Vegan Orange Chicken with Tofu

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My all time favorite Panda Express takeout is Vegan Orange Chicken made with Tofu. This zingy, refreshing and filling dish is very easy to make at home with very few ingredients. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free. 

This recipe is made with extra-firm tofu, tossed in corn starch, pan-fried until crispy and then tossed in sweet, tangy and sticky orange sauce. The orange sauce used in this recipe is flavorful, zingy and gives the tofu a delicious sweet and tangy taste.

I enjoy this dish with a side of stir-fried rice or noodles, but you can also serve this with plain rice or stir-fried veggies. 

What you’ll need to make Vegan Orange Chicken with Tofu

For Tofu –

  • Extra Firm Tofu
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Olive Oil

For Orange Sauce – 

  • Orange Juice
  • Sriracha or Hot Sauce
  • Water
  • Maple Syrup or Sugar
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Soy Sauce
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Orange zest

Optional for garnish – 

  • Red Chili Flakes
  • Sesame seeds
  • Green Onion

How to make Vegan Orange Chicken with Tofu with step by step photos & instructions

1. For Tofu – Drain the tofu and press it between paper towels or dishcloth to remove the liquid (You can use a Tofu Press if you have one). Cut your tofu into 1-inch squares.

2. Combine cornstarch and a teaspoon of salt. Toss the cubed tofu in the cornstarch and keep aside.

3. Heat 5 tablespoons of oil in a skillet. Add the tofu and cook on medium-high until all the sides turn golden brown. Keep aside.

4. For Orange Sauce – Take a bowl, combine orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, sriracha, ginger, garlic, and orange zest.

5. Pour the orange mixture in a saucepan and keep stirring for a minute.

6. While the orange mixture starts cooking, take ¼ cup of water, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and combine. Add the cornstarch mixture into the cooking orange mixture.

7.  Keep stirring on medium-high flame until you get thick sauce consistency.

8. Then add in the crispy tofu and combine until the tofu is fully coated.

9. Serve with stir-fried rice or noodles or stir-fried veggies, topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onion.

Watch how to make Vegan Orange Chicken with Tofu

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Notes

  • Use firm or extra-firm tofu in this recipe to get crispy pieces of tofu.
  • Don’t skip cornstarch as it helps tofu to have crispy texture.
  • You can also cook tofu in the oven or air-fryer instead of pan frying.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how it turned out. Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with hashtag #daily_foodhacks.

Vegan Orange Chicken with Tofu

By:
Ingredients
  • For Tofu -
  • 1 pkg Extra Firm Tofu, pressed & cubed
  • ¼ cup + 1 tsp Cornstarch
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 5 tbsp Olive Oil
  • For Orange Sauce -
  • 1 ½ cup Orange Juice (I used freshly squeezed)
  • 2 tbsp Sriracha or Hot Sauce
  • ¼ cup Water
  • ½ cup Maple Syrup or Sugar
  • 1 ½ tbsp Rice Vinegar
  • 3 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 tsp Ginger, grated
  • 1 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • Optional for garnish -
  • ½ tsp Red Chili Flakes
  • 2 tbsp Sesame seeds
  • ¼ cup Green Onion, chopped
Directions
Step 1
For Tofu –
Drain your tofu and press it between paper towels or dishcloth to remove the liquid (You can use a Tofu Press if you have one). Cut your tofu into 1-inch squares.
Step 2
Combine cornstarch and a teaspoon of salt. Toss the cubed tofu in the cornstarch and keep aside.
Step 3
Heat 5 tablespoons of oil in a skillet. Add the tofu and cook on medium-high until all the sides turn golden brown. Keep aside.
Step 4
For Orange Sauce –
Take a bowl, combine orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, sriracha, ginger, garlic, and orange zest.
Step 5
Pour the orange mixture in a saucepan and keep stirring for a minute.
Step 6
While the orange mixture starts cooking, take ¼ cup of water, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and combine.
Step 7
Add the cornstarch mixture into the cooking orange mixture. Keep stirring on medium-high flame until you get thick sauce consistency.
Step 8
Then add in the crispy tofu and combine until the tofu is fully coated.
Step 9
Serve with stir-fried rice or noodles or stir-fried veggies, topped with sesame seeds and chopped green onion.

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