Orange Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (2024)

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Easy orange tofu recipe with pillowy soft center and caramelized crispy edges tossed in a thick and zesty orange sauce. It can be cooked in the air fryer without oil, pan fried or oven bake. Make it spicy with a pinch of red chili or keep it mild to your liking. Vegan, gluten free recipe.

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Orange Tofu Recipe

Bursting with orange flavor and better than Panda Express, this tofu orange chicken is actually healthy and good for you, quick and easy to make and ready in 20 minutes.

A riff on the peanut tofu from the other day but with a completely different flavor profile.I still followed the basic prep of the tofu, got itperfectly crispy in the air fryer and tossed it in my homemade orange sauce.

A light dusting of tapioca helps the tofu develop a perfectly crisp thin crust without the need of any oil at all.

Preparing the Tofu:

  1. After pressing the tofu make sure to tear it into irregular bite size pieces. Do not cut it into perfect squares or triangles, you want a rustic texture with irregular curves and edges that will give you lots of caramelized little bits all over the surface.
  2. Toss with tapioca and air fry, bake or pan fry before coating it in that delicious sauce.

how to make the orange sauce / glaze:

  • Whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, almond butter, orange peel and apple cider vinegar. Reduce on medium low flame for a couple of minutes, just until a thick and sticky texture is achieved.
  • Note – You can make the glaze using almond, cashew or walnut butter but not peanut butter which would overwhelm it. It only works with a milder flavor nut butter like the ones mentioned. You really want the orange from both the juice and the peel to shine through and not get lost.

FAQ:

  1. Is tofu vegan? Absolutely 100% cruelty-free vegan recipe!
  2. Should I marinade the tofu? Not in this case, the marinade isn’t necessary as you’ll be tossing it all in a luscious glaze after all.
  3. What’s the best air fryer ? I only have experience with my Cuisinart Air Fryer and Breville which I absolutely love. They both double down as a spacious toaster and convection oven, we literally use it every day.
  4. Is soy healthy ? Spend some time with some unbiased scientific research papers on soy foods and you’ll be amazed at all the health benefits. Dr. Michael Greger breaks them down into short digestible videos over on the NutritionFacts.org website.

what to serve with:

  • these favorite noodles
  • steamed or roasted broccoli
  • bell pepper stir fry
  • sauteed asparagus & bok choy
  • vegan fried rice
  • fresh chives + sesame seeds
  • a bowl of brown rice.

P.S. As always, if you make this recipe please come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it totally makes my day! ~ Florentina Xo’s

Orange Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (7)

5 from 4 votes

Orange Tofu ~ Air Fryer Recipe

Zesty orange tofu with pillowy soft center and caramelized crispy edges, cooked in the air fryer without oil then tossed in a thick orange glaze.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Press the Tofu:2 hours hrs

Total Time:20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 14 oz block firm tofu, organic non-GMO
  • 1 tbsp tapioca
  • sea salt to taste

Orange Glaze:

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Air fry the Tofu:

  • Drain the tofu and wrap it in a tea towel patting dry as much of the moisture as possible. Place a heavy pan on top and allow to press at room temperature for a couple of hours.

  • Use your hands and tear the tofu into irregular 1.5 inch pieces. Sprinkle with the tapioca and a pinch of sea salt and toss to coat well.

  • Place the tofu in the air-fryer tray without touching each other.Air fry at 400”F for 14 minutes tossing half way. Do not overcook the tofu or it will dry out too much. Remove it from the air fryer as soon as the time is up even if you aren’t using it right away.(To avoid any crumbs falling in the bottom you can line the tray with parchment paper).

Make the Orange Sauce:

  • Whisk all the glaze ingredients together until combined. Transfer to a skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook on medium flame until thick and sticky, about two minutes or so.

  • Add the air fried tofu to the orange sauce and toss to coat well.Serve over noodles or a bed of rice garnished with the fresh chives, scallions, sesame seeds or extra red chili for heat.

Oven Method:

  • Coat the pressed tofu with a light spray of olive oil, a light dusting of tapioca or cornstarch and a good pinch of salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders. Place on a parchment covered baking sheet preferably without touching each other in one single layer. Bake the seasoned tofu in a preheated oven at 400”F for 30 to 35 minutes until golden and crispy to your liking flipping it half way. Toss with the orange glaze and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1017mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 23.9mg | Calcium: 312mg | Iron: 3.5mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Orange Tofu, plant based, tofu, vegan,

Servings: 2 people

Calories: 323kcal

Author: Florentina

Tofu Recipes:

Orange Tofu (Air Fryer Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not crispy air fryer? ›

If the cubes are too crowded in the basket, they won't crisp up as they cook. Feel free to work in batches if necessary! Air fry at 400°F for 11-15 minutes, tossing halfway so that the tofu cooks evenly on all sides. The tofu is ready when it's crisp and browned around the edges.

Do you have to press tofu before air frying? ›

Pressing is important for drawing out the extra liquid tofu is packaged with and vital to creating the crisp outside. If your air fryer only goes in increments of 10 degrees, cook tofu at 380℉. Be sure your tofu is firm or extra firm. This recipe will not work with silken tofu.

What is orange tofu made of? ›

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.

How do you keep tofu from sticking to air fryer? ›

Just before cooking, sprinkle the corn starch evenly over the top of the tofu and toss to coat. Coat the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray. Add the tofu in one layer, leaving a little space around the cubes so they do not touch and the air can circulate.

Is crispy tofu unhealthy? ›

Fried tofu is high in protein and lower in saturated fat than most meat. However, it is high in calories and typically fried in omega-6 rich vegetable oil. Since the Western diet already has too much omega-6, fried tofu could increase inflammation. Air-fried tofu is the healthiest kind of fried tofu.

How long should you air fry tofu? ›

Place tofu pieces in one layer in the basket of your air fryer. You might need to work in batches. Air-fry at 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 6 minutes. Turn tofu pieces over and air-fry until crispy, about 6 more minutes.

Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

While tofu is delicious pan-fried or deep-fried, it's even more delicious made in an air fryer. Besides the fact that the tofu comes out super crispy, it's super easy to make and has minimal cleanup. The secret to making tofu extra-crispy in an air fryer is to coat the tofu with cornstarch.

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Why do Chinese eat so much tofu? ›

This probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism as it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism. Li Shizhen, during the Ming dynasty, described a method of making tofu in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

Which tofu is healthiest? ›

Tofu Nutrition

For relatively similar serving sizes, the nutrition differences between silken and firm tofu are pretty big. Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

What to use instead of cornstarch for tofu? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer? ›

Yes, and here's what you need to know. Parchment paper is a safe and effective liner to use in the air fryer. To avoid safety hazards, weigh down the paper with food and keep away from the heating element. Parchment paper can be heated up to roughly 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can you put tin foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Why are things not getting crispy in air fryer? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

Why aren t my air fryer chips crispy? ›

Why did chips not brown in the air oven fryer? The most common reasons would be moisture or wrong temperature. Potatoes contain a lot of moisture so you should dry the chips with paper towel before cooking. Also, if the temperature you're cooking at is too low, this could cause the chips to look a little pale.

Why is my air fryer not crisping fries? ›

If your fries are not crispy, air fry them a little longer. Once all batches are finished, toss them all back into the air fryer (no need to place in a single layer this time) for 1 to 2 minutes to warm and re-crisp any that got cold from the first few batches.

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer? ›

Air Fryer Vegetables Tips

If these pieces are too large, they won't cook through by the time the zucchini and peppers are tender. Don't crowd the air fryer basket. The #1 rule of air frying! In order for the vegetables to become caramelized and crisp, the hot air must be able to contact them on all sides.

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