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.

Is General Tso tofu good for you? ›

It's spicy-sweet, healthier than the classic Chinese takeout dish, and one of my favorite tofu recipes. This General Tso's Tofu is a healthier and lighter version of the classic General Tso's Chicken. Besides, it's made with tofu instead of chicken and the tofu is not deep-fried, just sautéed in a little bit of oil.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

How do you make firm tofu extra firm? ›

How to press tofu
  1. Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel then put it on a large plate with a lip.
  2. Put something heavy such as a frying pan on top, weight it down further with cans and jars, and leave for 30 mins.
  3. The tofu will be about two-thirds its original thickness, and up to 100ml water will have been removed.

What's the difference between bean curd and tofu? ›

Bean curd is simply the English name for tofu. There's no difference between the two. However, you may be more likely to hear bean curd used to describe firmer forms of tofu. There are different kinds of tofu, ranging from silk/smooth, medium, firm, and extra-firm.

How do you cook tofu and make it taste good? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

What is the downside of eating too much tofu? ›

The significant disadvantages of Tofu may cause allergies in some people. The symptoms of soy allergies include skin rash, inflammation, itching, fainting, breathing difficulty, abdominal pain and throat swelling. In rare scenarios, Tofu may cause osteoporosis and estrogen-related cancer.

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.

How unhealthy is fried tofu? ›

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories, up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Just as you can caramelize vegetables by roasting them in the oven, the same is possible for tofu. Start by pressing your tofu to remove the water. Then, toss pressed tofu pieces in a marinade made with a combination of oil, soy sauce, sweetener, and other flavorings of your choosing, such as garlic and ginger.

Should you fry tofu before marinating? ›

If you want the flavor to get all the way inside, you have to get heat involved somehow, whether that's in the form of a dip in boiling salty water, or by pan-frying, baking, or my new favorite pre-marinade technique: Air-frying. Cold, raw tofu rejects marinades because of its high water content and low porosity.

Should you press tofu before marinating? ›

Drain the firm or extra tofu from its package and pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Tip: We don't find it necessary to press tofu, but if you like, you can do so. Break the tofu apart with your hands into bite-size pieces and add it to the bowl with the marinade.

Is eating tofu good for weight loss? ›

Low calorie density: Tofu is a low calorie food, with around 70-90 calories per 100 grams, making it a good option for those who are trying to lose weight. This is because foods with low calorie density help you feel full with fewer calories, which can help you consume fewer total calories throughout the day.

How long to press tofu before marinating? ›

How long to press tofu? Pressing tofu can take up to one hour. The longer it's pressed, the more moisture will be drawn out, making it a better consistency for recipes that call for marinades.

Can I eat tofu raw? ›

How to safely eat raw tofu. While tofu comes in a variety of textures — silken, firm, and extra firm — technically any of them can be eaten raw. Before enjoying raw tofu, drain off any excess liquid from the packaging. It's also important to store tofu properly to prevent germs from growing on any unused portions.

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.

What is tofu made of? ›

Tofu is made from dried soybeans that are soaked in water, crushed, and boiled. The mixture is separated into solid pulp (okara) and soy “milk.” Salt coagulants, such as calcium and magnesium chlorides and sulfates, are added to the soy milk to separate the curds from the whey.

What does TSO mean in Chinese food? ›

General Tso's chicken is named for Tso Tsung-t'ang (now usually transliterated as Zuo Zongtang), a formidable nineteenth-century general who is said to have enjoyed eating it.

What does TSO stand for in Chinese food? ›

While the dish isn't exactly authentic Chinese food, its namesake was a very real (and very powerful) general. Zuo Zongtang (General Tso) was a respected Chinese statesman and military leader of the late Qing dynasty, which ruled the country from 1644 until 1912.

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