This delicious vegan orange tofu recipe takes about 15 minutes to cook using tofu and sweet orange sauce ingredients, which you can serve with a side of rice! It’s a quick and tasty Chinese-American takeout dish that’s vegan!
Traditionally, this dish is made by deep-frying battered chicken and tossing it in a sweet, sticky and citrusy orange sauce. To make orange chicken vegan, you simply swap chicken for tofu!
Recipe for Vegan Orange Tofu
Vegan Orange Tofu is surprisingly easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients! All you need is extra-firm tofu, orange juice, garlic, soy sauce (or gluten-free alternative), and a few other pantry staples to make this come together.
The tofu becomes crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with no need for a deep fryer. Simply use the oven or air fryer (I recommend air fryer if you have one!). While the tofu is getting crispy, the orange tofu sauce can be made in just a few minutes in one pan.
This vegan dish is tangy, citrusy, sweet and savoury, with a crispy and firm orange tofu. It’s incredibly satisfying and goes perfectly with rice, noodles or your favourite veggies for a quick meal that tastes just like takeout (but healthier and cheaper!).
Ingredients
- Tofu (extra-firm)
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Soy Sauce (or gluten-free alternative)
- Oil
- Cornstarch
- Green Onions
- Sesame Seeds
- Garlic
- Minced Ginger
- Sugar
- Orange Juice & Zest
- Rice Vinegar
This orange tofu is vegan, nut-free and dairy-free.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free soy sauce alternative such as liquid aminos or coconut aminos.
How To Make Orange Tofu (Vegan)
If using an oven, pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. If using an air fryer, preheat at 400 degrees F (if preheating is needed).
Skip this step if your tofu is already very firm or if you have pressed your tofu (to remove excess water). To make your tofu extra firm and chewy, bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot and stir in 1/2 tbsp salt. Add the entire block of tofu into the boiling water and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Once done, drain and rinse the block in cold water to cool down to touch. Lightly pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Once tofu has cooled a bit, carefully rip up tofu into bite-sized pieces. If it’s too hot, you can use a knife to cut into cubes.
Add tofu chunks into a mixing bowl and season with garlic powder and soy sauce (or alternative). Toss then mix in vegetable oil until well coated. Finally, coat with cornstarch evenly.
Place coated tofu pieces on a lined baking sheet or an air fryer tray, not overlapping or touching.
If using an oven, bake in the oven at 425 degrees F for around 25-30 minutes or until crispy and golden, tossing halfway. If using an air fryer, air fry at 400 degrees F for around 15-18 minutes (until crispy and golden), tossing or flipping halfway through.
While the tofu is cooking, prepare the Orange Sauce in a large pan. Add all the ingredients for the Orange Sauce (except cornstarch and water) and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a medium-low. Boil for around 2 minutes. In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water to create a starch slurry. Add to the pan and stir constantly on medium-low heat until the sauce thickens nicely.
Once tofu is cooked, add into the pan and stir to coat evenly with the sauce.
Top with green onions and sesame seeds and serve with rice or noodles! Feel free to add other cooked vegetables as well.
Watch me make this recipe on YouTube here.
Vegan Orange Tofu
Equipment
- Oven or air fryer
- Baking Sheet or air fryer tray
- Large Pan or skillet
- Medium Mixing bowl
- Small bowl for cornstarch slurry
- Small Spoon
- Measuring Spoons & cups
- Spatula or tongs
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 green onions chopped finely
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
Tofu Orange Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp minced ginger
- 1.5 tbsp soy sauce or gluten-free alternative (see notes)
- 3 tbsp brown sugar or sugar start with 2
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- If using an oven, pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. If using an air fryer, preheat at 400 degrees F (if preheating is needed).
- Skip this step if your tofu is already very firm or if you have pressed your tofu. To make your tofu extra firm and chewy, bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot and stir in 1/2 tbsp salt. Add the entire block of tofu into the boiling water and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Once done, drain and rinse the block in cold water to cool down to touch. Lightly pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Once tofu has cooled a bit, carefully rip up tofu into bite-sized pieces. If it’s too hot, you can use a knife to cut into cubes.
- Add tofu chunks into a mixing bowl and season with garlic powder and soy sauce. Toss then mix in vegetable oil until well coated. Finally, coat with cornstarch evenly.
- Place coated tofu pieces on a lined baking sheet or an air fryer tray, not overlapping or touching.
- If using an oven, bake in the oven at 425 degrees F for around 25-30 minutes or until crispy and golden, tossing halfway. If using an air fryer, air fry at 400 degrees F for around 15-18 minutes (until crispy and golden), tossing or flipping halfway through.
- While the tofu is cooking, prepare the Orange Sauce in a large pan. Add all the ingredients for the Orange Sauce (except cornstarch and water) and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a medium-low. Boil for around 2 minutes. In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water to create a starch slurry. Add to the pan and stir constantly on medium-low heat until the sauce thickens nicely.
- Once tofu is cooked, add into the pan and stir to coat evenly with the sauce.
- Top with green onions and sesame seeds and serve with rice or noodles! Feel free to add other cooked vegetables as well.
Notes
Nutrition
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