Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (2024)

by Caitlin Shoemaker

published on

GFGluten Free

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

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Better than takeout, this Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe is free from Gluten, Preservatives, and Refined Sugar! Use it with your favorite protein source for a tasty and easy dinner.

Goodbye, takeout. And hello, Healthy Orange Sauce!

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (2)

Sweet, Sticky, and oh-so-flavorful, Orage Sauce is one of those things that is justsosatisfying. Whether you’re going out to eat at a Chinese restaurant or chilling with a takeout box while watching Netflix, I’m pretty sure most of us have enjoyed it at one point or another.

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (3)

The one thing I really don’t like about Orange Sauce? The ingredients —oops. Okay, let’s clarify: I’m all for the yummy Orange, salty Soy, and tangy Garlic flavors, but the refined sugar and preservatives? Yeah, I’ll pass on those.

That’s why I created thishealthy Orange Sauce recipe to share with you all! This version is refined sugar free,but still tastes just like the original condiment we all know and love. Plus it’s made from only10 plant-based ingredients!

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (4)

I also tested two different varieties of this sauce – one usingMaple Syrup, and the other usingMedjool Dates as the natural sweetener. As you can see in the image below, the Maple Syrup (left) version looks a lot more like a traditional Orange Sauce, while the version sweetened with Dates (right) is a lot thicker. I personally preferred the sauce made with Maple Syrup, but have included both versions in the recipe below!

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (5)

Whether you’re using this sauce in some Orange Tofu Buddha Bowls, or just using it as a condiment with some steamed veggies and rice, you’re sure to love this recipe! It’s great for Meal Prep too – make a batch of it at the beginning of the week, and it’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (6)

Finally, if you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I love seeing your delicious recreations 🙂

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Healthy Orange Sauce (Refined Sugar Free)

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (7)

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★★★★★4.9 from 9 reviews

Better than takeout, this Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe is free from Gluten, Preservatives, and Refined Sugar! Use it with your favorite protein source for a tasty and easy dinner.

  • Author: Caitlin Shoemaker
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 Minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: ~ 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

Scale

  • ½ cup Maple Syrup (see notes for option with Dates)
  • 1 cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, with pulp (about 45 oranges)
  • Zest of 1 Orange (about 1 tsp)
  • ¼ cup + 1 tbsp Reduced Sodium Tamari (see notes for substitutions)
  • ¼ cup Rice Vinegar
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • ¾ of a small Yellow Onion
  • ½” knob of Ginger (no need to peel)
  • Pinch of Red Chile Flakes, optional
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch, Arrowroot, or Tapioca powder (I used Cornstarch)

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients, except for the Cornstarch, to a blender and process for 60 seconds, or until smooth.
  2. Pour the Orange Sauce into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring if the sauce starts to “bubble over.”
  3. Mix the Cornstarch with a small splash of Water in a small bowl.
  4. Once the Orange Sauce starts to boil, reduce the heat to low-medium, keeping a simmer.
  5. Pour the Cornstarch mixture into the saucepan, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until noticeably thickened. Stir the mixture frequently to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom of the pan. (Note: Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken more as it cools!)
  6. Once the sauce reaches room temperature, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Notes

  • To make this sauce with Medjool Dates instead, omit the Maple Syrup and add 1 cup of pitted & packed Dated to the blender with the remaining ingredients. The resulting sauce will be a lot thicker, so you do not need to cook it on the stovetop. I would, however, suggest that you heat it up with your veggies or protein before you use it, to cook off some of the raw garlic and onion flavors.
  • Orange Juice from a carton may be used instead of Fresh Orange Juice, but this will affect the final flavor.
  • Tamari may be substituted with Soy Sauce (not GF), Liquid Aminos, or Coconut Aminos.

Want to save this Healthy Chinese Orange Sauce for later? Pin the recipe to your Pinterest boards:

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (8)

Healthy Orange Sauce Recipe (Refined Sugar Free) - From My Bowl (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy orange sauce? ›

A delicious ready made orange sauce to go with duck, game, chicken and pork.

How do you thicken orange chicken sauce? ›

To thicken the sauce, pour it into a small saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to make a cornstarch slurry. Once the sauce starts to bubble in the pan on the stovetop, add the cornstarch slurry and stir to combine.

What is orange tofu made of? ›

Orange tofu is a Chinese-style vegan meal made of breaded firm tofu baked in the oven and coated in a sweet, sticky spiced orange sauce. It's a plant-based version of the classic Chinese orange chicken recipe, also healthier as the authentic recipe deep fry the proteins.

Does orange sauce go bad? ›

You can tell if orange sauce has gone bad by checking for visible molds, discoloration, or an off smell. If the sauce has separated or changed color, that's another sign that it may be time to discard.

What is the orange sauce called? ›

Duck sauce (or orange sauce) is a condiment with a sweet and sour flavor and a translucent orange appearance similar to a thin jelly. Offered at American Chinese restaurants, it is used as a dip for deep-fried dishes such as wonton strips, spring rolls, egg rolls, duck, chicken, fish, or with rice or noodles.

What are 2 ways to thicken sauce? ›

Ways To Thicken Sauce
  • Tomato Paste. If your soup or stew is watery, adding tomato paste may help! ...
  • Arrowroot. You might prefer to avoid gluten in your recipes. ...
  • Flour. ...
  • Reduce Your Liquid. ...
  • Puréed Vegetables. ...
  • Egg Yolk. ...
  • Yogurt. ...
  • Rice.
Jul 15, 2022

How do you thicken orange sauce without cornstarch? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

Does lemon juice thicken sauces? ›

Then add the juice of half a lemon, at which point the recipe warns the sauce may thicken considerably (and if it's too thick don't worry as you thin it out later with creme fraiche).

What is the healthiest form of tofu? ›

Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

Why do Chinese eat so much tofu? ›

This probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism as it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism. Li Shizhen, during the Ming dynasty, described a method of making tofu in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

Is tofu as healthy as vegetables? ›

Tofu is made from soy milk and unlike fruits, vegetables, and whole dried beans, it is low in fiber. This is an important distinction between tofu and fruits and vegetables since dietary fiber is one of the most celebrated nutritional benefits gained from eating fruits and vegetables.

Can you buy ready made orange sauce for duck? ›

A delicious ready made orange sauce to go with duck, game, chicken and pork.

What is the orange sauce at Chinese restaurants? ›

If you're from the Midwest or Eastern seaboard of the United States, duck sauce is likely an orange jelly-like substance—similar to sweet-and-sour sauce but with a fruitier flavor—that comes in packets with your Chinese takeout.

Is orange sauce the same as sweet and sour? ›

Basically, the sauce is what distinguishes one flavor from the others, so when making orange chicken, the sauce base is orange juice, with lemon, lemonade, pineapple, pineapple juice, and sweet and sour is tomato sauce or juice and vinegar and sugar or honey.

What is orange sauce made of? ›

What is orange sauce made of? Homemade orange sauce is heavenly! This sweet sauce is made of orange juice, brown sugar, pure maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger.

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