Vegan General Tso’s is a plant-based version of the popular Chinese chicken dish made without any animal products. Instead of chicken, it’s typically made with tofu or seitan that is breaded and fried, then cooked in the signature sweet and spicy General Tso’s sauce.
What are the main ingredients in vegan General Tso’s?
The main ingredients in vegan General Tso’s are:
- Plant-based protein: Tofu, seitan, or mushrooms are commonly used as the vegan “chicken” in this dish.
- Breading: The tofu or seitan is breaded in a mix of flour, cornstarch, and spices before frying.
- Vegetable oil: For frying the breaded tofu or seitan.
- Garlic: Minced garlic provides a aromatic base for the sauce.
- Ginger: Grated ginger adds another layer of flavor.
- Soy sauce: For saltiness and umami flavor.
- Rice vinegar: The acidity balances out the sweetness.
- Sesame oil: Adds a nutty, roasted aroma.
- Brown sugar: Critical for getting the characteristic sweetness.
- Chili paste or crushed red pepper: Brings the signature spicy heat.
- Cornstarch: Thickens and binds the sauce.
Optional extras can include things like chopped scallions, toasted sesame seeds, dried chilies, etc. to garnish.
What proteins can be used?
The most common proteins used in vegan General Tso’s include:
Tofu – Firm or extra firm tofu holds up well when fried and absorbs the sauce nicely. It needs to be pressed to remove excess moisture before breading.
Seitan – With its meaty, chewy texture when cooked, seitan makes a good faux chicken. It should be cut into bite-sized pieces before breading.
Mushrooms – King oyster mushrooms are popular, as are maitakes. They should be sliced into strips to mimic chicken.
Jackfruit – Green unripe jackfruit has a stringy texture similar to pulled chicken. It works well soaked in sauce.
Tempeh – When steamed then fried, tempeh gets a crispy exterior while still being tender inside.
How is the tofu/seitan prepared?
To prepare the protein:
- Press tofu to remove excess moisture or cut seitan into bite-sized pieces.
- Coat in a breading mix of flour, cornstarch, and spices.
- Fry in batches in hot vegetable oil until crispy and browned.
- Remove fried protein from oil and drain on paper towels.
- Stir-fry briefly in the prepared General Tso’s sauce.
- Garnish with chopped scallions and serve over steamed rice.
Frying gives the tofu or seitan a crispy, almost crunchy exterior texture while keeping the inside tender.
How do you make the General Tso’s sauce?
The recipe for the vegan General Tso’s sauce includes:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Soy sauce or tamari | 3/4 cup |
| Rice vinegar | 1/4 cup |
| Toasted sesame oil | 1 Tbsp |
| Brown sugar | 2/3 cup |
| Ginger, grated | 1 Tbsp |
| Garlic, minced | 2 cloves |
| Crushed red pepper | 1/2 to 1 tsp |
| Cornstarch | 1 Tbsp |
| Water | 1/4 cup |
To make the sauce:
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper.
- In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water.
- Pour the soy sauce mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and set aside until ready to use.
The result is a glossy, clingy sauce with a balance of sweet and spicy flavors.
What vegetables work well?
In addition to the main protein and sauce, vegetables can be stir-fried along with the General Tso’s tofu or seitan for added nutrition and texture:
- Broccoli – Chopped florets add color and a complementary flavor.
- Snap peas – A crisp contrast against the sauce.
- Bell peppers – Slivers of red, yellow or orange peppers for a pop of color.
- Mushrooms – Shiitakes, buttons or baby bella sliced and sautéed.
- Mini corn – For a sweet, summery vibe. Blanch before stir-frying.
- Green onions – Chopped greens for garnish and bite.
- Water chestnuts – Crunchy and refreshing.
Aim for a mix of textures and colors by choosing 2-3 vegetables to accompany the protein and sauce. Stir-fry briefly so they retain some crispness.
What spices enhance the flavor?
The sauce has built-in flavors from ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and chili paste. But you can add extra dimensions to the overall flavor with these spice blends:
- Five spice powder – The blend of cinnamon, star anise, clove, fennel and Szechuan pepper gives warmth.
- White pepper – Heats up the dish without altering the color.
- Sesame seeds – Toasted and sprinkled on top for nuttiness.
- Chinese five spice – Echoes flavors traditionally used in the dish.
- Smoked paprika – Subtle smokiness without having to char anything.
- Crushed red pepper flakes – For extra spiciness if desired.
Start with a sprinkling of one or two spice blends in the breading or sauce. You can always add more later to tailor the flavor.
How can you make it gluten-free?
To make gluten-free vegan General Tso’s:
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce in the sauce.
- Substitute rice flour, chickpea flour or cornstarch for regular flour in the breading.
- Choose a gluten-free protein like tofu, tempeh or mushrooms instead of seitan.
- Make sure the chili paste and hoisin sauce are gluten-free if used.
- Use 100% buckwheat soba noodles or rice noodles instead of wheat noodles.
- Choose gluten-free panko-style breadcrumbs for breading.
- Use gluten-free vegetable broth if needed.
- Serve over gluten-free brown rice instead of wheat-based noodles.
Double check all ingredients on packages to confirm they are certified gluten-free when adapting the recipe.
What are good substitutions?
Some ingredient substitutions to consider for vegan General Tso’s include:
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Soy sauce | Coconut aminos, tamari |
| Rice vinegar | Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar |
| Toasted sesame oil | Peanut oil, vegetable oil |
| Brown sugar | Coconut sugar, maple syrup |
| Ginger | Minced fresh ginger, ginger powder |
| Garlic | Garlic powder, minced fresh garlic |
| Cornstarch | Arrowroot, tapioca starch |
Consider any dietary needs like gluten-free, nut allergies or low sugar when swapping ingredients. The dish is quite flexible and adaptable to work with what you have on hand.
What are good vegan side dishes?
To round out the meal, vegan General Tso’s pairs nicely with these plant-based side dishes:
- Steamed rice or fried rice
- Soba noodles or rice noodles
- Vegetable egg rolls with sweet chili sauce
- Miso soup with tofu and seaweed
- Wok-charred green beans
- Sauteed bok choy
- Quick kimchi
- Sesame noodles
Aim for a balance of textures and flavors – crunchy, cooling, spicy, savory, etc. Steamed jasmine rice is the perfect blank canvas for the flavorful sauce.
Conclusion
With its crispy bite, savory-sweet sauce, tender vegetables and protein of choice, vegan General Tso’s captures the essence of the Chinese takeout classic. The recipe is highly adaptable to work with different diets and ingredients. While the original version has chicken, the vegan iteration uses tofu, seitan or mushrooms fried up crispy in a flavor-packed sauce that hits all the right notes – spicy, tangy, sweet and salty. Served with rice and veggies, it makes for a delicious, plant-based alternative to enjoy at home.