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General Tso’s Tofu

General Tso’s Tofu, ready in just 30 minutes. It’s spicy-sweet, healthier than the classic Chinese takeout dish, and one of my favorite tofu recipes.

General Tso's Tofugeneral tso’s tofu

I’ve never tried general Tso’s chicken because it’s (almost) impossible to find it here in Spain, but I’ve seen the recipe a long time ago and it was love at first sight, I knew I’d love it. As I tried to avoid fried foods as much as I can, I forget about it, until last month, when I decided to make a healthier, lighter version using tofu instead of chicken and a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (for an oil-free version, omit the oil and bake the tofu until golden brown).

This dish is INSANE!!! I think it’s my all-time favorite tofu recipe, it’s SO GOOD and I wish I had tried it before.  It’s similar to the sweet and sour pork you can find at Chinese restaurants here in Spain, but even better and of course cruelty-free.

For those of you who don’t know general Tso’s chicken, it’s a a sweet, deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants. We’ve used only a little bit of oil to cook the tofu and also made a less spicy version, but add as much oil and cayenne powder as you want.

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General Tso's Tofu

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General Tso's Tofu

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General Tso’s Tofu

★★★★★ 4.8 from 59 reviews
  • Author: Simple Vegan Blog
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 2-4
  • Category: Entrées, Sides & Main Dishes, Tofu
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Asian

General Tso’s Tofu, ready in just 30 minutes. It’s spicy-sweet, healthier than the classic Chinese takeout dish, and one of my favorite tofu recipes.

General Tso's Tofu - 30-minute General Tso's Tofu, a plant-based version of one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes. Spicy-sweet, high in protein, super flavorful, healthier and lighter than the traditional recipe. #vegan #glutenfree #simpleveganblog
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Ingredients

For the general Tso’s tofu:

  • 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 10 ounces firm tofu (275 g), cubed
  • 6 tbsp cornstarch
  • Extra virgin olive to taste
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced

For the sauce:

  • 3 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp vegetable stock or water
  • 3 tbsp cane, coconut or brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne powder

Instructions

  1. Mix tamari and vinegar in a bowl until well combined.
  2. Add the tofu cubes and let rest for at least 5 minutes.
  3. Drain the tofu and transfer 1/3 of the tofu cubes to a freezer bag with 2 tbsp of cornstarch and toss to coat. Repeat this step with the rest of the tofu and cornstarch. Add more cornstarch if needed.
  4. Cook the tofu cubes in a skillet with a little bit of oil over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Remove tofu from pan and set aside.
  5. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook them over medium-high heat for about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently until they start to golden brown.
  6. To make the sauce just mix all the ingredients until well combined.
  7. Add the sauce to the skillet and cook until it thickens, stirring frequently.
  8. Finally, add the tofu, stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more.
  9. Remove pan from heat and serve with some white rice and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped chives (optional).
  10. Keep leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • If you don’t eat tofu, you could use cauliflower instead. I’ve seen some recipes online, but I’ve never tried it myself.
  • For an oil-free version of this recipe, bake the tofu at 350ºF or 180ºC until golden brown.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
  • Calories: 237
  • Sugar: 7.4 g
  • Sodium: 1054 mg
  • Fat: 13.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.3 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 8.1 g

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Reader Reviews

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  1. This looks incredibly good! This is a perfect-sounding recipe for me and I’m hoping my husband will like it too.

    Reply

  4. I made this last night. Delicious! I added a little sesame oil to the olive oil for frying the tofu, for extra flavor, then I stir-fried some Asian vegetables and thin noodles and added the tofu and sauce. So I guess what I ended up with wasn’t exactly General Tso’s tofu, but it was really good and I will definitely make it again! Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. this is so, so good. i will definitely make this again! i used an entire 14 oz block of tofu so i increased the sauce recipe. i also added veggies. thanks for sharing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  6. Hi guys.

    I just did this and let me tell you, it blew our minds! Amazing! I can hardly type, and I think I’ll have to call an ambulance. Of course, I’ve made too much, what do you think? But there are no leftovers to bear witness. The use of brown sugar was genius! So freaking good!

    I have to lie down now. But congratulations!

    Reply

  7. Awesome recipe!! My husband and I just recently started eating tofu. I have tried about 5 different recipes of how to cook tofu, and by far, this is the BEST recipe that I have come across. I did not have cayenne powder but used Cajun seasoning instead. It tasted just fine, but not very spicey. I will be sure to get cayenne powder next time. Thanks for the recipe, we Loved it!!

    ★★★★★

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  8. Do you drain (squeeze the water out) of the tofu before you chop and marinade it? Or do you use it straight from the packaging?

    Reply

  9. Very good, but it was on the salty side. I would double the water in the sauce. Other than that, it was very good.

    ★★★★

    Reply

    • Hi Jazzmyn! Thanks a lot 🙂 As you drain the marinade, it’s not that salty, but feel free to add more water if you want. Have a nice day!

      Reply

  10. I definitely enjoyed it. Made it for my wife and I. Both of us trying to eat better, and I was in a rut so I gave this General Tso’s Tofu a try. It was easy to make, and packed a seriously flavorful punch. I cut back the sugar a bit, and I think I would use a tiny bit less vinegar next time I make it. Nicely done though.

    ★★★★

    Reply

  11. I have been obsessed with General Tso’s for years. I have stories about this dish. Anyway, I have been trying to make this at home and for sometime resorted to using Trader Joe’s General Tso’s sauce which is delicious, however it is way too salty. I have tried a few recipes, many of which use rice vinegar, but it is too tangy for my daughter. This recipe on the other hand is perfect, and super simple. I make it and refrigerate it. It goes great over rice with broccoli or tofu! Thanks alot.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  12. Delicious. Teen daughter loves it, says better than restaurant. We aren’t vegan per se, but it doesn’t matter. I also sauté and in any seasonal veggies I have on hand, use soft tofu, because we like it. Making it again right now!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  13. Loved it! my boyfriend loved it too. I used soy sauce and cane sugar. I wonder if it is better with brown sugar, I didn’t have any (same with tamari). thanks for this recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  14. My SO and I loved this recipe!! I’m a vegetarian and he’s a carnivore, and this is (so far) the only way I’ve been able to get him to eat tofu (; Thank you so much for posting!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  15. This was a nice and easy recipe for a weeknight dinner. A few things I changed: I bought extra firm tofu and pressed it between two cuttings boards with paper towels for about 30 minutes to make the tofu less watery. I had to change out the paper towels a few times because they quickly soaked through. I used way more than 2 tablespoons of corn starch to toss them in. I just eyeballed the amount, but it was probably more like 1/3 cup. I used twice the amount of cayenne pepper because I wanted my sauce to be a bit spicier. I could have used more as it was not too spicy. I served my tofu with steamed broccoli and cauliflower rice. Delicious and healthy!

    Reply

  16. Thanks for this quick and delicious recipe. I fell in love with it. Just finished eating it now.

    ★★★★★

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  17. I have 3 older kids who, up until tonight did not like tofu. This was great. I can’t wait to try the sweet and sour tofu recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Hi Shanta! I’m so glad your kids enjoyed our recipe 🙂 Hope they also like the sweet and sour tofu!

      Reply

  18. It is amazing taste just like it we just became vegetarian n i was looking for recipes came upon yours n it looked great so i tried it was delious and wasnt to hard to do. Great job thanks

    Reply

  19. This was GREAT!! I’m new to vegan cooking but this was actually a hit and wonderful!! I didn’t have Cayenne but I did have a spicy miso sauce. Next time I will double or even triple the sauce for my saucy needs!!

    Reply

  21. This is amazeballs! And very easy to make. The freezer bag trick I will continue to use with other tofu dishes where I need to coat….and the sauce is soo good! I am making it again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Hi Penny! Thanks a lot 🙂 I’m so glad you liked it! Yes, it’s so useful to use a freezer bag to coat things…

      Reply

  22. Best vegan recipe I ever found! My whole family loved it and my son is the only one that is vegan! Switched out cayenne pepper for red pepper flakes.

    Reply

  24. As an Australian who has never been to America, I don’t know what general Tso’s sauce should taste like but I’ve just made this and I’m so happy right now….

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  26. This was delicious! Thank you so much. We like our food spicier than most people, so I used a big squirt of sriacha sauce instead of cayenne pepper. It was so good I’m making it again tonight!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  27. Wow!! This recipe was amazing!! I was looking for a recipe to try tofu for the first time in my life and I’m so happy this was it. The texture and the sauce were so delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  28. Although my extended family is suspicious of tofu, they LOVED this recipe. It was very easy to make. I now make a double batch and combine the General Tso’s leftovers with ratatouille to serve as a casserole the following night.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  29. It took a while to prepare (longer than 10 mins) and after I added the sauce, the crispy texture of the tofu was gone. I was really bummed about that. I don’t like tofu when it’s mushy in texture. The flavor was very intense. I loved it! I think marinating the tofu in the soy sauce + apple cider vinegar mixture for a longer amount of time would make the tofu more flavorful. 5 mins isn’t enough. I also needed to make more of that mixture because it wasn’t enough for the 1lb block I prepared.

    I really enjoyed the sauce. I think red chili flakes would be an excellent addition to the recipe.

    ★★★★

    Reply

  30. This was the first recipe I have ever made where the TOFU WAS PERFECT. It crisped beautifully and the sauce was AH-MAZING. My husband added Siracha and said it was to die for. We also added broccoli- SOOOOOO GOOD. As I saw in other reviews, my husband also wants me to double the sauce next time. Thanks for a fabulous meal on the fly!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  31. This is SO good! I recently made the switch to eating a more plant-based diet. Recipes as delicious as this make it easy.

    ★★★★★

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  32. My munchkin will normally only eat crunchy tofu.. after I added mine to the sauce it was not crunchy anymore but it was still super good and he devoured it! I make crispy tofu with cornstarch all the time but I think marinating it before tossing it really took it to a whole new level.

    ★★★★★

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  34. I made today and it was delicious – definitely going to work this recipe into regular rotation!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  36. Sauce tastes amazing but the amount of cornstarch on the tofu makes it very hard to eat. I even used a tbsp less than the recipe and all I could taste even with the sauce was cornstarch

    ★★★

    Reply

    • Hi Zachery! I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t work for you, but it’s so popular on the blog and people love it. Did you follow all the steps and use the same ingredients in the same amount?

      Reply

  38. This recipe was very good. I’m always looking for new vegetarian recipes and have tried many, but have never left a comment or review. I had to recommend this one! I drained the excess water from the tofu first by placing a heavy weight on top. It paired very well with broccoli and rice.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  39. I made the sauce (only) and put it on brown rice and broccoli. It was really good. Even my picky teen liked it. The sauce is so simple to make and the ingredients are simple and always on hand.

    ★★★★

    Reply

  40. Delicious! I added 3 drops of sesame oil, and garnished with sesame seed and green onion. I just finished and am thinking of seconds. Nice option to have a go-to Asian styled, vegan meal

    ★★★★★

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  43. I dont ever post reviews but this was phenomenal!! Only changes I made were letting the tofu drain,marinating them for 30 minutes, and doubling the cayenne. This dish was simple and delicious. I have a new favorite dish.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  45. I made this recipe… loved it, thank you! Also, since I am quite sensitive to soy, I chose to make “burmese tofu” from chickpea flour (recipes on the internet, I used Vegan Richa’s) and it worked very well. Thank you!

    Reply

  46. We were so excited to try this recipe, but it turned out to be a gooey pile of tofu that we had to throw out. We subbed cornstarch for tapioca starch, could that be why?

    Reply

  47. This recipe WAS absolutely INSANE!!!! I saw all of the great reviews, so I decided to give it a try. I was a little short on the cornstarch, but it still came out quite crispy. I am embarrassed that I ate 75% all by myself. It’s really hard to stop eating this…..SOOOO freaking delicious!!!!! Even my non vegan hubby thought it was good..and he hates tofu! I can’t wait to make this for my son-in-law who loves General tso chicken. Thank you! Thank you! I will be making this often.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  48. Hi! Been following your blog recently as i am trying to eat more vegies (i still love meat & fish though 🙏) Tried this recipe. I used Lakanto instead of brown sugar. I had to put extra cayenne coz i love3 hot & spicy food 😅. Next time i will try to use dried chillies & add ginger (i’ve checked the ‘actual’ recipe for General Tso’s chicken, so far all have ginger in it) Love this recipe still. So quick & easy. I never knew that General Tso’s is quite a famous chinese dish. Thanks for the intro. Cheers! 😘

    ★★★★

    Reply

  49. I just stumbled on your sight and I am obsessed. I have a daughter who was recently diagnosed with celiacs and she is a vegetarian. Needless to say I have been wondering aimlessly trying to find things for her to eat. I have a son who also has celiacs and allergic to dairy. So usually I make three different meals a night. But I believe I can make everyone happy with this sight. I just made the tumeric latte and I am in love! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Reply

  50. I’ve made this countless times and it’s my go to feel better dinner 🙈 I even made my very anti vegan dad eat it with pleasure so I can’t praise you enough for making this recipe 🙏🏻😍

    ★★★★★

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  51. super yummy. i added carrots and cauliflower. tofu super yummy. a little to vinegary for my 4 yr old. so he didn’t have sauce but loved the tofu!! Will make again but put a little less vinegar.

    ★★★★★

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  52. Excellent recipe! Next time I’ll up the cayenne and add a little ginger like other commenters did, but this was a resounding success. I’m kind of new to cooking with tofu, and the corn starch/bag technique was a “level up” experience for me.

    So glad it led me to discover your site. Thanks for all you are doing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  56. We try and avoid using oil, do you think cooking the tofu in an air fryer would work? Just curious! Thanks!

    Reply

  57. Loved this! I substituted “Soy Vey” (the marinade) for soy sauce and used 14 oz (a full container) of tofu instead of 10 oz, but otherwise was faithful to the recipe. Delicious!! I’m a terrible cook, but the corn starch really did the trick. I also fried everything in sesame seed oil, which helped to give an authentic flavor.

    Reply

  58. forgot to rate it. (By the way, I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian, I just like tofu. And this was fantastic.)

    ★★★★★

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  61. Made this for my 16 yr old daughter who is venturing into vegetarianism. Really really good. The tofu crisped up nicely, the sauce was great with brown rice. It was our first time cooking with tofu and the only issue is getting all the dang water pressed out. My daughter used half a roll of paper towel. Any suggestions on how to get the tofu prepared would be great.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

      • Tofu is like a sponge. The more water inside it, the less it can absorb. So pressing tofu removes the water and makes it greedily suck up marinades and sauces. Pressing is the key to flavorful tofu.

        Reply

        • Hi Em! I think tofu tastes also amazing and you can save a step and some time, but it’s up to you 😉

          Reply

  63. I’ve made this recipe twice and it is amazing, thank you so much for sharing! My husband never thought he’d ask for tofu but because of this he does!! It is very forgiving, I didn’t have enough soy sauce and a little teriyaki substitute worked perfectly. Especially delicious with snow peas, carrots, and boy choy.

    ★★★★★

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  64. I just made your recipe for two’s tofu and I had it with rice. Totally delicious. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
    Thank you for sharing,
    Joanne

    Reply

  66. I was exremely surprised how delicious this meal is!!! The tofu had an amazing texture, firm on the outside and soft on the inside. The sauce was very tasty. We cooked it in sesame oil instead and used rice vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. We served it with cauliflower rice and Asian veggies. Will definitely make this again! Thank you 🙂

    ★★★★★

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  67. OMG OMG, i have no words for that. It’s looks and taste delicious. THAT is definitly a favorite recipe for me. Thanks a lot.

    ★★★★★

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  68. This was….amazing! I’m not vegan but when I’m in a rut, I pick up tofu. One boring stirfry later…meh…. This toally changed my opinion on tofu. Totally need to check out your recipes. 🙂

    ★★★★★

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  69. Good, but my sauce didn’t turn out the same color or taste of a traditional Tso sauce. It did not resemble the picture at all. It was dark brown and not orange. Still good though.

    ★★★★

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  70. This recipe is sooo good! My daughter does not eat tofu and she had no idea that I was feeding it to her 🙂 Another winner from your site (thai soup is also the bomb!)

    ★★★★★

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  71. We loved this! It’s positive vegan experiences like this that help move us closer to being both vegetarian and vegan. Thank you for sharing this recipe, really. So much flavor. 🙂

    Reply

  76. The tofu and sauce came out amazing, I chose to use double the amount of cayenne to get a bigger spice kick, which was perfectly balanced. I also chose to throw in a carrot, onion and bell peppers per the sweet and sour tofu recipe on this site, which filled out the meal and worked perfectly. Cheap, simple, and tasty!

    Reply

  77. I have made this recipe twice since finding it and it had been a huge hit. The first time i made it one non vegan friend at the table commented that it tasted like chicken LOL she said it was soooo good! Will make again! I added a little ginger both times when making.

    ★★★★★

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  78. I made this and I am not a vegan but had to go on a vegan diet for two weeks for medical reasons. I will tell you this, this dish is the best general tso that I have ever had. I am still in shock of how good it was. I will be making this again.

    ★★★★★

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    • Hi Candance! It’s not real meat, so it can’t be the same. However, our readers LOVE it, as you can see in the comments 🙂

      Reply

  81. This recipe is getting 5 stars because it is the best recipe for tofu I’ve tried. It is delicious and we did not miss the chicken or pork. This will be a staple in our rotation. The time is a bit misleading; it takes longer than 30 minutes. You could probably use a full 16 ounce container of firm tofu and the other ingredients would be fine. Be sure to brown the tofu until crisp and brown. It only serves two with 10 ounces of tofu, but you may get three servings with a full package. Try this and I believe you will really enjoy it, even if you are not a tofu fan. Thank you for this fine recipe.

    ★★★★★

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  82. This recipe was so amazing! I wanted to try tofu for the first time and came across this recipe. It was such a success. I put in just a little too much cayenne pepper and let me tell you my tongue was burning. I will definitely be returning for more recipes to try. ❤️

    ★★★★★

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  83. Very yummy recipe and I’m usually not a fan of tofu. I made twice the amount of sauce because I like mine saucy and sautéed half onion, broccoli and green pepper It was DELICIOUS. Definitely going to be a staple in our house. My meat loving husband even liked this recipe 😉

    ★★★★★

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  84. I made this as my first tofu recipe ever. It was a great choice as my family loves General Tso’s. It was simple & tasty. I paired it with Ginger Stir Fry vegetables.

    ★★★★★

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  85. Just made this with Tempeh instead of tofu, and quinoa instead of rice. Delicious!

    ★★★★★

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  86. I didn’t think I was going to like it but it was amazing I’m a vegetarian going vegan shortly and I’m trying to find more recipes this is definitely one that I will be making in the future

    ★★★★★

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  87. This recipe is SO good!! I recommend reallly draining the tofu before and after marinading it and before adding the cornstarch. I put my tofu in the airfryer and it worked great!! Also added some pineapple at the very end. Definitely a new weekly staple!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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