This homemade sweet, spicy, and sticky, General Tso's Tofu is much better than the Chinese takeout and gets done in under 30 minutes. It is loaded with protein and saves you a lot of calories and dollars!
¾cupchicken stockuse vegetable stock for vegan or vegetarian version
For Assembling:
1tablespoonsesame oil
1tablespoonminced garlic
1tablespoonfinely chopped ginger
3-4chopped red chilies
¼ cupvegetable oilfor frying
1tablespooncrushed roasted peanuts
1tablespoonchopped green onions
Instructions
Wrap 300 g tofu slab in a kitchen towel and press it with something heavy. I used my marble rolling board.
Let it rest for 10 minutes and then cut it into small cubes. This step is important as it removes the excess moisture from the tofu making it super crispy once fried.
Add all the ingredients for the marinade like 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon vodka, 2 teaspoon rice vinegar, and 2 tablespoon cornstarch in a medum size mixing bowl and mix nicely. Adding vodka is optional but it evaporates while frying the tofu and makes it super crispy after frying.
Add the tofu pieces to the marinade and mix well to coat each piece with it. Cover the bowl and keep aside for 30 minutes.
Mix all the ingredients for the dry coating like 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoon cornstarch, ⅛ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.
Heat ¼ cup of vegetable oil for frying the tofu in a non stick pan.
Take out the tofu pieces from the marinade and coat them in the dry mixture. Shake them a bit to get rid of the excess dry coating and drop them in the hot oil.
Shallow fry on medium heat till golden brown and crisp from all the sides. Keep flipping them while frying to fry evenly from all the sides.
Drain the fried tofu on a plate and keep aside.
Combine the ingredients for the sauce that are 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 2 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and ¾ cup chicken stock in a small saucepan and cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat until it slightly thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and keep it aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large wok. If sesame oil is not available, use any regular oil.
Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger, and 3-4 chopped red chilies and cook on high heat for 3-4 seconds.
Add the fried tofu and the sauce mixture and stir well.
Garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped green onions and 1 tablespoon crushed roasted peanuts. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Notes
Always use high quality ingredients, for the best taste.Some people like the flavor of vinegar more. So if you are one of them, feel free to increase the quantity. Start with the mentioned quantity and if you want more of it, add in more.Adjust the sauces according to your taste.Only firm and extra firm Tofu will work well, do not opt for soft Tofu. Press the Tofu before using to release the excess water and moisture.