If you’re a fan of Chinese food, you will love this general tso tofu. We can’t get enough of these crispy baked tofu cubes tossed in a spicy, sweet and sour sauce. It’s the perfect comfort food that is ready in just 30 minutes!
Why This Recipe Works
General Tso is one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes. It’s traditionally made with fried chicken. Firm tofu cubes are the perfect alternative for a vegan version.
I’m not the biggest fan of frying, but I still wanted the tofu cubes to be super crispy. Tossing them in corn starch and baking them really does the trick!
And it’s so much healthier than deep-fried tofu. In fact, my recipe is entirely oil-free. And it’s packed with protein!
The sauce is super easy to make and perfectly spiced with fresh ginger, garlic powder, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Brown sugar gives it its typical light sweet flavor. Sprinkle it with sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onions for even more flavor.
The sauce comes together in just 5 minutes while the tofu is baking in the oven. It’s the perfect weeknight recipe after a long day. Super comforting, packed with flavor, and so quick!
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Tofu – Make sure to use firm tofu. The recipe doesn’t work with soft or silken tofu.
- Soy Sauce – Use tamari for a gluten-free version. Use low sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
- Hoisin Sauce – Don’t leave out the hoisin sauce. It’s essential for this recipe. You can find it in the Asian food aisle.
- Vegetable Broth – I use organic low sodium vegetable broth.
How T0 Make This Recipe
1. Step: Preheat your oven to 350 °F. Cut the tofu into cubes. Add two tablespoons of corn starch.
2. Step: Make sure all cubes are covered in corn starch.
3. Step: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the tofu cubes on top.
4. Step: Bake for 25 minutes, tossing halfway.
5. Step: Make the sauce: Place all of the ingredients into a sauce pan.
6. Step: Cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat until the sauce becomes thick and sticky.
7. Step: Add the baked tofu cubes.
8. Step: Stir well. Serve over brown rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onion. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Make sure to use very firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe.
- If you can’t find extra-firm tofu, your could press the excess water out of your tofu before starting with this recipe. You could either use a tofu press or two plates, paper towel, and a few heavy objects like a stack of cookbooks. Check out my tips on how to press tofu.
- For a gluten-free version of this general tso tofu, replace the soy sauce with tamari.
- Add the baked tofu to the sauce and serve it right away. This way the tofu will be super crispy. Don’t cook it in the sauce or the tofu will get a bit soggy.
FAQs:
How Long Does This Recipe Last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this recipe will last 3-4 days.
However, it’s best served fresh as the tofu cubes will get a bit soggy and won’t be as crunchy anymore when they’re paired with the sauce for too long.
What’s The Best Way to Reheat It?
If you know you will have leftovers, it’s a great idea to store the tofu cubes and the sauce in separate containers.
Then just heat up the tofu in the oven and it will be perfectly crispy again. Reheat it for about 5-8 minutes at 350 °F. Reheat the sauce on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Not a Fan of Soy?
If you’re not a fan of soy or if you’re allergic, you could try my general tso cauliflower. It’s super crispy, spicy-sweet, and completely soy-free.
Related Recipes:
I Love To Hear From You!
I hope you like this general tso tofu as much as we do around here.
If you give them a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!
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Sina
General Tso Tofu
Ingredients
- 14 oz very firm or extra-firm tofu
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- chili flakes, to taste (optional)
- sesame seeds, to sprinkle
- green onions, freshly chopped, to sprinkle
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 °F. Cut the tofu into cubes. Add two tablespoons of corn starch.
- Make sure all cubes are covered in corn starch.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the tofu cubes on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes, tossing halfway.
- Make the sauce: Place all of the ingredients into a sauce pan.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat until the sauce becomes thick and sticky.
- Add the baked tofu cubes.
- Stir well. Serve over brown rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and freshly chopped green onion. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to use very firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe.
- If you can't find extra-firm tofu, your could press the excess water out of your tofu before starting with this recipe. You could either use a tofu press or two plates, paper towel, and a few heavy objects like a stack of cookbooks. Check out my tips on how to press tofu.
- For a gluten-free version, replace the soy sauce with tamari.
- Add the baked tofu to the sauce and serve it right away. This way the tofu will be super crispy. Don't cook it in the sauce or the tofu will get a bit soggy.
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