Sticky Orange Ginger Tofu

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 NLT

If you’re craving at-home Chinese food, this is an amazing spin-off on Orange Chicken. And the best part? It’s fully plant-based! It’s a takeout favorite with crispy air-fried tofu tossed in a seasoned cornstarch dredge. The crispy tofu nuggets are coated in a glossy, sweet, and tangy sauce bursting with fresh orange and spicy ginger.

I love how this sauce caramelizes beautifully, each bite of the tofu has irresistible sweet, zingy, and soy flavor. Serve yours with steamed rice and stir-fried veggies for a full meal. This is a great quick, wholesome meal that’s both comforting and nutritious.

Lauren Eliza Eats

Sticky Orange Ginger Tofu

This Sticky Ginger Orange Tofu is a plant-based twist on a takeout favorite — crispy tofu tossed in a glossy, sweet, and tangy sauce bursting with fresh orange and spicy ginger.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Crispy Tofu

• 1 package firm tofu
• 1 Tbsp seasoning salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup cornstarch

Sticky Orange Ginger Sauce

• 2 Tbsp grated ginger
• 2 Tbsp orange zest
• 1 large orange juiced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp crunchy chili oil optional
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp water

Method

 

Prepare the crispy tofu

1. Take your tofu out of its liquid and package, press completely dry with paper towels.
2. On a cutting board, lightly score tofu into even rectangles about ½ inch thick and pull apart to create ridged edges. Cut the rectangles into ½ inch cubes.
3. In a large bowl, toss tofu cubes with seasoning salt garlic powder, and black pepper. Add in cornstarch and toss well until evenly combined.
4. Place a single layer of tofu cubes in air fryer (You can also choose to bake or pan-fry these). Cook until golden and crispy.

Making the orange ginger sauce

1. For the sauce, add grated ginger, orange zest, orange juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and chili oil in a sauce pan.
2. Bring sauce pan to a simmer. Let cook on low until combined.
3. In a small bowl, add 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 1 Tbsp water to make a slurry. Add slurry 1 tsp at a time to the orange ginger sauce to thicken.
4. Cook sauce until thick consistency to coat the back of a spoon. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
5. Add crispy tofu to orange ginger sauce and toss. Serve sticky orange ginger tofu with steamed rice and vegetables, or your choice of sides.