General Tso’s Tofu comes together with crispy tofu pieces in a simple homemade sauce. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Enjoy with rice and broccoli for an easy weeknight dinner that's ready in 1 hour.
My General Tso’s Tofu recipe is a healthier and lighter version of the classic General Tso’s Chicken, a popular deep fried chicken dish that’s served in North American Chinese restaurants. It’s traditionally battered and deep fried then tossed with a savory sweet sauce.
If you’re craving takeout, but still want to cook at home – you’ll love this easy tofu recipe! It’s satisfying, comforting, and uses common pantry ingredients.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Big bold flavor: Make your general tso’s tofu as spicy or sweet as you like. Adjust the measurements until it’s perfect for you!
- Great for meal prep: This is a great make ahead meal. Prep everything during the weekend and enjoy for lunch or dinner throughout the week.
- Allergy friendly: Just like all of my recipes, this one is dairy free and egg free! As a bonus, this one is easily gluten free with one simple ingredient swap!
Ingredient notes
- Tofu: If you've made my other fan favorite tofu recipes like sesame tofu or peanut tofu, you'll know extra firm tofu is my go to. It has the best texture and crisps up perfectly in the oven, air fryer, and even skillet. Firm tofu can be used as an alternative, but do not use soft tofu or silken tofu.
- Soy sauce: If gluten free, use tamari! Soy sauce adds saltiness and umami flavor to both the tofu and the sauce.
- Cornstarch: This is essential for getting tofu crispy as well as making the general tso's sauce thick.
- Aromatics: I highly recommend using fresh garlic and fresh ginger, as the taste is unmatched. If you can't, use garlic powder and ground gigner as a substitute.
- Rice vinegar: The rice vinegar adds a tangy taste and helps balance and sweet and savory flavors.
- Hoisin sauce: This Asian condiment is thick and syrup-like with a slightly sweet, umami flavor. Hoisin sauce is usually vegan and gluten free but double check before using.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is used in the sauce for sweetness and to balance the savory flavors. Brown sugar can be used for a deeper, more rich flavor profile.
- Red pepper flakes: Start with about a teaspoon and add more depending how spicy you want this dish to be.
- Sesame seeds: Top general tso's tofu with sesame seeds for a mild nutty taste.
This unique tofu press is the easiest way to evenly and cleanly remove water from tofu to improve the flavor and texture.
How to make general tso's tofu
The full directions for my vegan general tso's tofu are in the printable recipe card.
Step 1: Press the tofu
Start by pressing the tofu to remove excess water, this takes about 30 minutes. If you don’t have a tofu press, place the block of tofu on a plate or baking sheet, place paper towels over, then top with heavy books or skillets.
Step 2: Bake the tofu
Once pressed, tear tofu into small pieces and place into a large mixing bowl. You can slice the tofu with a knife, but tearing it gives the tofu a better texture. Plus, it ends up looking more like chicken pieces instead of uniform tofu cubes.
Drizzle with avocado oil and coat with cornstarch and soy sauce. Toss to combine then bake in the oven at 400F for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Alternatively, air fry at 400F for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
Step 3: Make the sauce
As the tofu cooks, warm avocado oil in a large saute pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic and ginger until fragrant. Whisk homemade general tso’s sauce ingredients together in a small bowl then pour into skillet.
Step 4: Toss to combine
Lower the heat and whisk sauce frequently as it thickens. Add cooked tofu and stir well to coat each piece. Serve and enjoy immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving suggestions
Top general tso's tofu with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve with a side of fluffy white rice or brown rice and a side of broccoli for a delicious main dish.
Related recipes
Want more popular tofu recipes? Try these next:
- Air fryer tofu nuggets are simple to make with an unbelievable texture!
- Vegan tofu bolognese is full of flavor with a variety of texture, it's easy to make for a weeknight meal.
- Crispy rice paper dumplings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Made with tofu and veggies of choice, they're great for a light lunch or afternoon snack.
- Tofu queso is a creamy and cheesy high protein snack that doubles as a dip!
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Please give me a rating and review to let me know what you think.
General Tso's Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
For the tofu
- 2 block of extra firm tofu
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce use tamari if gluten-free
- 6 tablespoon cornstarch
General Tso's Sauce
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 5 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Start by pressing the tofu to remove excess liquid. If you don’t have a tofu press, place the blocks of tofu on a plate or baking sheet, cover with paper towels, then top with heavy books or skillets for 15-30 minutes.
- Once pressed, tear tofu into small bite-sized pieces and place into a large mixing bowl. You can slice the tofu with a knife, but tearing it gives the tofu a better texture. Plus, it ends up looking more like chicken pieces instead of uniform tofu cubes.
- Drizzle tofu pieces with avocado oil and coat with cornstarch and soy sauce. Toss to combine. Bake in the oven at 400F for 30 minutes, flipping once halfway though.
- As the tofu cooks, warm avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic and ginger until fragrant. Whisk homemade general tso’s sauce ingredients together in a small bowl then pour into skillet.
- Lower the heat and whisk sauce as it thickens. Add cooked tofu and stir well to coat. Serve and enjoy immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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