Description

This Crispy Orange Tofu recipe is a delicious and flavorful vegan dish featuring perfectly fried tofu cubes coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce. Ideal for a satisfying main course, the tofu is first pressed and marinated, then fried to golden perfection before being tossed in a vibrant sauce made with fresh orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a hint of chili. Garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, it pairs wonderfully with jasmine rice and vegetables for a complete meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Tofu

1 block firm tofu, pressed
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons avocado oil, for frying

Sauce

2/3 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or tamari)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2½ tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon orange zest (or zest of 1 small orange)

Remaining Ingredients

4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger, packed
½ teaspoon red chili flakes
¼ cup warm water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
¼ cup sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Press Tofu: Press the tofu for 30 minutes to 1 hour to remove excess moisture. Once pressed, cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a large bowl.
Marinate and Coat: Add the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper to the tofu cubes and gently mix. Sprinkle over half of the cornstarch, mix, add the second half, and mix again. Set aside to allow coating to adhere.
Fry Tofu: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once heated, add the tofu cubes and fry until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove tofu from the pan and set aside.
Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and orange zest. Set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: Using the same skillet, add garlic, grated ginger, red chili flakes, and a pinch of salt. Add additional oil if needed. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Cook Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet and bring it to a boil.
Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, mix warm water and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly whisk into the simmering sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for 6-8 minutes, stirring often.
Combine Tofu and Sauce: Add the fried tofu and toasted sesame oil to the skillet. Stir gently until the tofu is well coated with the sauce. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
Serve: Serve the crispy orange tofu over cooked jasmine rice, garnished with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Extra-firm tofu can be used as a substitute for firm tofu for an even firmer texture.
Serve this orange tofu with jasmine rice and steamed or roasted broccoli for a complete meal.
If brown sugar is not available, white sugar or coconut sugar can be used as sweetener alternatives.
Pressing tofu adequately is key to achieving crispiness.
You can adjust the amount of red chili flakes to make the dish more or less spicy according to your preference.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 12 g
Sodium: 750 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 18 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg