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

How long do you cook tofu in the 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 the secret to cooking tofu? ›

First, drain and press the tofu.

For the best texture, press the tofu using a tofu press or cast-iron skillet for 20 to 30 minutes. If you're short on time, just drain the tofu and gently press it in a kitchen towel or paper towels over the sink. The tofu won't be as firm this way, but it will still be delicious!

Why won t my tofu get crispy? ›

The key to crispy tofu is to heat the oil in your pan before adding tofu cubes. Coating the pan-fried tofu in corn flour helps create a crispy coating as the cubed tofu cooks in the oil. Another key to getting uber-crispy tofu is removing excess liquid/moisture from it before you cook tofu.

Is tofu better pan fried or air fried? ›

Air Fryer Tofu is hands down the best way to get crispy, flavorful tofu that cooks in just 10 minutes! Toss it in a buddha bowl or add to vegetable stir fry or salad. This tofu tastes good nearly anywhere! If you love this tofu, you will love my popular Marinated Tofu recipe!

How do you know if tofu is cooked enough? ›

If you're cooking slices or cubes, cut the tofu into slices, layer them between paper towels and weigh down the individual slices. The finished tofu should be spongy yet dry (you'll need to weigh it down for 30 minutes to 2 hours).

How many minutes do you put in the air fryer? ›

Air-Fryer Cooking Chart
FOODTEMPERATUREAIR-FRYER TIME
Burgers350°F8-10 minutes
Chicken Breast375°F22-23 minutes
Chicken Tenders400°F14-16 minutes
Chicken Thighs400°F25 minutes
42 more rows
Mar 2, 2022

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.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Cut tofu into cubes. Step 2: Place those cubes in a bowl, and toss gently with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Step 3: Arrange tofu on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and salt. Step 4: Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, or until as crispy as you'd like.

How to stop tofu from sticking to the air fryer? ›

Brush your air-fryer basket with a thin coat of oil to prevent the tofu from sticking. Transfer tofu into an air-fryer basket. Arrange mainly on a single layer without too much overlapping. Air fry the tofu at 400°F or 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes.

What to season tofu with? ›

Tofu seasoning rub: Rub the pressed tofu with lots of spices like garlic or onion powder, salt and pepper, nutritional yeast or a spicy taco seasoning, KFC seasoning, Buffalo spice, etc. Tofu marinade: Soak the tofu cubes in your favorite chicken/meat marinade to infuse extra flavor.

Can I eat tofu raw? ›

You can eat raw tofu without cooking directly from the pack, but make sure that you drain off the excess water first because it does not add anything to the experience.

How unhealthy is fried tofu? ›

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories, up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

What to eat with tofu? ›

What to serve with tofu. These easy tofu meals go well with white rice, toasted bread, or noodles.

What is the best oil for frying tofu? ›

Type of oil to use for frying tofu: Canola is great and so are vegetable/soybean oil and refined peanut oil. In general, choose a neutral-flavored oil that has a high smoking point. That is, don't deep-fry with sesame oil.

How long does it take to fully cook tofu? ›

Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy. Step 2: Flip the tofu pieces and season the cooked side with salt. Allow the second side to cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the second side is golden brown and crispy.

What is the best temp for frying tofu? ›

Cut the tofu up into easy-to-eat squares and cover these entire surfaces with flour. Heat the deep-frying oil to 180℃ (356F) and place the tofu squares inside, deep-fry for 4~5 minutes until crispy. Remove from the oil and sprinkle on soy sauce prior to eating.

What does it mean to press tofu for 30 minutes? ›

Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel then put it on a large plate with a lip. Put something heavy such as a frying pan on top, weight it down further with cans and jars, and leave for 30 mins. The tofu will be about two-thirds its original thickness, and up to 100ml water will have been removed.

How long to press tofu for crispy tofu? ›

Step 3: Press the tofu by placing paper towels, and something heavy on top. I usually use a sheet pan, and put heavy cans on top. Press for at least 30 minutes if you want super firm tofu. You should see a pool of water that has come out, and it should look and feel very dense.

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