General Tso's Tofu Recipe (Crispy, Vegetarian)

Name: General Tso's Tofu
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 14 oz extra-firm tofu (pressed and cubed); ⅓ cup cornstarch; 3 tbsp neutral oil (for pan-frying (or oil spray to air-fry)); 3 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 3 tbsp sugar (or a mix of sugar and hoisin); 1 tbsp hoisin sauce (optional, for depth); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tbsp ginger (minced); 6 dried red chilies (to taste); 1 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tsp cornstarch; ½ cup vegetable stock or water; 2 scallions + sesame seeds (to finish)

Quick answer

General Tso's tofu is the vegetarian take on the American-Chinese takeout favorite: cubes of tofu coated in cornstarch and fried (or air-fried) until shatteringly crisp, then tossed in a glossy sweet-tangy-spicy sauce built from soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and dried red chilies. It delivers the same sticky, crave-worthy glaze as General Tso's chicken, with crispy tofu soaking it all up. The keys are pressing the tofu and coating it in cornstarch so it crisps and stays firm in the sauce, mixing the sauce ahead so it comes together fast, and adding the crispy tofu at the very end and tossing quickly so it stays crunchy rather than going soggy. It's naturally vegan with a plant-based sauce and comes together in about 30 minutes over rice. The balance of sweet, sour, savory, and a little heat — plus that crackly tofu — is what makes it taste just like the original.

Why you'll love this general tso's tofu

Ingredients

Equipment

Tips & notes

Recipe

General Tso's Tofu

New recipe

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 30 min
Serves: 4
Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

Crispy tofu

14 oz extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
⅓ cup cornstarch
3 tbsp neutral oil, for pan-frying (or oil spray to air-fry)

General Tso's sauce

3 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp sugar, or a mix of sugar and hoisin
1 tbsp hoisin sauce, optional, for depth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
6 dried red chilies, to taste
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tsp cornstarch
½ cup vegetable stock or water
2 scallions + sesame seeds, to finish

Instructions

Press the tofu 15 minutes, cube it, and toss with the ⅓ cup cornstarch until evenly coated. Stir all the sauce ingredients (soy, vinegar, sugar, hoisin, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, the 2 tsp cornstarch, and stock) together in a bowl.
Heat the oil in a wok over medium-high and pan-fry the tofu, turning, until golden and crisp on all sides, about 8 minutes. (Air-fryer: spray well, 400°F for 15–18 minutes, shaking.) Remove and set aside.
Lower the heat to medium. Add the dried chilies to the wok and stir 20 seconds until fragrant (don't burn them). Give the sauce a stir and pour it in; simmer 1 minute until it turns glossy and thick.
Return the crispy tofu to the wok and toss quickly, just until every piece is coated in the sticky glaze — about 30 seconds so it stays crunchy.
Finish with sliced scallions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately over steamed rice.

Nutrition (est., per serving): 310 cal · 13 g protein · 34 g carbs · 14 g fat

General Tso's Tofu FAQ

What is General Tso's tofu?

General Tso's tofu is the vegetarian version of General Tso's chicken: crispy cornstarch-coated tofu tossed in a sweet, tangy, lightly spicy glaze made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and dried chilies. It has the same sticky, crave-worthy sauce as the chicken version, with crispy tofu in place of the meat. It's naturally vegan with a plant-based sauce.

How do you make tofu crispy for General Tso's?

Press extra-firm tofu for about 15 minutes to remove water, cube it, and coat thoroughly in cornstarch before frying in oil (or air-frying) until golden on all sides. The dry surface plus the cornstarch crust are what make it crisp. Toss it in the sauce at the very last moment so it stays crunchy instead of going soft.

Is General Tso's tofu vegan?

Yes — tofu, cornstarch, and a soy-vinegar-sugar sauce are all plant-based. Just double-check that your soy sauce and hoisin (if using) are vegan, which they almost always are. It's a satisfying, high-protein vegan main that tastes like takeout.

Can I make General Tso's tofu in an air fryer?

Yes. Coat the pressed, cubed tofu in cornstarch, spray it generously with oil, and air-fry at 400°F for 15–18 minutes, shaking once or twice, until golden and crisp. Then toss the crispy tofu in the warm sauce. It's a much lighter, less oily version that still gets nicely crunchy.

What's the difference between General Tso's and orange tofu?

Both are crispy tofu in a sweet, glossy sauce, but the flavor differs. General Tso's sauce is sweet-savory with garlic, ginger, and dried chili heat. Orange tofu (or orange chicken) is brighter and more citrusy, built on orange juice and zest, and usually less spicy. If you like one, you'll likely enjoy the other.