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? ›

First, too much water. If you don't press the water out of your tofu, it can easily become soggy. Second, temperature. Cooking your tofu at a low temperature won't allow it to crisp properly.

Does tofu work in an air fryer? ›

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. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking, as the exact cooking time will depend on your specific air fryer. That's it!

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.

Why do people soak tofu in brine before frying? ›

Why does the brine work? Both the heat and the salinity of the water draw moisture out of the surface of the tofu, helping it crisp and brown.

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.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

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? ›

Frying your tofu adds calories

If you want to reduce the calorie content of your dishes, baking or air-frying are better options. Air-frying is an excellent alternative to traditional frying methods, as it delivers the same delicious flavor and crispy texture without the added oil.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

Why do Asians use tofu? ›

Much of tofu's early use in East Asia was as a vegetarian substitute for meat and fish by Buddhist monks, especially those following Zen Buddhism. The earliest Japanese document concerning tofu refers to the dish being served as an offering at the Kasuga Shrine in Nara in 1183.

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 is the tofu rule? ›

No one cares about unblocking a task as much as the person doing it. That's why it's important for that person to follow the Take Ownership and Follow Up (TOFU) principle. That means taking ownership of the task and chasing the people you are waiting on until it gets done.

What happens if you don't rinse tofu? ›

Any food that is contaminated is going to make you ill. Remove the tofu from the packaging and rinse it thoroughly. If you are handling raw meat at the same time as the tofu, use separate utensils. Other than that, there are no risks to eating raw tofu.

Why pour boiling water over tofu? ›

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something you're trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

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? ›

Firstly, if your potatoes are still wet before being placed into an air fryer, this can cause your potatoes not to crispen up. You can avoid this by thoroughly patting dry your potatoes before you place them in the air fryer. Secondly, you might be putting in too many potato chips so they aren't cooking evenly.

Why is my air fryer not crisping fries? ›

If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches. When I use 2 russet potatoes, I cook 3 batches of fries.

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

Don't overcrowd your insert, or else the air fried veggies will turn out mushy. Go light on the oil. Too much, and the vegetables will become oversaturated and not crisp up.

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