Do you have a craving for vegan Chinese food? If so, whip up a batch of this General Tso Tofu. It's a little savory, a little sweet, and a whole lot of delicious. Plus it's vegetarian, vegan, and ready in under 30 minutes!
General Tso Tofu is a sweet and spicy tofu that is smothered in a delightfully sticky homemade sauce. This dish is so tasty, and will satisfy those take out cravings with one bite.
This General Tso Tofu Recipe Is...
- Quick and Easy
- Simple Ingredients
- 30 Minute Meal Idea
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Vegetarian
- Dairy Free
P.S. You're going to want to try all of these other vegetarian takeout makeover recipes too!
While you're here, be sure to grab our FREE 5-Day Meatless Meal Plan. It's packed with tasty recipes to make vegetarian cooking easy and delicious!
How to Make General Tso Tofu
- Dice up your tofu and place in a bowl or casserole dish. Then you will add in the maple syrup, vegetable broth, soy sauce, vinegar, and let it sit for 10 minutes to overnight.
- Once you are done allowing the tofu to marinade, discard the marinade. Then toss the tofu in cornstarch and set aside.
- In a new bowl whisk up the ingredients for the sauce.
- Heat oil in pan and toss tofu cooking on all sides till browned.
- Stir in the sauce, and simmer till the sauce is nice and thick.
- Serve warm with rice, and top with sesame seeds.
Full directions for this General Tso Tofu recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Helpful Tips
Use Extra Firm Tofu
I recommend using extra firm tofu, you will find it is going to give the best texture for this Chinese inspired recipe. The softer varieties will crumble or fall apart in the sauce.
Marinate the Tofu
Making sure you marinate the tofu is key, as it is going to allow the tofu to take on all the delicious flavors. If you skip marinating the tofu, you will find the dish much less flavorful.
Tasty Variations
Add more spice.
If you like things on the spicy side, you can double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes in the sauce. Alternatively, try topping the finished dish with some thinly sliced jalapenos.
Add veggies.
Consider tossing in some broccoli florets, snap peas, or any other veggies you have on hand for a more veggie-centric meal. You will find that just about any veggies work in this simple recipe. Just sauté along with the tofu, and be sure to make extra sauce to cover the added bulk.
Make General Tso Cauliflower
For an entirely different spin, you can replace the tofu with cauliflower. And now you have General Tso's Cauliflower instead! For another alternative, check out these General Tso's Bowls made with seitan.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with the tofu over a bed of rice. Alternatively, you can serve it with cauliflower rice (low carb option), quinoa, or couscous.
For a heartier meal, try serving it alongside veggie fried rice or stir fried vegetables.
FAQs
What type of tofu do I use for General Tso Tofu?
Extra firm tofu is needed for this recipe. You will then dice up into bite size cubes to sear in the pan.
What is hoisin sauce?
Hoisin sauce is a thick and savory with a hint of sweetness. The rich flavor comes from fermented soy beans. It's often referred to as the Chinese version of barbecue sauce.
Can I meal prep with this recipe?
This tofu is great for weekly meal prepping. Just store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Then place in single serve containers and heat up as you would like (microwave works great for this one). It makes a great hot packable lunch.
In my experience, this recipe does not freeze well and I would not suggest it.
More Chinese Recipes
If you love this General Tso's Tofu, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas:
If you're on your way to a more plant based lifestyle, be sure to check out our Veggie Kickstart Kit. It's packed with easy and tasty vegetarian dinners, effortless packable lunches, and easy grab-and-go breakfasts. And they're so good - you'll never miss the meat again!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
For the tofu:
- 12 oz extra firm tofu, one block, cut into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or tamari for gluten free
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
For the sauce:
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce, gluten free variety if needed
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
For serving:
- rice, cooked, optional for serving
- sesame seeds, optional for garnish
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl or casserole dish, mix together the , veggie broth, maple syrup, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Pour the marinade onto the tofu and and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes, up to overnight
- Drain and discard excess tofu marinade, then toss the cubed tofu with cornstarch
- Once all the tofu is coated with cornstarch, set this aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until fully combined
- Heat a large oiled skillet over medium heat, and brown tofu on all sides
- Once tofu is crisped, pour the sauce mixture over top.
- Allow to simmer and thicken until desired consistency is reached
- Serve warm with rice and sesame seeds if desired
Sue says
Delicious! Doubled the sauce and added a pound of veggies. Thanks!!