I love making vegan-friendly versions of classic lunches and dinners, like my Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger, Szechuan Tofu, Tofu Scramble, or Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower. Tofu is such a great ingredient that can be used for both savory dishes like this or make delicious sweet treats like my Tofu Mousse. Orange tofu is a Chinese-style vegan meal made of breaded firm tofu baked in the oven and coated in a sweet, sticky spiced orange sauce. It’s a plant-based version of the classic Chinese orange chicken recipe, also healthier as the authentic recipe deep fry the proteins.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All you need are a few ingredients and a bit of patience to prepare the tofu and bake it.
Firm Tofu Block – firm tofu is a must for this recipe, or the tofu will crumble apart in the dish. Cornstarch – or corn flour. Olive Oil or sesame oil or any oil you have on hand. Garlic Powder – Or fresh crushed garlic. Orange Zest – Gather the orange peel of the orange you use for the orange sauce and chop finely. This is optional but delicious.
How To Make Orange Tofu
It’s very easy to make this orange tofu vegan recipe at home.
How To Make the Orange Tofu Sauce
While the tofu cubes are baking, prepare the sweet orange sauce.
Ingredients
The ingredients you need to make the orange tofu sauce are:
Coconut Oil or Sesame Oil – I love sesame oil because it brings delicious flavors. Fresh Orange Juice – freshly squeezed is the best. Garlic – fresh or ground. Ginger – fresh or ground. Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar. Soy Sauce or tamari sauce if you need a gluten-free option. Brown Sugar – You can adjust the amount of sugar based on your palate. Start with 1/3 cup and increase by 2 tablespoons for a sweeter sauce. Cornstarch – To create a thicker sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This easy orange tofu recipe is delicious with a side of:
White rice like basmati rice or jasmine rice. Brown rice for more fiber. Quinoa for a boost of plant-based protein and fiber. Cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Steamed broccoli – orange tofu and broccoli match well together! You can even stir the steamed broccoli in the sauce and serve on rice.
Also, add some of these flavorings on top of the tofu before serving:
Finely chopped scallions, Roasted sesame seeds A pinch of chili flakes
Storage Instructions
This orange chicken-style tofu can be stored for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can freeze the tofu with orange sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge the day before. Rewarm in the microwave on a plate until hot or in a large skillet.
More Vegan Meal Recipes
If you love cooking easy vegan meals, I have plenty more delicious recipes for you to try. Below I listed our favorite comforting vegan dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.
