Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu Recipe (Gluten-Free) (2024)

Quick & easy orange tofu recipe! Our sticky orange sesame sauce is finger-licking good and packed with so much flavor you will want to lick to bowl! This recipe takes 10 minutes to prep for a perfect weeknight recipe for busy families!

This post may contain affiliate links. The content provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice. For more details, please refer to our disclaimer page.

This was one of the first vegan recipes I ever tried and let me tell you it is definitely a great beginner tofu recipe! Since that day, this easy orange tofu recipe has been a family favorite!

The key to this recipe is to ensure you flavor your tofu! Since tofu gets such a bad rep for being flavor-less, we included our top tips for how to get anyone to love this tofu recipe!

If you love these flvor packed tofu recipes and want more, be sure to also check out our family favourite saucy sesame tofu or my personal fav, thai inspired peanut sesame tofu! With any one of these variations, tofu will quickly become one of your favourites!

🥒Tips for Kids: Will They Eat This?

Navigating meal times with kids can sometimes be tricky. With 3 kiddos at home I never know that mealtime are often a struggle! But here's why this recipe is often a hit with the fussiest of eaters:

• Sweet Appeal: Kids are often drawn to sweet flavors, and our orange sesame tofu sauce hits the spot with its delicious sweetness. It's a surefire way to make their taste buds dance with delight.
• Fun Textures: The nutty flavor of the sesame seeds adds a unique texture that's fun to explore. Plus, the crispy outer layer of the tofu is a hit with kids who enjoy a good crunch.
• Customizable Flavors: Tofu is a flavor chameleon—it takes on the flavors of whatever it's cooked with. This makes it a fantastic ingredient for parents to experiment with and find flavors that their child loves.

With our sweet orange sauce, even the pickiest eaters will find themselves asking for seconds!

🍊Ingredient & Flavor Notes

• Firm Tofu: To make our orange tofu recipe, we recommend using firm tofu. Firm or extra-firm will hold its shape well during cooking while still absorbing the delicious marinade. If you opt for extra firm tofu, it may not soak up as much flavor.
• Tapioca Flour: This is used to give our tofu a delightful crispy exterior. I prefer Bob's Red Mill brand, but you can find tapioca flour at most grocery stores.
• Toasted Sesame Seeds: Toasting your own sesame seeds ensures they're fresh and roasted to your liking. The toasting process enhances their nutty flavor, adding an extra layer of depth to the dish.

Orange Sauce Ingredients:

• Soy Sauce: This adds a savory, umami flavor to the marinade. If you're gluten-free, make sure to choose a certified gluten-free version. Kikkoman is a reliable brand, or you can use coconut aminos as a soy-free alternative.
• Honey: I like using honey to make this a sticky orange sauce. Any honey will work, but raw honey has a more robust flavor. If you're vegan, maple syrup is a great substitute.
• Tomato Paste: This thickens the sauce and adds a rich, tangy flavor.
• Fresh Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice is key for that bright, citrusy flavor that makes this dish stand out.
• Orange zest: To help bring out that orangy delcious flavor
• Sesame Oil: This gives the sauce a toasty, nutty flavor. It's a small amount, but it makes a big difference!
• Fresh Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a punch of flavor that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
• Ginger Powder: This adds a warm, spicy note to the sauce. If you have fresh ginger, you can use that too!

Please refer to the recipe card for exact quantities.

👩🏽‍🍳Instructions for Making Orange Tofu

Step 1: Cube and Press

Preheat your oven to 400 F (200 C).

Take your firm tofu out of the package and cut it into cubes. Next you want to press tofu by wrapping your tofu pieces in a paper towel or clean kitche towel to remove excess moisture.

Step 2: Marinate Your Tofu

To a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the orange sesame tofu marinade and mix well. Then place the cubed tofu into the orange sesame marinade and mix until evenly coated.

Pro Tip: when mixing the tofu in the marinade be gentle. I like to use clean hands to ensure I am not breaking the tofu into little pieces. If you have the time, let the tofu sit in the marinade for up to 2 hours in the fridge (or even overnight).

Step 3: Add Tapioca

Then, using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer each tofu cube into a clean mixing bowl. Add in the tapioca flour and gently mix until evenly coated. Reserve the rest of the marinade for later.

Step 4: Bake Your Orange Tofu

Place your marinated tofu onto a baking panlined with parchment paper. Then bake at 400 F (200 C) for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Flip halfway through.

See Also

Chick-fil-A Kale Crunch Salad (Copycat Recipe)Skinny Dinner Rolls | Lite Cravings | WW RecipesLighter Chicken Tikka Masala | Lite Cravings | WW RecipesHomemade Chicken Nuggets | Chick Fil A Copycat Recipe

Step 5: Cook The Orange Sauce

While the tofu bakes, add the remaining orange sesame marinade to a saucepan or large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce becomes sticky, about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Combine and Serve

Once the tofu has finished baking, pour the orange sesame sauce overtop and then sprinkle the roasted sesame seeds on top!

Top your orange sesame tofu with green onions, roasted sesame seeds and serve with steamed jasmine rice! The perfect comforting vegan meal!

🥬Substitutions

• Honey: If you are vegan or don't have honey in the pantry you can use maple syrup or brown sugar instead. You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on the grade of your maple syrup.
• Tofu: Our orange sesame sauce is amazing on chickpeas, cannellini beans, and chicken.
  • Chickpeas: Follow the same steps as described here but use canned or cooked chickpeas in place of the raw tofu. Marinade the chickpeas in the orange sesame sauce for only 5 minutes.
  • Orange Cauliflower: One of our favorite alternatives to tofu is to make it with cauliflower. It makes a delicious side or easy app. Here is an easy recipe.
  • Cannellini beans: Skip the baking step and cook the sauce and beans together.
  • Chicken: You can follow all the same steps as described but adjust the cooking time to allow the chicken to reach a safe internal temperature.
• Tapioca flour: You can substitute corn starch, arrowroot, or potato starch for this ingredient.
• Roasted sesame seeds: While sesame seeds are the preferred ingredient you can use pumpkin seeds as well.

🥡Storing your Orange Tofu

In the Fridge: Store any leftover orange tofu recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating: When you're ready to enjoy your leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave for a quick meal. Alternatively, for a crispier texture, reheat the tofu on the stovetop over medium heat until it's warmed through. If the tofu seems dry, you can add a splash of water or a bit more orange sauce to moisten it.

Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze your orange tofu. Place it in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, making sure to squeeze out as much air as possible. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. When you're ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat as directed above.

❔FAQ

I hope you enjoyed this vegan orange tofu recipe. If you made it please leave a star rating and let me know what you thought! If you are looking for other recipes try one of these:

📖 Recipe

📝Information Sources:

1. Young, V. R., & Pellett, P. L. (1994). Plant proteins in relation to human protein and amino acid nutrition. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 59(5), 1203S-1212S.
2. hi, Z., Hu, X., Yuan, B., Pan, X., Dai, Y., Holmboe-Ottesen, G., & Byles, J. E. (2008). Strong negative association between intake of tofu and anemia among Chinese adults in Jiangsu, China. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 108(7), 1146-1153. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.04.036.
3. Pal, M., & Sarkar, P. (2019). Tofu: A popular food with high nutritional and health benefits. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 7(3), 157-166.
4. Dyall, S. C. (2015). Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 7, 52.
5. Simopoulos, A. P. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 56(8), 365-379.