Description
A delightful vegan take on the classic orange chicken, using crispy fried tofu coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy orange sauce. Perfectly crispy tofu nuggets simmered in a flavorful sauce make this dish a delicious plant-based alternative to traditional orange chicken.
Ingredients
Tofu:
- ½ cup neutral oil (canola oil recommended)
- 1 package tofu (16 oz / 454 g)
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¼–⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice
- ⅓–½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha (optional)
- 2 teaspoons crushed ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
- Prepare the tofu: Press and pat dry the tofu to remove excess moisture. Break the tofu into small 1-inch nuggets, ensuring rough edges for better batter adhesion.
- Make the batter: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, and garlic powder. Add water gradually while whisking until you form a slightly runny but cohesive batter.
- Coat the tofu: Dip the tofu chunks into the batter, making sure each piece is evenly coated.
- Fry the tofu: Heat the neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, carefully add tofu pieces one by one. Fry each side for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Remove and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Prepare the sauce: In a mixing bowl, stir together orange juice, sugar, tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, Sriracha (if using), crushed ginger, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, and orange zest until well combined.
- Cook the sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into a clean skillet over medium heat. Simmer, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Combine tofu with sauce: Add the crispy fried tofu into the thickened sauce. Stir gently to coat all tofu pieces evenly with the orange glaze.
- Serve: Plate the sauced tofu over steamed white or brown rice and enjoy your vegan orange chicken!
Notes
- For an oil-free version, consider baking or air frying the tofu instead of frying in oil.
- To achieve a chicken-like texture, freeze and thaw the tofu prior to cooking.
- To make the dish gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American-Chinese Fusion
