General Tso's Tofu Recipe (Bake Or Air Fry)
Craving takeout? This General Tso's tofu recipe has you covered! Ready in under 45 minutes, it features crispy, golden tofu (baked or air-fried!) tossed in a tangy-sweet homemade sauce that tastes straight out of a restaurant. Trust me, you’ll be making this easy weeknight meal on repeat!
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
Crispy Tofu
- 1 14 to 16-oz package extra firm tofu 396 to 453 g
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce 15 mL
- 1 Tbsp oil 15 mL
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
General Tso's Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce 60 mL
- ¼ cup rice vinegar 60 mL
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce 30 mL
- 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup water 236 mL
Instructions
- Press: Press tofu for at least 15 minutes, using either a tofu press or wrapping it in a clean towel and setting a heavy pan on top of it, letting the moisture drain.
- Prep: Tear tofu roughly into bite-sized chunks. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Bake Tofu: In a medium bowl, toss torn tofu with soy sauce and oil. Sprinkle with cornstarch and toss to coat. Arrange on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cook for 30 minutes, flipping the tofu halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
- Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk 1 Tbsp of cornstarch and water together. Set aside. In a medium pot set over medium/high heat, whisk together all Sauce ingredients except for the cornstarch and water. Once the mixture is steaming, slowly stream in the cornstarch mixture while whisking the pot. Once fully incorporated, continue whisking until the mixture thickens.
- Serve: Gently fold in the crispy tofu. Serve hot with rice and your favorite vegetable!
Video
Notes
Air fryer instructions: Prepare the tofu as instructed, then air fry it at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 15 minutes. Toss with sauce and serve!
If you don't have hoisin sauce, use a mixture of soy sauce and a touch of honey.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce, and ensure that the cornstarch you use is certified gluten-free.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in a pan or microwave until heated through.
Can I freeze it? Freezing tofu is a great way to improve its texture! We suggest freezing it before you assemble it in this recipe though, as the sauce won't thaw well.
For a more authentic touch, you can add Szechuan peppercorns for a numbing sensation or use Chinese black vinegar instead of rice vinegar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.9g | Protein: 25.6g | Fat: 9.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2559mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 13.9g | Calcium: 329mg | Iron: 4mg
