Crispy Orange Tofu

Crispy orange tofu is a vegan version of a popular Chinese takeaway dish. Deliciously crunchy bits of baked tofu are paired with a sweet and sticky sauce for the perfect fuss-free weeknight dinner.

This crispy orange tofu is a plant-based rendition of chicken orange, a sweet and tangy dish that's quite popular in North American Chinese restaurants.

It's a vegan orange chicken, if you will, with the chicken replaced with crispy tofu that's baked instead of fried.

The recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, and it's the ideal option for those nights you feel like ordering Chinese but decide to go for a healthier and tastier meal instead.

You can serve the tofu over rice, stir-fried veggies or rice noodles, and you can also add some extra veggies to the sauce for a healthier version.

What do you need for this recipe?

Extra firm tofu — I press all my tofu, even if it's already extra firm. Just 30 minutes of pressing makes quite a difference when it comes to crispiness.

Cornstarch (cornflour) — You'll need cornstarch for both the tofu and the sauce. If you don't have any, you can substitute it with rice flour or potato starch.

Sesame oil — Sesame oil is made from raw or toasted sesame seeds and is often used in Chinese and Japanese cuisines. Sesame oils extracted from raw seeds have a light color and a delicate, neutral flavor. Toasted kinds, on the other hand, have a deeper, richer, and nuttier flavor. Use whichever you like best for this recipe.

Dark soy sauce — Dark soy sauce is thick and dark and just the perfect choice for tofu orange. You can use light soy sauce if you don't have dark soy sauce. You can use the same amount, and the taste will be comparable, but the sauce will have a lighter color.

Garlic and ginger — Fresh garlic and ginger are crucial flavours in this recipe; don't rely on jarred garlic and ginger or paste because the flavor won't be the same.

Rice vinegar — Rice vinegar is made from fermented rice and is commonly used in Asian cuisine. It has a moderate flavor that is slightly sweet. If you don't have rice vinegar, you can use sherry vinegar, which has a comparable taste and acidity, or white wine vinegar.

Light brown sugar — Brown sugar is richer in taste than caster sugar, but you can use either type in this orange tofu recipe.

Oranges — You'll need the juice of two oranges to make the sauce. If you'd like the sauce to have an even more pronounced orange flavour, you can also add the zest of an orange.

How do you make crispy orange tofu?

Start by making the tofu.

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add the cubed tofu to a large bowl and mix with the cornstarch, sesame oil, dark soy sauce and black pepper.
• Toss gently until all tofu pieces are well covered. Arrange the tofu bits in a single layer on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy, flipping them halfway through.

Meanwhile, make the sauce.

• Add the garlic, ginger and soy sauce to a large pan and heat it over medium heat until it bubbles.
• Stir in the red chilli flakes, rice vinegar, light brown sugar and orange juice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
• Next, stir in the cornstarch mixture and continue to cook for another minute until the sauce thickens further.
• Add the baked tofu to the pan and toss gently until the tofu is coated in sauce.
• Serve over boiled rice, topped with sesame seeds and chopped spring onion, if you like.

Recipe notes and tips

• This vegan orange tofu pairs great with boiled rice or fried rice, but if you want to keep it low carb, you can serve it over cauliflower rice or quinoa.
• Tofu orange is a dish that's best served immediately. You can reheat it in the microwave, but the taste and texture won't be quite the same.
• If the sauce looks too thin after you add the cornstarch-water slurry, don't be tempted to add more cornstarch. Instead, let it bubble for a couple more minutes until it thickens.

If you liked this crispy orange tofu recipe, you might also like some of my other vegan tofu recipes:

• Sweet and Sour Tofu
• Vegan Tofu Massaman Curry
• Vegan Tofu Thai Red Curry
• Easy Vegan Tofu Korma
• Vegan Malaysian Curry

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