Vegan Orange Chicken (Tofu)

Vegan Orange Chicken is meant to be reassuring, pleasant, and enjoyable. Healthy, however, does not necessarily mean low-calorie or all-vegetable. In order to be healthy, you must also look after your emotional well-being and give yourself permission to indulge in foods that make you happy. In the end, food plays a significant role in our culture, community, and family.

I’m glad I found this orange tofu recipe. One of my favorite weekend meals as a child was orange chicken. I was so enamored with it that I eagerly anticipated orange chicken and movie night every week. I’m glad to inform that I have veganized my favorite orange chicken, orange tofu style, after a few experiments. Oh, and in case you’re curious…

Vegan Orange Chicken Ingredients

Tofu:

• neutral oil in a half cup (I used canola)
• 1 package (16 ounces/454 grams) of tofu
• all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup
• 30 ml of cornstarch
• 1/1-3 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon of powdered garlic
• 0.5 teaspoons of salt

Sauce:

• Orange juice, 1 cup
• 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce or tamari
• Rice vinegar, 2 teaspoons
• a teaspoon of Sriracha (optional)
• 2 tablespoons ginger root, crushed
• 1 teaspoon of garlic mince
• 1 teaspoon of flakes of red pepper
• 1 tablespoon orange zest and 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

1. Press and wipe off the tofu. If you use Trader Joe’s High Protein Tofu, there is no need to press. Tofu can be broken up into tiny 1-inch chunks. The dough retains its crispness thanks to the rough edges.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, and garlic powder. Blend well. Whisk in the water until a dough forms. It should not be too thick, but it should be a little runny.
3. To evenly coat the tofu, add chunks to the batter.
4. Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the tofu pieces individually. Fry each side for 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown. Place on a plate covered with paper towels when ready to absorb excess oil.
5. In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the sauce and stir until well combined. Simmer the sauce in a skillet over medium heat, stirring, for five minutes. Make sure to drain the oil out of the skillet first if you used it for frying.
6. Add the crispy tofu once the sauce has thickened and simmered for at least 5 minutes. Mix into the sauce until all of the pieces are coated evenly.
7. Serve over steamed white or earthy colored rice and appreciate!