tofu from the pan and set aside. 
4. Make the orange sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and orange zest. 
5. Sauté the aromatics.  In the same skillet that you fried the tofu, add the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Add additional oil as needed. Sauté, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes or until fragrant. 
6. Add the sauce. Once fragrant, add the orange sauce and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, mix together the warm water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. Add it to the sauce once simmering adn whisk through. Allow the sauce to simmer, mixing often until thickened, about 6-8 minutes. 
7. Add the tofu. Add in the cooked tofu and sesame oil and mix until well combined. Taste and season with additional salt as needed. 
8. Serve. Serve orange tofu while warm over rice with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

When served with rice and your favorite roasted veggies, this Orange Tofu is the perfect weeknight meal. Or, if you’re looking to round out the meal even more, start with a delicious bowl of Miso Soup! 

More Easy Vegan Tofu Recipes YOu May Enjoy:

Dinner

Tofu Katsu

Appetizers and Sides

Vegan Tofu Karaage

Dinner

The Best General Tso’s Tofu

Dinner

Mapo Tofu (Vegan)

Make sure you tag us on Instagram @sweetsimplevegan and @consciouschris and hashtag #sweetsimplevegan if you make this recipe. We love to see your photos!

Print

This page may contain affiliate links, which simply means that we earn a commission if you purchase through those links, but your price remains the same. Thank you for supporting Sweet Simple Vegan!