General Tso’s Cauliflower and Tofu

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We try to eat vegetarian about two times a week simply because we like to and it helps with my weekly meal rotation.  I try to have each of the proteins we enjoy once a week and that usually leaves two days for vegetarian meals.  One of those days is almost always tofu and the other day is a mixed bag.  Sometimes we have cheese pizza, other times we have a pasta dish, and other times we simply have cheese quesadillas.

I recently was sent a box of produce and inside was the biggest head of cauliflower I’ve ever seen.  I’m not joking.  This thing was bigger than my head and it was heavy.   I had planned on making a side dish with it but I knew that I was going to have to make something better than that to use up even a fraction of the monster cauliflower head.

I got searching online and the recipe that intrigued me the most was for General Tso’s Cauliflower.  I found a recipe that used a tempura batter on it, then fried it, then rolled it in the sauce.  It looked really good so I decided to add in some tofu and make General Tso’s Cauliflower and Tofu for a vegetarian meal.

Let me start by saying that I’ve made General Tso’s several times over the years and rarely does it taste like what I get in a restaurant.  While this sauce is not exactly what you get in a take out restaurant, it has a lot of the same flavors and the sticky texture so it’s pretty darn close.  I think if I had added in some dried chilies I probably would have gotten even closer to the sauce recipe.

So first I started on the sauce.  I mixed everything together and set it at a simmer so it could get thick and sticky.  Then I worked on the cauliflower.  Frying the cauliflower is quite the task so don’t make this on a weekday when you want a quick meal.  I fried the cauliflower up in batches and it took roughly 30 minutes to make enough for 4 servings. 

After frying up the cauliflower with the tempura batter I simply tossed my pressed firm tofu into the hot oil and fried it without any batter.  I think that was the way to go because then there was a clear distinction between the cauliflower and tofu.  I tossed both with the sauce along with steamed broccoli and we were set.

I put it down on the table in front of my husband and he commented that it looked amazing.  I had to agree. As we began eating it with both agreed that it was super flavorful and one of the best homemade General Tso’s we’ve had.  Another thing we were both surprised about was that the cauliflower ended up being really meaty.  I seriously think I could have fooled people into thinking it was chicken! 

This is definitely going on our monthly dinner rotation because it was so good.  While I think the tofu added to the dish it wasn’t really necessary.  I could have made it with just the cauliflower and it still would have been just as filling and satisfying.

General Tso's Cauliflower and Tofu

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

For the General Tso's Sauce:

• 1 teaspoons sesame oil
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 teaspoons fresh ginger minced
• 1/2 c. low sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2 c. sow sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 c. rice vinegar
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoons chili paste
• 1 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoons cornstarch

For the batter:

• 1/2 c. flour
• 1/4 c. cornstarch
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c. water

Other ingredients:

• 1 small head of cauliflower chopped into florets
• 12 oz. extra firm tofu pressed and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 small head of broccoli chopped into florets
• 1 teaspoons olive oil
• Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

• To make the sauce heat the sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for 1 minute. Stir in the vegetable broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste, chili paste, and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
• Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water then add to the sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together all of the batter ingredients. The batter should be thick enough to cling to the cauliflower but not overly thick.
• Pour vegetable oil into the bottom of a heavy bottomed skilled or saucepan. Put in enough so the cauliflower will be at least covered halfway, about an inch. Heat over medium high heat.
• Dip the cauliflower into the batter then place in the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side then remove to a wire cooling rack set over top of paper towels. Repeat until all cauliflower is used.
• When it comes to frying the tofu use the same pan. Do not use the batter. Simply place half of the tofu in the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes per side then remove to the wire rack.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and saute for 5 minutes.
• Add the cooked cauliflower and tofu to the skillet then pour the sauce over top. Quickly stir until combined.
• Serve over top of rice.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Pinch of Yum