General Tso’s Tofu

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• Well seasoned. Our General Tso’s tofu is not too tangy, neither too sweet nor salty. It’s perfectly balanced and flavored with fresh aromatics such as ginger, garlic, and green onions. It’s garlicky, citrusy, and has a subtle tanginess that will make you crave more!
• Super saucy. The sauce here is undoubtedly the star of this dish, and we have made sure there was enough of it to drizzle on top of your rice or whatever grain you plan to serve it with!
• Simple to make. The process of making this tofu is simple. It consists of dicing tofu, coating it with cornstarch, and baking until crispy and golden brown. Then, cook it with the sauce and toss to coat it evenly. It’s that easy!

📘 What is General Tso’s Tofu

General Tso’s tofu is a plant-based alternative to the classic Chinese-American dish General Tso’s chicken. The original dish consists of fried chicken tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and chili paste or chili oil.

General Tso’s chicken is named after Zuo Zongtang, a Chinese military leader, although there is no relation between the dish and the general.

In this recipe, we will replace the chicken with tofu and skip the frying step for a healthier version.

🧄 Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients that you will need to prepare this General Tso’s tofu:

• Tofu – Firm tofu works best for this recipe as it stays tender and chewy after baking. We advise against using extra firm tofu as the texture wouldn’t be as pleasant.
• Cornstarch – To coat the tofu and give it a slightly crispy texture. It also helps the tofu to absorb the sauce better.
• Soy sauce – For umami and saltiness.
• Vegan oyster sauce – You can use store-bought vegan oyster sauce or homemade vegan oyster sauce. Note: If you don’t have vegan oyster sauce, feel free to use hoisin sauce. It will obviously taste different but it’s still a good substitute.
• Vinegar – For tanginess. We went with white vinegar but apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar will also work.
• Ketchup – In addition to extra sweetness, ketchup also gives the sauce an orange color.
• Sesame oil – Toasted sesame oil brings a delicious nuttiness to the sauce.
• Sugar – To balance the tanginess and saltiness. You can use granulated white sugar, light brown sugar, or maple syrup.
• Garlic
• Ginger – Fresh ginger works best in this recipe. Do not use ground ginger as it would only bring spiciness without any citrusy flavor.
• Sriracha – Optional. For a hint of spiciness. You can use sriracha, sweet chili sauce, or garlic chili oil.

🥣 How to Make It

1. Prepare the tofu

1. Press and dice the tofu. Start by wrapping the tofu in a few layers of kitchen paper towel and slightly press it to remove the extra moisture. Next, dice the tofu into 1-inch cubes and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
2. Season it. Pour in one teaspoon of soy sauce and one teaspoon of maple syrup and toss to coat. Let the tofu absorb the sauce for a couple of minutes.

3. Toss with cornstarch. Sprinkle the tofu with one tablespoon of cornstarch. Carefully toss to coat the tofu. Add another tablespoon of cornstarch and toss again. Repeat once more or until the tofu no longer appears moist. Note: The amount of cornstarch needed will depend on the type and brand of tofu used. We used 3 tablespoons.

4. Arrange on a baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil it using a kitchen paper towel. Arrange the cubed tofu on the baking sheet into an even layer, leaving 1-2 inches between each cube.
5. Bake until golden brown. Bake for about 25 minutes in a 355 °F (180°C) preheated oven, flipping once halfway through baking, until the tofu is golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.

2. Cook the sauce

1. Sauté the aromatics. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the minced ginger and garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

2. Add the tofu. Next, add the golden brown tofu and cook for one more minute.
3. Add the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the vegan oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and water. Pour the sauce into the skillet.
4. Let simmer. Let the tofu and the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to coat the tofu with the sauce. The sauce will thicken after a couple of minutes.
5. Garnish. Finally, top the tofu with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve immediately with white rice or your favorite grain!

🌶️ Variations

Here are some suggestions on how you can customize this tofu to your liking:

• Add five-spice powder: Add about 1/4 teaspoon of five-spice powder to the sauce to give the tofu a char siu flavor.
• Make it spicy: Sauté about 1/4 teaspoon of minced Bird’s eye chili with the garlic and ginger to make extra-spicy tofu.
• Add greens: Before adding the sauce and the tofu, sauté some baby spinach, morning glory, or broccolini!

🍚 What to Serve It With

We love pairing General Tso’s tofu with white rice, but you can also serve it with any other grain that you like. A few options are quinoa, farro, or couscous. It’s also delicious served with steamed or sautéed greens such as garlic winged beans or air-fryer green beans.

💬 FAQ

General Tso’s tofu is a delicious dish that packs bold flavors. It’s surprisingly easy to make at home and is sure to win over even the tofu skeptics!

🥙 More Tofu Recipes

Easy Lemongrass Tofu

The Creamiest Tofu Scramble

Vietnamese Braised Tofu & Mushrooms

Smoked Tofu

⭐️ Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!