General Tso’s Tofu

General Tso's tofu is a delicious plant-based version of a takeout favorite. It's super easy to make and perfect over a bowl of rice or noodles.

If you're a fan of sweet and spicy treats, this General Tso's tofu should definitely be on your list of things to try.

It's just as good as takeout and super easy to make at a fraction of the price.

The sauce is based on the very popular General Tso's chicken dish, but I use extra firm tofu instead.

The result is a perfect combination of sweet, savory and spicy in a 100% plant-based dish.

Even though the name comes from a famous Chinese military leader, General Tso's is not a traditional Chinese recipe but a Chinese-American takeout staple instead.

This features crispy bits of tofu in a deliciously sticky and spicy sauce, and it pairs great with rice or noodles.

Just the perfect treat for those days when you crave Chinese but don't want to order in!

Why you'll love this General Tso's tofu

• It's very easy to make using a single pan.
• You can make it as spicy as you like by adjusting the quantity of red chili flakes.
• It's delicious served with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chives over your favorite rice or noodles.

Ingredients and substitutions

Tofu - You'll need to press the tofu for at least 30 minutes before cutting it into cubes, even if you use the extra firm kind.

Oil - Any vegetable oil works well in this recipe - I prefer a neutral-flavored one such as canola.

Cornstarch - The cornstarch is essential for coating the tofu before frying it. You'll also need some extra to thicken the sauce.

Soy sauce - I always choose low-sodium soy sauce in recipes like this because there's already quite a bit of salt in the hoisin sauce. You can adjust the salt levels before serving.

Hoisin sauce - Make sure you use a vegan Hoisin sauce. Most of them are plant-based, but some of them may contain fish sauce.

Red chili flakes - General Tso's is typically quite spicy, but you can adjust the red chili flakes to your liking.

Brown sugar - Light brown sugar is usually used in this type of sauce to sweeten it. You can adjust the amount to your liking or use maple syrup instead.

How to make vegan General Tso's tofu

Place the tofu cubes into a large bowl and toss it with 1 tablespoon oil, 4 tablespoons cornstarch, salt and black pepper. Make sure all tofu cubes are covered in the cornstarch mix.

Heat ¼ cup vegetable oil in a large, deep pan and fry the tofu over medium-high until golden and crispy. You may need to do that in two or three batches. Set the tofu aside.

Turn the heat down and add the garlic to the pan.

Cook for 30 seconds, then stir in the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, red chili flakes, brown sugar, cornstarch and vegetable stock.

Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce thickens. Add the cooked tofu to the pan and toss to cover in sauce.

Serve over your favorite rice or noodles, topped with sesame seeds and freshly chopped chives if you like.

Recipe notes and tips

• You can combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl instead of adding them one by one to the pan.
• If you find it difficult to toss the tofu with cornstarch in a bowl, you can use a Ziploc bag and shake until the tofu is coated evenly.
• It's a good idea to use a non-stick pan for the tofu, so the coating doesn't stick.
• Try not to overcrowd the pan to prevent the tofu cubes from sticking to one another.
• This is a dish that's best served immediately. If you do have any leftovers, they will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days, and you can reheat them in the microwave.

If you liked this General Tso's tofu recipe, you might also like some of my other vegan stir-fry recipes:

• Mushroom Spinach Stir Fry
• Easy Garlic Tofu Stir Fry
• Vegan Chinese Jackfruit Stir Fry
• Vegan Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
• Sweet and Sour Tofu

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