Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2024)

Last modified: . Originally posted: By Sophia DeSantis

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This vegan tofu General Tso recipe is bursting with flavor, easy to make and a perfect healthier alternative to the traditional restaurant variation.

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (1)

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2)This post originally published on May 13, 2018.

This is a cookbook review written by me on behalf of Chloe Coscarelli, for which I received a free copy of the book and a kit by Nasoya. All the opinions and text are all mine.

This vegan version of General Tso is awesome. Really easy to make, and super versatile! The sauce is simple but full of flavor, and leftovers can be used with so many things!

Vegan General Tso's Tofu

Going out to Chinese food was always one of my favorite, but as I got healthier, my stomach couldn't take the fried food and loads of salt frequently found in these restaurants. In comes Chloe Flavor, the new cookbook by vegan celebrity chef Chloe Coscarelli.

Can we just start with how cute this book looks on my cookbook shelf? The spine is the perfect yellow, and has a photo of pink, yellow and white donuts. Swoon. I love the mouthwatering colorful photos and all the action shots. It makes me want to jump in and eat with her!

What really drew me in though was the fun titles she uses for the sections. You must have fun titles to really grab my attention. A few of my most favorites are:

  • but first, breakfast & brunch
  • oh, the pastabilities
  • fork it, bowls & plate it dishes
  • sweet yo' self

And the tagline for the book is: saucy, crispy, spicy, vegan. It's like this book is talking to me. I need Chloe to be my friend.

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (3)

Now we can all make this delicious, indulgent, but secretly healthy dinner right in our own kitchen! I am including how to alter this recipe in order to satisfy my no-oil crew, and I added a bunch of my current favorite veggies into the mix because extra veggies are awesome.

Is General Tso's tofu vegan?

This version is! Tofu is a great vegan alternative to the traditional chicken. If you buy your General Tso's sauce from the store, you'll want to double-check the ingredients but you will love this variation!

What is General Tso's sauce made of?

The usual General Tso's sauce is made of soy sauce, wine, vinegar, chicken stock, sugar, sesame seed oil, and cornstarch. But in this recipe, the sauce is made up of maple syrup, tamari, sriracha, orange juice, and cornstarch.

What does tofu taste like?

Tofu doesn't have any taste! Which makes it perfect for these kinds of recipes. The tofu really soaks up the flavor of the sauce and tastes delicious! To get the best flavor, pressing your tofu is important. Pressing releases the liquid inside, allowing the tofu to suck up any other liquid.

Chloe partnered with Nasoya to help launch this cookbook so I also got a tofu press along with the book. I was blown away by how cool a tofu press is! I know, I'm late to the show, but it is my new favorite tool!

What does General Tso's taste like?

General Tso's has a nice gingery flavor to it. It also has a nice tart flavor with just a hint of sweetness. It is loaded with yumminess and the sauce could also be used for other things, and even just plain on veggies and/or rice!

Can you prep this ahead of time?

You can definitely make some of the parts ahead of time, but since you want a nice crispy tofu, that part is made fresh. If you want to prep ahead, here is what I would do:

  • Make the sauce. Put in an air tight container in the fridge until ready to use.
  • Press tofu and marinade it, place in fridge until ready to bake the next day.
  • Prep rice.
  • Day of, bake tofu and veggies. Heat up sauce in a pan and then continue following the recipe by adding the tofu.

How to Make a Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe

This is fairly simple to make, the newest thing for many of you will be pressing your tofu if you want the ultimate flavor. It is easy to do, and you really just need to get used to it.

  1. Press and marinate tofu.Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (4)
  2. Make the sauce.Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (5)
  3. Roast the tofu and extra veggies if you are adding them. Instead of frying the tofu I baked it similar to my recipe for crispy baked tofu. I then added it to the sauce once it was all thickened in the pan. The crispiness maintained perfectly.Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (6)
  4. Serve!Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (7)

If you're looking for a delicious soy free Chinese takeout at home recipe, try my Chinese Style Vegan Orange Cauliflower recipe!

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (8)

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (9)

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe

Sophia DeSantis

Shared with permission from the amazing new cookbook Chloe Flavor by Chloe Coscarelli.

This vegan tofu General Tso recipe is bursting with flavor, easy to make and a perfect healthier alternative to the traditional restaurant variation.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 4 (see note)

Calories 337 kcal

Ingredients

Tofu:

Stir-Fry:

Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions

Make the tofu:

  • In a large zip-top bag, combine the tofu, tamari, and cornstarch. Toss to coat—the cornstarch will become goopy

Make the stir-fry:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, tamari, sriracha, orange juice, and cornstarch until the cornstarch has dissolved

  • In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat

  • When it shimmers, add the tofu, working in batches as needed, and sear for about 3 minutes on each side, until crispy all over

  • Return all the tofu to the skillet and add the scallions, orange zest, garlic, and ginger. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the scallions begin to break down

  • Add the sauce and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 5 minutes more, until the sauce thickens

  • Serve over rice, garnished with sesame seeds

For oil-free option:

  • Make the tofu in a zip-top bag as stated. Then spread it out on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 450 F (230 C) for 25 minutes or until crispy. Then skip to the 4th direction under making the stir fry and cook thescallions, orange zest, garlic, and ginger as stated but on their own. Add the sauce, and then once it is thickened add the baked crispy tofu and mix.

  • I also baked my veggies (see notes) at the same time as the tofu. Bake on a separate parchment lined cookie sheet. You can continue to roast the veggies once the tofu is done if needed.

Notes

Tip CRISPY TOFU: The key to having crispy tofu cubes is to not flip them over too soon. Let each piece get nicely browned before flipping it to the other side

My alterations:

  • Follow the additional instructions on how to make this oil-free, I did not use the oil mentioned in the ingredients.
  • I added 4 cups of veggies (I roasted 2 cups broccoli, 1 cup fennel and 1 cup radishes at the same time I baked the tofu when making the oil-free version). This made my recipe come out at 4 servings instead of 2 (as is in the original recipe).
  • I also added 2 cups of brown rice for serving.
  • I did not use all the sauce, save extra for future use.
  • Nutritional info is done for my version of 4 servings (including the veggies and brown rice listed above). Double it if doing the 2 servings of the original recipe.

Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 14gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 668mgPotassium: 548mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 490IUVitamin C: 66.4mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 2.5mg

Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (10)

Vegan Tofu General Tso Recipe - Veggies Don't Bite (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan General Tso made of? ›

This General Tso's Tofu is made with bites of crispy tofu that are coated in a simple cornstarch batter, oven-baked until crispy and golden, then doused in a homemade General Tso's sauce that's the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory comfort flavors.

Why won't my tofu get crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

Is General Tso tofu good for you? ›

For every serving, you get 9g of protein, 4g carbs and 3g fat (2.5g unsaturated, 0.5g saturated). Frying the tofu adds more fat but also adds a ton of flavor. Worth it! We love this as a quick weeknight dinner.

How to make tofu like Chinese takeaway? ›

Pat each cube dry. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu and cook on all sides until golden brown, 2-4 minutes per side, then remove from the pan and set aside.

Should you marinate tofu? ›

Tofu has very little flavour itself but soaks up almost every flavour you add to it. When you put tofu in a stew or simmer it in a broth, you don't need to marinade it beforehand, as it absorbs all of the flavours during cooking. But for all other types of preparations, it's better to marinate the tofu first of all.

How to make tofu taste good? ›

How to Cook Tofu That Actually Tastes Good
  1. First, you need to "press" tofu. Here's how: ...
  2. It tastes best when marinated, just not with oil. If you don't marinate it, it won't taste like anything. ...
  3. Use cornstarch to make tofu crispy. ...
  4. You can also broil and grill it. ...
  5. Here's what you can make with tofu:
Mar 20, 2019

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What to use instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

6 Cornstarch Substitutes for All Your Cooking and Baking Needs
  1. Potato Starch. Potato starch is the cornstarch substitute favorite of associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. ...
  2. Rice Flour. ...
  3. All-Purpose Flour. ...
  4. Tapioca Flour. ...
  5. Arrowroot Powder. ...
  6. Xanthan Gum.
Jun 13, 2022

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

It sticks, and the crispy bits end up sticking to the pan, which is a tofu tragedy. Plus, it requires more oil, and you don't need to use a lot of oil to get crispy tofu. When you bake your tofu, you give it time to develop crispy edges and warm, pillowy insides. It's simply the best.

What is the downside of eating too much tofu? ›

Health risks of eating tofu

Breast tumors: Because of tofu's weak hormonal effects, some doctors suggest that people with estrogen-sensitive breast tumors limit their soy intake. Thyroid issues: Some professionals also advise people with poor thyroid function to avoid tofu due to its goitrogen content.

Why do Chinese eat so much tofu? ›

This probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism as it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism. Li Shizhen, during the Ming dynasty, described a method of making tofu in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

Is tofu healthier for you than chicken? ›

Tofu nutrition. This meatless option is a staple for vegetarians, and rightfully so. It boasts more fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and folate than chicken and contains fewer calories.

What is normally vegan from Chinese takeaway? ›

Noodles and Rice

(Just ask for any meat to be replaced with tofu, and check for fish sauce, chicken broth, or beef broth.) Singapore noodles (Specify no eggs.) Vegetable fried rice (Specify no eggs.) Tofu fried rice (Specify no eggs.)

What is tofu called in China? ›

In China, the standard Mandarin term for tofu in the pinyin writing system is doufu (formerly written as tou-fu in the Wade-Giles system, but pronounced DOE-fu in both). In Cantonese it is tau-fu or dau-fu (both pronounced DAU-fu) and in Hokkien it is tau-hu (pronounced dau-hu).

Why does restaurant tofu taste different? ›

This difference in taste is largely due to one key ingredient: salt. In the culinary world, salt is a key flavor enhancer that unlocks and elevates the natural tastes of food. When it comes to tofu, which is naturally quite mild-tasting, salt becomes a critical component in transforming it into something delicious.

What is a vegan substitute for fish sauce? ›

In that regard, Korean soup soy sauce is a great option (this one is gluten free), since it's saltier than regular soy sauce, but lighter in color. If you can't use soy sauce, coconut aminos are your best bet. Seaweed and Kelp.

Is Chinese mock chicken vegan? ›

In Chinese cuisine, fried gluten is used to make imitation meat dishes for people who are intolerant to meat products, or people who prefer vegetarian dishes over meat. Here you find Wu Chung brand's 290g canned mock chicken which is a good vegan alternative for chicken dishes.

Is bean curd the same as tofu? ›

Tofu is the name and spelling used most often for bean curd, but it is actually the Japanese word for a Chinese invention - doufu.

What does General Tso chicken contain? ›

Ingredient Statement Chicken: Dark meat chicken chunks, water, cornstarch, white whole grain wheat flour, soybean oil, liquid whole eggs, salt, white pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and green onion.

References

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