• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Purely Kaylie

  • About
    • About Kaylie
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Mains
    • Sweets
    • Snacks
    • Dip, Dressing, & Spreads
    • Smoothies
    • Gluten-Free
  • Shop
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Mains » Orange Tofu

    Orange Tofu

    Published: Jun 3, 2020 · Modified: Jun 24, 2020 by Kaylie Grace · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read the affiliate disclosure here. 

    This orange tofu is vegan, gluten-free, and full of flavor! It’s an easy vegan dinner recipe made with crispy fried tofu and a sweet, tangy, sticky orange sauce. It’s reminiscent of the delicious Chinese inspired dish we all know and love!

    two bowls filled with white rice and crispy baked orange tofu

    This vegan-friendly alternative to orange chicken is so delicious; it just might become your new favorite dinner! Truthfully, I’m not the world’s biggest tofu fan. It’s not my typical go-to ingredient when cooking. But, let me tell you… this orange tofu recipe takes things to a whole new level.

    You know that bland and spongey tofu block most of us shy away from? This orange tofu is like the wild, cooler, party version of that. It’s flavorful, crispy, and oh so tasty. First, we’ll fry the tofu to create crispy golden cubes. Then, we’ll coat the fried tofu in a sweet, sour, and tangy homemade orange sauce. I’m confident this dish can turn any tofu-hater into a tofu-lover!

    This orange tofu recipe is:

    • Vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free
    • Bursting with sweet and tangy flavor
    • Made with no refined sugar
    • Easy to prepare and ready in 30 minutes
    orange tofu in a bowl with white rice, surrounded by a plate of oranges, green onions, and sesame seeds

    What is orange sauce made of?

    Orange sauce is typically made of orange juice or orange zest, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and oil. This particular recipe uses fresh orange juice and maple syrup.

    What ingredients are in orange tofu?

    • Tofu: Tofu is packed with plant-based protein and it’s a great meat-free substitution. Be sure to use extra-firm tofu for this dish.
    • Orange juice: This is where the tart and tangy orange flavor comes from! I recommend using pulp-free orange juice.
    • Soy sauce or tamari: If you’re strictly gluten-free, be sure to use tamari instead of soy sauce.
    • Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar contributes a mild sweetness.
    • Maple syrup: Instead of refined sugar, maple syrup makes this orange sauce a bit healthier than alternatives.
    • Oil: Sesame oil is the best choice, but extra-virgin olive oil also works.
    • Sriracha sauce: Sriracha provides extra flavor and a subtle spice. Instead of sriracha, you can use any garlic chili sauce.
    • Garlic: Use fresh minced garlic or garlic powder.
    • Ginger: Use finely grated ginger or ground ginger.
    • Cornstarch: Cornstarch has two purposes in this recipe: it makes the tofu crispy and thickens the orange sauce.
    a marble board topped with fruit, a glass of juice, maple syrup, soy sauce, ginger, and green onion

    Tip’s for perfecting this vegan-friendly Chinese dish

    Don’t skip the cornstarch. Cornstarch is an essential component to the fried tofu and orange sauce. For the tofu, cornstarch is the key to its crispy exterior. For the orange sauce, cornstarch helps to thicken and reduce it into a sticky consistency. If you skip the cornstarch, your tofu won’t be crispy and the sauce will be too watery.

    You can bake the tofu instead of frying it. If you’re not a fan of frying or you’re trying to limit oil, have no fear! You can easily bake the tofu instead of pan-frying it. To bake tofu, coat the cubes in cornstarch (as written in the recipe). Then, instead of heating a pan with oil, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake the tofu at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until golden brown.

    two bowls filled with vegan chinese food beside a bowl of green onions and a wooden fork

    What are the best ways to serve orange tofu? I recommend serving this Chinese-inspired dish over rice with green onion and sesame seeds. Alternatively, it pairs well with vegetables, quinoa, or noodles.

    Love the orange sauce but can’t eat tofu? Make cauliflower wings and coat them in this yummy sauce!

    vegan orange tofu in a bowl with white rice

    More easy vegan dinner recipes:

    • Vegan Peanut Noodles
    • Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
    • Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadillas
    • Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo
    • Easy Chickpea Curry
    • Vegan Broccoli Pesto Pasta
    • Vegan Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

    If you try this Orange Tofu, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    orange tofu in a bowl with white rice, surrounded by a plate of oranges, green onions, and sesame seeds

    Orange Tofu

    ★★★★★ 4.7 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Kaylie Grace
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 2–3 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Fry
    • Cuisine: Chinese
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This orange tofu is crispy, sweet, tangy, and easy to make! It’s a healthy vegan and gluten-free dinner recipe that pairs well with rice.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    Crispy Tofu

    • 1 block extra-firm tofu
    • 3 tbsp cornstarch
    • 3–4 tablespoon oil (sesame or olive oil)

    Orange Sauce

    • 1 cup orange juice
    • ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup rice vinegar
    • 1 tsp sriracha sauce
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
    • ½-inch ginger, finely grated (or ¼ tsp ground ginger)
    • 2 tbsp cornstarch
    • 2 tbsp water

    For Serving

    • Brown or white rice
    • Green onion, to garnish
    • Sesame seeds, to garnish

    Instructions

    1. Press tofu: Remove tofu block from its packaging. Use a tofu press for 15 minutes to remove excess moisture. If you don’t have a tofu press, wrap the tofu in paper towel and place a heavy object on top of it (such as a book).
    2. Prepare rice: If serving this dish with rice, prepare it according to package instructions.
    3. Crispy tofu: Slice the pressed tofu into 1-inch cubes. Combine the tofu and cornstarch in a bowl. Gently toss the tofu to evenly coat all sides. Warm the oil on medium-high heat in a pan. Fry the tofu for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. After, transfer the tofu to a plate and pour out any leftover oil from the pan.
    4. Orange sauce: Whisk the orange juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sriracha sauce, garlic, and ginger together. In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water together. Reheat the pan on medium temperature. Pour the orange sauce into the pan and bring it to a boil. Add the cornstarch/water mixture and stir to combine. Once the sauce thickens, add the fried tofu. Toss to evenly coat all of the tofu.
    5. Serve: Divide the orange tofu amongst serving bowls with brown or white rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds.

    Notes

    • Be sure to use rice vinegar. Do not try to substitute it with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.
    • To bake the tofu: Toss the tofu cubes in cornstarch. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake tofu at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until golden brown.
    • Nutrition information reflects the orange tofu recipe without any rice.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ⅓ recipe
    • Calories: 372
    • Sugar: 26g
    • Fat: 15.5g
    • Saturated Fat: 2.5g
    • Carbohydrates: 42g
    • Fiber: 2g
    • Protein: 16g

    Keywords: orange tofu, vegan chinese recipes, cubed tofu recipes

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @purelykaylie on Instagram and hashtag it #purelykaylie

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use, trust, and love!

    More Healthy vegan dinner and main dish recipes

    • a bowl of vegan garlic and chive mashed potatoes
      Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • vegan jackfruit nuggets on a white plate with a bite taken out of one of the nuggets
      Jackfruit Nuggets
    • vegan slow cooker lentil curry with rice inside a bowl
      Slow Cooker Lentil Curry with Rice
    • two bowls of creamy vegan lemon pasta with coconut milk
      Creamy Vegan Lemon Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Arlene Hansen

      December 31, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      I’d like to know the amount of carbohydrates in this if you substituted a low carb maple syrup.

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        January 01, 2023 at 6:17 am

        Hi Arlene! It will vary depending on the brand you use. I recommend inserting the ingredients manually into the My Fitness Pal app. Select the exact brands you will be using in the recipe. That way, you will have an accurate estimate of the nutrition information 🙂

        Reply
    2. Esme

      July 23, 2021 at 9:52 pm

      I made this following the I structures but the sauce wasn’t getting thick it was soupy 🙁 what should I do to fix it?

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        July 23, 2021 at 9:56 pm

        Hey, Esme! Oh no. I am sorry that happened. You must have used an ingredient substitute that did not work well. Which ingredient(s) did you replace? Did you forget the cornstarch? You must use cornstarch and rice vinegar in this recipe. If you try to replace them with other ingredients, it will not work!

        Reply
    3. M

      February 27, 2021 at 9:51 pm

      Purely amazing 🙂 My entire family loved it so much we had second helpings. It tasted even better the next round after all the flavors blended so beautifully. I will probably never order tofu take out ever again. I did cut my tofu into half inch squares since my family likes it better that way. Thank you Kaylie, this recipe definitely is a keeper.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        February 28, 2021 at 10:32 am

        Thank you so much, M! I’m thrilled to hear your family loved this recipe. Enjoy! 🙂 xo

        Reply
    4. Anne

      October 07, 2020 at 2:37 pm

      One off my favorites to make! Tastes so good

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        October 07, 2020 at 2:42 pm

        Thank you, Anne! I’m so glad you love this orange tofu! 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hello, I’m Kaylie!

    Welcome to the Purely Kaylie kitchen! I share plant-based recipes with simple, healthy ingredients. Whether you’re vegan or not, take a look around. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy! About Kaylie →

    Let’s Be Friends!

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Popular Recipes

    a pile of vegan chocolate chip cookies

    Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

    vegan sugar cookies on white parchment paper with a bite taken out of the center cookie

    Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)

    a white bowl filled with chocolate oatmeal and topped with banana, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and cacao nibs

    Chocolate Oatmeal

    an overhead photo of an oatmeal smoothie with peanut butter

    Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie

    a stack of homemade vegan chocolate protein bars

    No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars

    a jar of vegan basic overnight oats with chia seeds, yogurt, and almond milk

    Basic Overnight Oats

    Dessert Recipes

    a stack of three white chocolate matcha fudge squares

    Matcha Fudge

    a stack of vegan chocolate protein cookies on a wire baking rack

    Chocolate Protein Cookies

    three vegan red velvet cupcakes on a round marble board

    Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes

    a bowl of Christmas sugar cookie truffles with a bite taken out of one

    Sugar Cookie Truffles

    scoops of vegan edible sugar cookie dough stacked in a white bowl

    Edible Sugar Cookie Dough (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

    a stack of two vegan pecan pie bars with shortbread crust and sticky pecan topping

    Vegan Pecan Pie Bars

    Breakfast Recipes

    peaches and cream overnight oats in a jar with yogurt and chia seeds

    Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats

    a jar of birthday cake overnight oats with sprinkles and whipped cream

    Birthday Cake Overnight Oats

    carrot cake overnight oats in a jar with yogurt and chia seeds

    Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

    strawberries and cream overnight oats in a jar with yogurt

    Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats

    homemade chocolate coconut granola in a ceramic bowl with almond milk and a spoon

    Chocolate Coconut Granola

    an almond butter oatmeal bowl with granola and almonds on top

    Almond Butter Oatmeal

    Copyright© 2023 · purelykaylie.com · Privacy Policy · Terms · Disclaimer