This General Tso's Tofu is everything you'd want in a vegetarian version of General Tso's Chicken. The tofu is crispy and the sauce is sweet, tangy, and spicy. Perfect with some egg fried rice or Chinese garlic green beans!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Yield: 2servings
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Ingredients
For the tofu:
14ouncestofufirm, medium, or soft (usually 1 block)
Drain the tofu from its container and and pat dry as much as possible with paper towels. Then cut the tofu evenly into 1 inch cubes.*You can also press it overnight to get more moisture out, for crispier fried tofu.*
In a bowl, combine ketchup, water, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Whisk until evenly combined and no clumps of cornstarch is visible. Set aside until needed.
Heat 1 to 2 inches of oil to 350°F and prepare a plate lined with paper towels.
Coat the tofu with cornstarch on all sides. You can do this on a plate or in a gallon resealable bag. If using the bag method, be sure to shake gently to prevent the tofu from breaking.*You want to do this as close to frying time as possible.*
Once the oil is hot, add the tofu and fry until crispy and pale gold in color, about 5 minutes. Remove the tofu and allow it to drain on some paper towels. Fry in batches if needed.*If you prefer, you can pan fry the tofu in a pan with about ½ inch of oil.*
In a large pan over medium heat, add a small amount of oil. When the oil is hot, add the whites of the green onions, pepper flakes, and whole dry peppers. Saute until fragrant. Give the prepared sauce mixture a good stir and add to the pan. Allow the sauce to cook until bubbly, glossy, and thickened. Make sure to stir often.
Once the General Tso's sauce is ready, add the crispy fried tofu. Gently toss and stir until the tofu are evenly coated with sauce.
Serve the General Tso's tofu immediately with some rice and garnish with the greens of the green onion and/or sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
Please refer to the post above for step by step photo reference, tips, and FAQs!
Tofu - The type of tofu used is totally up to your personal preference. Although, the softer the tofu, the more gentle you'd need to handle it.