Description
A delicious Crispy Orange Tofu recipe featuring perfectly fried tofu cubes coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce, garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. This vegan-friendly dish makes a flavorful main course ideal for serving with rice and vegetables.
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 tablespoon avocado oil, for frying
Sauce
- 2/3 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or tamari)
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2½ tablespoon 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 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
- Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Press the 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.
- Season the tofu: Add the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper to the tofu cubes and gently mix. Sprinkle half of the cornstarch over the tofu, mix well, then add the remaining cornstarch and mix again. Set aside.
- Fry the tofu: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the tofu cubes and fry until golden brown on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and orange zest. Stir well and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet used for frying tofu, add the minced garlic, grated ginger, red chili flakes, and a pinch of salt. Add more oil if needed and sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Cook the sauce: Pour the prepared orange sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil.
- Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the warm water and cornstarch until smooth. Whisk this mixture into the simmering sauce. Continue to simmer and stir frequently until the sauce thickens, about 6-8 minutes.
- Combine tofu and sauce: Add the fried tofu and sesame oil to the sauce. Stir until tofu is evenly coated. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Garnish and serve: Serve the crispy orange tofu over rice, garnished with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
- Extra-firm tofu can be used as a substitute for firm tofu in this recipe.
- This dish pairs well with jasmine rice and steamed or roasted broccoli for a complete meal.
- White sugar or coconut sugar can replace brown sugar as the sweetener in the sauce if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
