Crispy, golden tofu coated in a sweet, spicy, and savory sauce-General Tso's Tofu is a plant-based twist on the takeout classic. It's the perfect balance of crunchy, sticky, and flavorful, making it an irresistible dinner option.
Inspired by the ever-popular General Tso's Chicken, this version swaps chicken for tofu while keeping all the bold flavors intact. If you've ever enjoyed dishes like Orange Tofu, you'll love this homemade take on a restaurant favorite.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love General Tso's Tofu
- Ingredients
- How to Prepare the Tofu
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Recipe FAQ's
- Top Tips for the Best General Tso's Tofu
- Store and Reheat General Tso's Tofu
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- Substitutions
- Top Tips for the Best General Tso's Tofu
- Store and Reheat General Tso's Tofu
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love General Tso's Tofu
Crispy Perfection - The tofu is fried to golden, crunchy goodness before being coated in sauce.
Bold, Balanced Flavors - A mix of sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory elements makes every bite exciting.
Easy to Make at Home - No need for takeout when you can make this quick and delicious dish in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Extra-firm tofu holds up the best when frying and provides a nice chew to each bite.
Corn starch coats the tofu and provides a nice crunchy outer layer.
Olive oil for frying
Brown sugar brings sweet, caramel notes savory-sweet sauce
Hoisin sauce, an cantonese condiment made with fermented soybean paste and spices.
Ketchup adds sweet and sour sauce elements.
Soy sauce adds saltiness and umami elements to the sauce.
Sesame oil adds aromatic, nutty notes to the General Tso's Tofu sauce.
Green onions for garnish
Fresh ginger often used in asian cuisine, adds a peppery sweet heat.
Dried chili peppers for added spicy heat.
How to Prepare the Tofu
Below is a visual on how to prepare the tofu for this General Tso's Tofu recipe.
Press Tofu
Place tofu in a tofu press or use a heavy plate with paper towels to press excess liquid from the brick of tofu.
Cut
Cut tofu into squares and then cut into a diagonal to create triangle shaped pieces.
Fry
Coat tofu pieces with cornstarch and fry in a hot skillet with oil.
Make sauce
Remove tofu from skillet and set aside. Add sauce ingredients and whisk together, cooking until sauce begins to thicken.
Combine
Return tofu to skillet and toss to coat. Garnish with green onion tops.
See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and complete instructions.
Substitutions
Tofu Alternative - Swap tofu for tempeh or seitan for a different texture.
Soy Sauce Substitute - Use tamari for a gluten-free option or coconut aminos for a slightly sweeter taste.
Cornstarch Replacement - Arrowroot powder or potato starch can be used for a similar crispy coating.
Variations
Baked Version - Instead of frying, bake the tofu at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Air-Fried Tofu - Achieve crispiness with less oil by air-frying the tofu at 375°F for about 15 minutes.
Extra Veggies - Add bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas for more texture and nutrients.
Recipe FAQ's
General Tso's Sauce is a spicy sweet sauce made with soy sauce, chili sauce, some sweetener, and vinegar.
Traditionally whole dried Sichuan chili peppers are used. Regular red pepper chili flakes work in place of the whole peppers.
Potato starch or rice flour works similar to cornstarch and will create a crispy outer shell on the tofu pieces.
Top Tips for the Best General Tso's Tofu
Sauce at the end - Add the sauce just before serving to keep the tofu from getting soggy.
Press the tofu - Removing excess moisture helps it crisp up better.
Coat evenly - Toss the tofu in cornstarch for a light, crunchy crust.
Fry in batches - Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain crispiness.
Store and Reheat General Tso's Tofu
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat:
- Stovetop: Reheat in a pan over medium heat until warmed through.
- Oven: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.
- Air Fryer: Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve over a bed of brown rice, Cauliflower Fried Rice or with a delicious bowl of Sesame Peanut Noodles.
For an appetizer try these vegan Air Fryer Egg Rolls or Crab Rangoon.
Related Recipes
When you make this Crispy General Tso's Tofu recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Crispy General Tso's Tofu
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Ingredients
For the Tofu
- 2 pounds extra firm tofu
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup olive oil
For the Sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
- 1 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 green onions sliced, white and green parts separate
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
- 5 whole dried chili peppers
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil until hot.
- Add the cornstarch to a shallow bowl and coat the tofu with cornstarch on all sides. Fry the tofu in hot oil for 2 minutes on each side, until tofu coating is golden brown. Remove from the frying pan with a skimmer spoon. Place on a layer of paper towels to absorb any grease. Set aside.
- In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar, hoisin sauce, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and water until combined. Set aside.
- In the same skillet the tofu was fried in, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat until hot. Stir in the white part of the green onions and the ginger. Fry for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the general tso's sauce mixture to the skillet along with the dried chili peppers. Bring the sauce mixture to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, until the sauce begins to thicken.
- .Add the fried tofu back to the sauce mixture and toss to coat. Serve garnished with green part of the onion.
Notes
Substitutions
Tofu Alternative – Swap tofu for tempeh or seitan for a different texture.
Soy Sauce Substitute – Use tamari for a gluten-free option or coconut aminos for a slightly sweeter taste.
Cornstarch Replacement – Arrowroot powder or potato starch can be used for a similar crispy coating.
Top Tips for the Best General Tso's Tofu
Sauce at the end – Add the sauce just before serving to keep the tofu from getting soggy. Press the tofu – Removing excess moisture helps it crisp up better. Coat evenly – Toss the tofu in cornstarch for a light, crunchy crust. Fry in batches – Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain crispiness.Store and Reheat General Tso's Tofu
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat:-
- Stovetop: Reheat in a pan over medium heat until warmed through.
-
- Oven: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.
-
- Air Fryer: Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
You know what? I love all of your tips, including exactly how to cut the tofu into triangles. It makes a difference in how the dish looks!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
It looks really good! I can't wait to try!
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck says
This is my type of general tso's!!!
Lindsay Cotter says
We need to make this for dinner soon! I think it will be a big hit!
jo koch says
I made this recipe last night for myself as my family are meat eaters.....there was not enough to go around.....fabulous!
Shelby says
Happy to hear it!! It is a definite favorite here in our home too and two people easily eat the whole thing with no problem and still wish we had more! Thanks for stopping back to let me know!
Nicole says
This looks amazing. I was going to make tofu lettuce wraps tonight, but I think I will switch up to this dish.
Laura says
This is absolutely the best new recipe I've made in months. We loved it. The children (four and six) fought over who got the last of it!
Shelby says
So happy you came back to let me know Laura! This is one recipe that even Grumpy will request I make (that has tofu in it!) 🙂 Thank you!
Felicia says
Just tried this! Amazing!!!
Debi Wayland says
This looks great! I've pinned, yummly, and SU it. Thanks for sharing.
klom180 says
I'm a little late to the game on this recipe, but I just recently stumbled upon it on Pinterest. Made it for dinner tonight and it's incredible! I plan on using it to convert one of my friends to a tofu-lover. 🙂
Thanks so much for this!
klom180 says
I'm a little late to the game on this recipe, but I just recently stumbled upon it on Pinterest. Made it for dinner tonight and it's incredible! I plan on using it to convert one of my friends to a tofu-lover. 🙂
Thanks so much for this!
Gtrude says
Made this dish for dinner tonight. Quite frankly, it doesn't even need the brown sugar. I left it out completely in the interest of saving calories and found that the catsup gives the dish plenty of sweetness. I really like the substitution of tofu for chicken. It is a good Lenten dish for meatless Fridays.
Kristen says
Made this tonight with slight modifications just to avoid going to the grocery store, and it was delicious! This is definitely going in our 'favorites' folder!
ALLTHINGSWINGS says
Great Stuff!!!!
ALLTHINGSWINGS says
I just made this for the wifey.... followed the recipe to a tee... FANTASTIC!!!!!
Anonymous says
We totally loved this, I sauteed tofu in coconut oil, yummy. Gobbled up everything, only a little left for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for the great recipe.
Anonymous says
This was delicious. I substituted ginger-garlic paste for the fresh garlic once because I did not have fresh ginger on hand and it still came out tasting delicious. Also in addition scallions, I also garnished with cilantro which added a little extra something.
Shelby says
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe! The ginger garlic paste is a wonderful idea. I don't always have fresh ginger on hand either, and when a recipe calls for fresh, it isn't the same if you don't use it! I also love the cilantro garnish as I am a cilantro freak!
Anonymous says
Very good, A little heavy on the ginger but i estimated the 3 Tbsp. also i made a chicken variation for part of my family and they enjoyed it very much
Shelby says
Anonymous - I probably didn't use 3 Tablespoons myself - I very rarely use a measuring spoon to measure spices, etc - I would say that when I make this that the amount of ginger I use is more equal to 1 tablespoon. I'm glad your family enjoyed it!
Katherine Martinelli says
YUM - this looks amazing! A few years ago our favorite Chinese restaurant put General Tso's tofu on the menu and we order it quite often but I've never thought of making it at home - bookmarking! Thanks for linking it up at my blog hop 😀
Katherine Martinelli says
Aaand I made this for dinner tonight and it was AMAZING!!! Loved it. I will definitely be making this often, thanks!
Shelby says
Katherine, I am SO glad you enjoyed it! Now your making me want to eat it soon! 🙂
Curry St John says
Looks gorgeous!! And I found YOUR post by searching for "tofu" on Foodgawker - food porn is right! 🙂
I'll have to try this recipe one day - thanks!
Grumpy & HoneyB says
I'm glad to hear you and hubby enjoyed this! It is one of my favorite tofu dishes - and Grumpy doesn't really mind eating it now either!
Mary says
What is reduced sugar katsup?
Shelby says
Mary, Heinz makes a reduced-sugar ketchup that I like to use. I buy it in the grocery right where you find regular ketchup or you can also find it on Amazon.
Anonymous says
this not only looks amazing! It is! Just got done making it for lunch. My hubby loved it!
Sophie says
WOW (impressed look). Your tofu dish looks so yummy.
Here I bought a sauce pack for Sauce for Mapo Tofu so as to skip all the seasonings! and i will try this friday after work.
http://yummiexpress.freetzi.com
Christy jordan says
Oh my GOODNESS! This looks TOO yummy!!!! I'm coming over for leftovers!
averagebetty says
Mmm! This looks great, HoneyB!
Creative One says
Looks delish!
shellyfish says
One of my personal favourites! I was just thinking it's been a while since I've had some good chinese take-out style yummies!
Leslie says
I have never had or cooked with tofu. Kinda scares me. But this looks amazing
The Hungry Mouse says
Nice! This would totally get me to eat tofu. Looks fabulous!
+Jessie
AEROBROKEN says
Yummy! Looks awesome and made me hungry.
Hugging the Coast says
This could convert non-tofu lovers to true believers!
Aggie says
One of my favorite chinese dishes!! this looks so good! I am now bookmarking it...may try it with chicken first!
Jessie says
I love this lighter version of general tao's. I'm so eager to try this one!
Reeni♥ says
What a great re-creation! I am working on recreating all my favorite Chinese favorites, this is one to try for sure.
Olga says
Looks awesome. I'm definitely a tofu fan.
I wish I could figure out how not to work at all 🙂
Josie says
I. Love. (firm) Tofu. I definitely need to give this a try. I would also love to learn to make it with chicken - I could really impress my little brother who is obsessed with general tso's.
Linda says
This is my favorite Chinese dish with chicken and I like that you adapted it to tofu. I think I will try this with my husband to see what he thinks!
pigpigscorner says
I've only seen this dish with chicken. But it looks so good with tofu!
Mari at Once Upon a Plate says
S~ I think using tofu is a brilliant idea (and you know I'll do it that way next time!)
Your photos are fantastic... my mouth is watering. 🙂 VERY nice job!! xo~m
Mari at Once Upon a Plate says
S~ I think using tofu is a brilliant idea (and you know I'll do it that way next time!)
Your photos are fantastic... my mouth is watering. 🙂 VERY nice job!! xo~m
Happy cook says
I cooked tofu once and i didn't like them.
This looks really so yummy i think i should try my luck again with tofu.
I too sit and drool on foodgwaker and when ever my hubby see me drooling, he says thank go you don't gain weight by just drooling on the pics itherwise i would be more than 100 kg 🙂
CookiePie says
That looks absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I love tofu, and always want new ways to cook it -- thanks for sharing! Glad you're on the mend 🙂
Mags says
OK... two comments on the same post may or may not be kosher, but geeze.... you're featured on the FoodieBlogRoll! So that's why I'm commenting again. Congrats!
the happy couple says
your tofu looks amazing!
vibi says
I'm ususally not a great fan of tofu, but with that amazing topping of sweet sauce... Mmmm... I'm a believer!!! LOL
That's a keeper! Thanks for sharing HoneyB!
Katy ~ says
HoneyB, this looks DELISH! Wow oh WOW delish.
Glad to hear you're feeling stronger and better each day.
Pamela says
General Tso's Chicken is a definite weakness and I so rarely get it. I know it's horrible for me. But this looks fantastic and a little bit cleaner! Great job!
the ungourmet says
I need to come over and steal some of this for dinner!
Andrea says
Wow, your General Tso's Tofu looks amazing! I love Asian style tofu dishes and will give this one a try for sure, it looks absolutely delicious, and I'm always looking to find a sauce similar to what they serve at Chinese restaurants. Your gorgeous photos are making me so hungry 🙂
Mags says
This just may get me to try tofu again. Lovely photos!
Rachelle @ "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" says
That looks beautiful! I like tofu, so I could easily do this.
Elyse says
This looks amazing!! General Tso's is my favorite Chinese dish. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE tofu. My Toddy has been out of town for a week, so I'm not really inspired to feed myself. I know, it's weird, right: I run a food blog (albeit, it's all baked goods), and I can't get my act together enough to eat when there isn't another mouth to feed. Pathetic. Anyway, the point is that I've just been eating slices of tofurky right from the package for the past few days. That stuff is amazing! Have you had it? This tofu General Tso's looks awesome. I might actually make this for myself tonight!! Great job, and I'm so glad that you're feeling so much better!
The Food Librarian says
Looks fantastic!!!
Anonymous says
I made this tonight and even my kids ate it. It was so yummy. I am going to make this again.