General Tso's Sauce

Greetings my sauce loving friends! Today, I have a treat for you - a vegan twist on a classic Chinese dish, General Tso's Sauce. Now, I know what you're thinking, "How can a dish named after a military general be vegan?" Well, my friends, it's all about the sauce, baby! The traditional version of General Tso's chicken is made with deep-fried chicken pieces, but we're going to ditch the meat and make a sauce that is just as flavorful, if not more so.

The dish originated in the Hunan province in China and was brought over to the United States in the 1970s. It quickly became a staple in Chinese-American cuisine, and its sweet and savory sauce is what makes it so irresistible. But don't worry, we're taking that classic sauce and giving it a vegan twist, without sacrificing any of the flavor.

So, gather your ingredients and let's get cooking! This vegan General Tso's sauce is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party, or just a simple weeknight dinner. Get ready to impress your taste buds!

To start, you'll want to gather some fresh ginger, garlic, and scallions. These aromatic ingredients will add depth and flavor to the sauce. You'll also want to have some vegetable broth and soy sauce on hand, to help build the sauce's umami flavor. Finally, you'll want to gather some cornstarch and sugar to thicken the sauce and balance out its flavors. 

Genreal Tso's Sauce with Brocolli and Tofu

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 large head of broccoli, chopped into florets
• 3 cups cooked, diced tofu

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and sesame oil.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
4. In a separate pan, heat some vegetable oil over high heat.
5. Add the broccoli florets and fry until crispy and tender, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the cooked tofu to the pan with the broccoli and stir to combine.
7. Pour the prepared General Tso's sauce over the tofu and broccoli, stirring until everything is evenly coated.
8. Serve over steamed rice or noodles and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.

Enjoy your delicious vegan General Tso's sauce!