Description
This Crispy Orange Tofu recipe delivers everything you love about the classic takeout dish—a vibrant, zesty citrus glaze and a satisfyingly crunchy texture—all in an easy, weeknight-friendly, and completely vegan format. The secret lies in a few simple techniques that guarantee perfectly crispy tofu and a sauce that clings to every nook and cranny.
Ingredients
For the Crispy Tofu
- (14-15 oz) Block of Firm or Extra-Firm Tofu, pressed
- tablespoons Cornstarch
- To taste Fine Sea Salt
- To taste Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Neutral Oil (like canola or avocado), for frying
For the Sticky Orange Sauce
- cup Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
- tablespoon Fresh Orange Zest
- tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar
- tablespoon Maple Syrup
- tablespoon Soy Sauce or Tamari
- Garlic Clove, minced
- -inch piece Fresh Ginger, grated
- teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- tablespoon Cornstarch
- A pinch of Red Pepper Flakes, or to taste
Instructions
- Press and Prepare Tofu: The first and most important step is to press your tofu for at least 30 minutes to remove excess water. Once pressed, tear the block into large, bite-sized chunks.
- Whisk the Orange Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine all sauce ingredients: orange juice, zest, rice vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
- Coat the Tofu: In a large bowl, place the torn tofu chunks. Sprinkle with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Gently toss until the tofu is lightly and evenly coated.
- Pan-Fry the Tofu: Heat about ½-inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully add the coated tofu in a single layer (do not overcrowd) and fry for about 10 minutes, tossing every couple of minutes, until all sides are golden brown and crispy. Remove tofu from the skillet and set aside.
- Thicken the Sauce: Carefully drain excess oil from the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and pour in the orange sauce. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes until the sauce bubbles and thickens into a glaze.
- Combine and Serve: Add the crispy tofu back into the skillet. Gently toss in the sauce for one minute until every piece is coated. Serve immediately with rice and vegetables.
Notes
- Tear, Don’t Chop: Tearing the tofu creates rough, craggy edges that get extra crispy and give the sticky orange sauce more surface area to cling to. It makes a huge difference!
- Smooth Sauce Secret: For a perfectly smooth, lump-free glaze, make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved in the cold sauce ingredients before you heat it.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: To get a truly crispy fry, the tofu needs space. If necessary, cook the tofu in two separate batches. Crowding the pan will cause the tofu to steam instead of fry.
- Stir Constantly: The orange sauce thickens very quickly once it heats up. Stay by the stove and keep stirring to prevent it from clumping or scorching.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Vegan
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. ½ of recipe)
- Calories: 380kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
