Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu Recipe (Gluten-Free)

Name: Sticky Orange Sesame Tofu Recipe (Gluten-Free)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 block firm tofu (drained and cubed); 1 tbsp tapioca flour; ⅓ cup soy sauce (gluten-free ); ⅓ cup honey ((or maple syrup)); 3 tbsp tomato paste; 1 cup orange juice; 2 tbsp orange zest; 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 tsp ginger (ground); ¼ tsp salt; 2 tbsp sesame seeds (toasted)

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Kick up any protein with our sticky, crispy sesame tofu recipe! Our sticky orange sesame sauce is finger-licking good and packed with so much flavor that you will want to lick the bowl! This recipe takes 10 minutes to prepare and is great on tofu, chicken, or salmon!

Close-up view of chop sticks picking up one tofu from a bowl of orange sesame tofu. Tofu is cubed and sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. The bowl is on a wooden table with smaller bowls of sesame seeds in front of it and some orange slices behind it.

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👪Why You'll Love Sesame Orange Tofu
💪🏻Nutrient Highlight: Why Eat Tofu?
🍊Simple Ingredient list
🥬Substitutions
👩🏽‍🍳Step-By-Step: Making Orange Sesame Tofu
💡Tofu and Recipe Tips
⏲️ Save Time: Meal Prep Tips
🥒Tips for Kids: Will They Eat This?
🍗Recipe Variations
🥡Storing your Orange Tofu
❔FAQ
🥣 More Easy Recipes
📖 Recipe
📝Information Sources:

Today, I am bringing you the very first tofu recipe I have ever tried, and let me tell you, it is definitely a great beginner-friendly tofu recipe! Packed with flavor, featuring sesame, fresh orange juice, and ginger for one of the best marinades you will ever try!

I will also share our top tips on preparing and cooking up your tofu so you get a crispy, flavorful orange tofu recipe that everyone will love (even that tofu skeptic!). And just for some perspective, the first time I ever cooked tofu, I hated it! It was soggy and bland and just fell short on flavor. After learning a few easy tricks and perfecting a great orange sesame marinade, this is now one of my most asked-for tofu recipes!

More Tofu Recipes in a Savory Sauce:

If you want to incorporate more easy tofu recipes into your weeknight family meals, be sure also to check out these easy family favorites:

Air Fryer General Tso Tofu (also gluten-free, great on chicken)
Easy Peanut Sesame Tofu
High Protein Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse

👪Why You'll Love Sesame Orange Tofu

Beginner-Friendly: Even if you're new to cooking tofu, our orange sesame tofu recipe is a breeze to make and perfect for beginners.
Crispy Texture: The crispy texture and tangy orange sesame flavor make every bite exciting.
Great on any Protein: Our orange sesame marinade is also great on chicken and salmon, making it a great recipe to keep around :0)
Adjust the Spice: Whether your family prefers a spicy kick or a milder taste, this recipe can be easily adjusted to suit everyone's preferences.

Close-up of a bowl of tofu, rice and green beans. Food is sprinkled with seeds sitting on a wooden table.

💪🏻Nutrient Highlight: Why Eat Tofu?

As a mom and health scientist, I always like to cook nutrient-rich recipes for my family (and for yours). Here is why we love our sesame orange tofu!

Tofu is a good source of protein, iron, and calcium ^1,2,3 all important aspects of a meatless diet!
In addition, the sesame seeds in our sauce provide some beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, which can assist in promoting brain health ^4,5.

🍊Simple Ingredient list

We have been making this orange sesame tofu recipe for years mostly because of how easy it is to make. Here is everything you will need:

Make Ahead: This Sticky Orange Tofu recipe is perfect for making ahead. You can prepare the tofu and sauce in advance, then simply heat it up when you're ready to serve. It's a great way to have a delicious meal on hand for busy days.

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: We toss our marinaded tofu on the tapioca floor to help get that crispy coating and crunchy exterior! Be sure to check the label if you are celiac to ensure it is certified gluten-free!
Toasted Sesame Seeds: I like to toast my sesame seeds because it 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: The secret to making a sticky orange sauce! Look for raw or pure honey for a more robust flavor.
Tomato Paste: I add tomato paste to help thicken the sauce and balance out the sweetness with its rich, tangy flavor.
Fresh Orange Juice: I opt for using a fresh orange and then juicing it.
Orange zest: To help bring out that orangy delicious flavor
Sesame Oil: This gives the sauce a toasty, nutty flavor. It's a small amount, but it makes a big difference!
Fresh Garlic: I like adding minced garlic for its strong flavor and to help complement the other ingredients.
Ginger Powder: This adds a warm, spicy note to the sauce. If you have fresh ginger, you can use that too!

Full recipe and exact quantities found in recipe card.

Top-down view of a bowl of orange sesame tofu, rice and green beans. Tofu is cubed and sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. The bowl is on a wooden table with smaller bowls of sesame seeds, onions and a few orange slices

🥬Substitutions

If you need to adjust or find yourself without an ingredient, here are some ingredient substitutions that have worked for us:

Honey: We have swapped honey for maple syrup or brown sugar with good results. However, the recipe won't be as sticky, and you will have to adjust the cooking time.
Tofu: Our orange sesame sauce is amazing on chickpeas, cannellini beans, chicken, and salmon. (See recipe variations below)
Tapioca flour: Substitute with corn starch, arrowroot, or potato starch in equal parts.
Roasted sesame seeds: While sesame seeds are the preferred ingredient, pumpkin seeds are also used.

👩🏽‍🍳Step-By-Step: Making Orange Sesame Tofu

Step 1: Prepare your Tofu

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 pieces in a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to remove any excess liquid.

Top Tip: Pressing your tofu is essential to getting a crispy texture and flavorful recipe. Don't skip this step!

Step 2: Marinate Your Tofu

Add all the orange sesame tofu marinade ingredients to a large bowl and mix well. Then, add the cubed tofu to the marinade and mix until evenly coated. Cover and let your tofu sit in the fridge for 2 hours.

Close up shot of orange sesame sauce being poured from a metal spoon onto a dish of raw and cubed tofu pieces. Dish is on a wodden table with sesame seeds around it

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.

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 leftover marinade (in the bowl) for later.

Step 4: Bake Your Orange Tofu

Place your marinated tofu on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 F (200 C) for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through.

Close up of a baking sheet with baked tofu cubes sitting on top

Step 5: Cook The Orange Sauce

While the tofu bakes, add the remaining orange sesame marinade to a small saucepan. 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 with roasted sesame seeds, green onions, or cilantro! Serve with steamed jasmine rice and green beans for a perfect, easy weeknight dinner!

Close-up of a bowl of roasted and cubed tofu. A metal spoon is pouring orange sesame sauce on top of the tofu. The bowl is sitting on top of a wooden table

Close-up of a bowl of cubed tofu topped with an orange sesame sauce sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. The bowl is sitting on a wooden table with chop sticks next to the bowl

💡Tofu and Recipe Tips

Drain: Before you start, make sure to drain your tofu properly. You can use a tofu press or a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. This step is crucial for achieving the right texture. Read more here
Don't Overcook: Overcooking the tofu can make it dry. Aim for a golden brown color on the outside, but it should still feel slightly squishy to the touch.
Flavorful Tofu: Tofu is like a sponge—it absorbs the flavors of whatever it's cooked with. Cube your firm tofu and let it sit in the marinade for at least two hours to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Balance the Sauce: The key to a great orange tofu recipe is a well-balanced sauce. Make sure your sauce has the right balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. So taste while you cook!

⏲️ Save Time: Meal Prep Tips

Our crispy orange tofu recipe is already quick to prep but here are some tips that can make this recipe even quicker:

Double the Recipe: If you have a large enough pan, consider doubling the recipe. This way, you'll have leftovers for another meal, saving you cooking time later in the week.
Make Ahead: Our orange sesame tofu recipe keeps well, so it is a perfect recipe for making ahead on meal prep days. You can prepare the tofu and sauce in advance, then simply heat it up when ready to serve.

🥒Tips for Kids: Will They Eat This?

Navigating meal times with kids can sometimes be tricky. With three kiddos at home, mealtime can often be a struggle! But here's what has worked for us:

Sweet Appeal: Our orange sesame tofu sauce has a sweet, well-balanced flavor that kids usually enjoy. If your child is more sensitive to a little kick, you can reduce the ginger and garlic!
Fun Textures: The crispy nutty flavor of the sesame seeds and the crispy tofu are perfect for kids who prefer a firmer meat-like texture.
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. I find that adjusting the ginger and garlic often helps when first introducing this recipe to kids.

Top-down view of a bowl of orange sesame tofu. Tofu is cubed and sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds. The bowl is on a wooden table with smaller bowls of sesame seeds, onions and a few orange slices

🍗Recipe Variations

We love this orange sesame sauce so much that we tried it on several different proteins. Here are some of our favorites:

Sesame Chickpeas: For another plant-based protein source, this recipe works well with canned chickpeas too! Follow the same steps described here, except marinate the chickpeas in the orange sesame sauce for only 5 minutes and bake for only 15 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.
Orange Sesame Cannellini Beans: Skip the baking step and cook the sauce and beans together.
Sesame Chicken: You can follow all the steps described but adjust the cooking time to allow the chicken to reach a safe internal temperature.

🥡Storing your Orange Tofu

Store any leftover orange tofu recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave, or for a crispier texture, reheat on the stovetop over medium heat.

Freezing: For longer storage, place your orange sesame tofu in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as directed above.

❔FAQ

Why isn't my tofu flavorful?

Tofu is very plain in flavor, but it is like a sponge—it absorbs the flavors of whatever it's cooked with. To infuse it with more flavor, let the tofu marinate for at least two hours or even overnight, if possible. The longer it marinates, the more flavor it will absorb.

Why isn't my orange sesame tofu sticky?

To get a sticky sesame sauce, you need to ensure your marinade is properly reduced. If it isn't sticky, it might not have been cooked long enough. Continue to simmer the sauce over medium heat until it reduces to a thick, glossy consistency.

Can I use soft tofu for this orange tofu recipe?

The best type of tofu to use when making a sesame tofu recipe is firm tofu. It holds its shape well during cooking while still absorbing the delicious marinade. Soft tofu may break apart during cooking, and extra firm tofu might not absorb as much flavor.

Top down view of a bowl of orange sesame tofu recipe, a crowd pleasing tofu dish for a easy vegan and gluten free recipe

🥣 More Easy Recipes

I hope you enjoyed this vegan orange tofu recipe. If you are looking for more delicious recipes or meatless meals, be sure to check out these:

📖 Recipe

📝Information Sources:

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.
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.
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.
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.
Simopoulos, A. P. (2002). The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 56(8), 365-379.