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This easy orange ginger tofu soaks in a sweet, tangy, savory orange and ginger marinade, then bakes until golden while you do something else. It’s my go-to orange tofu recipe for meal prep, and it’s perfect over noodles or rice. Want it extra crispy? Start with my crispy baked tofu method.
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If you’re on the fence about tofu, this tofu marinade will change your mind. Fresh ginger and orange juice bring the flavor, balanced with salty, spicy, and umami notes. This recipe was originally developed by Jake.
Quick Glance
- Recipe Name: Orange Ginger Tofu
- Why You’ll Love It: Big flavor from pantry staples, and the oven does most of the work.
- Time and Difficulty: About 1 hour 25 minutes, mostly hands-off, easy.
- Method: Press, marinate, and bake (or air fry).
- Texture and Flavor: Tender and golden, sweet, tangy, and savory.
- Quick Tip: Save the marinade you pour off. It makes a great sauce.
What Makes This Orange Ginger Tofu So Good
Seriously flavorful: Fresh ginger and orange juice soak right into the tofu.
Hands-off: It marinates and bakes while you get other things done.
Pantry staples: Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.
Great for meal prep: It keeps well and reheats easily.
Love tofu? Try my buttery lemon tofu, pan-fried garlic tofu, spicy and sweet tofu, or sauteed lime tofu.
Ingredient Notes
Refer to the recipe card for exact quantities.
- Extra-firm tofu: Holds its shape in the marinade. Super-firm works too.
- Fresh orange juice: The sweet, citrusy base of the marinade.
- Rice vinegar: Adds tang.
- Soy sauce: The salty, umami backbone.
- Vegetable oil and sesame oil: Help the tofu brown, and sesame oil adds a toasty flavor.
- Fresh garlic and ginger: Fresh ginger is a must here. Ground ginger doesn’t give the same flavor.
- Red pepper flakes: A little heat.
- Green onion and cilantro: Fresh flavor and color on top.
Recipe Variations
- Orange zest: Add some for even more citrus flavor.
- Sweetener: Add brown sugar, coconut sugar, or maple syrup for a sweeter marinade.
- Nuts or seeds: Garnish with peanuts, cashews, almonds, or sesame seeds.
- Vegetables: Roast broccoli, bell peppers, onion, or zucchini in the marinade with the tofu, and adjust the time as needed.
How to Make Orange Ginger Tofu
Step 1: Press and slice. Drain the tofu and press it for 30 minutes (here’s my guide to tofu pressing). Slice it into ½-inch slabs or triangles. Thinly slice the green onion and finely chop the cilantro.
Step 2: Make the marinade. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
Step 3: Marinate. Arrange the tofu in a single layer in a large baking dish and pour the marinade over it until submerged. Top with the green onion and cilantro, and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for the best flavor.
Step 4: Bake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Pour off about half of the marinade so the tofu is half-submerged, and save it to use as a sauce. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and the marinade is mostly absorbed.
PRO TIP: No time to bake? Air fry the marinated tofu at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Common Problems To Avoid
- Tofu is too soft: Use extra-firm or super-firm tofu and press it well. For crispier edges, one reader pan-sears the tofu after baking, or you can use the air fryer.
- Tofu falls apart: Softer tofu breaks up in the marinade, so stick with extra-firm.
- Not enough flavor: Marinate longer. Overnight makes the biggest difference.
- Too salty, too sweet, or not spicy enough: Adjust to taste: more orange juice for sweetness, soy sauce for salt, vinegar for tang, or red pepper flakes for heat.
Serving Suggestions
Rice: White or brown rice (here’s how to cook brown rice), coconut rice, garlic rice, cauliflower rice, or veggie-packed vegan fried rice.
Noodles: Garlic sesame soba noodles, or vegan chow mein.
Bowls: Poke bowls, buddha bowls, or a grain bowl.
Lettuce wraps: Like these fresh Southwestern lettuce wraps.
Salads: Try an easy edamame salad or spicy cucumber salad.
Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, carrots, mushrooms, or bell pepper, like these easy stir-fry vegetables.
Storage Instructions
Reheat: In the microwave or a pan until hot.
Make ahead: Marinate the tofu up to 2 days ahead.
Fridge: Store cooked tofu in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. The texture and flavor will change a bit. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Orange Ginger Tofu FAQs
Yes. Save the marinade you pour off before baking and thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. It thickens best on the stove, then you can spoon it over the tofu.
Yes. Let the extra marinade drip off, then pan-fry the tofu in a little oil over medium-high heat until golden on all sides. Simmer the leftover marinade with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch until thick, then toss it with the tofu.
Yes, you can leave the oil out of the marinade. The tofu won’t brown quite as much. We haven’t tested replacing it with broth.
We don’t recommend it. Fresh ginger has a much fresher, more vibrant flavor that really makes this marinade.
More Vegan Tofu Recipes
Vegan Dinners
Sautéed Lime Tofu
Vegan Dinners
Tofu Fillets with Tomato Herb Pan Sauce
Vegan Dinners
Shiitake Asparagus Tofu Stir Fry
Vegan Dinners
Spicy Tofu with Coconut Lime Sauce
If you tried this marinated tofu (ginger tofu) recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!
If you’re loving my recipes and would like a more comprehensive resource, check out my cookbooks!
Orange Ginger Tofu (Marinated to Perfection!)
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Video
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce / 454 g) package extra-firm tofu
- 1 cup (240 ml) fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) soy sauce
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 4 teaspoons (20 ml) sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) fresh ginger grated
- ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup (25 g) green onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup (4 g) cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Drain and press the tofu for 30 minutes.
- Slice the tofu into ½-inch (1 cm) slabs or triangles.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Arrange the tofu in a single layer in a large baking dish and pour the marinade over it.
- Top with the green onion and cilantro.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Pour off about half of the marinade so the tofu is half-submerged, and save it to use as a sauce.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden.
Notes
- Air fryer: Cook the marinated tofu at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Best flavor: Marinate overnight.
- Tofu: Use extra-firm or super-firm so it holds its shape.
- Adjust to taste: More orange juice for sweetness, soy sauce for salt, vinegar for tang, or red pepper flakes for heat.
- Nutrition counts about half of the marinade, since you pour the rest off before baking.
I made this recipe for the first time. My husband and I liked it. I’ll be making it again. It’s easy to make. I like the tangy flavor.
Yay! So glad you and your husband enjoyed this easy tofu recipe 🙂
it is a wonderful recipe. I cook tofu frequently and this recipe is exceptional. Thank you
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying this marinated tofu recipe! It’s one our favorites too. Have a nice weekend 🙂
I want to try this recipe soon. In step 4 of the instructions, should the marinade that’s poured off be discarded, or can it be reused as a sauce once the tofu has been cooked?
Hi Maddie! Great question — you can absolutely reuse the marinade as a sauce! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Sooo flavorful!
I’m trying to cut down on my added oil consumption. Could I sub in broth for the vegetable oil, and keep the sesame oil (because it has such a delicious flavour!)
We at PBOAB haven’t tried that for this recipe just yet, so we can’t guarantee the results. If you do end up giving it a go, please let us know how it goes 🙂
This was de-liciuos!! So easy!!!..my husband`s only comment was that it was too soft….cooked for 45mins….he suggested maybe cooking it in the oven then pan searing it to put a crisp to it?! Will try that next time!
So glad you guys enjoyed it! That sounds like a great idea for extra crispiness!
Same for me, cutting down oil. I’m going to try with just the sesame oil no broth. Will let you know. I’ve down this with other recipes just leave out the oil, usually works fine.
can I leave out the oil in the marinade?
yes you can omit or substitute the oil if that is your preference. Enjoy!
So flavorful and delicious!
Oh my, this recipe looks so inviting! I’m adding tofu to my grocery list this week 😉
It’s an easy and very delicious one!