Vegan General Tso's Soy Curls
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
17096 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Asian
Vegan General Tso's Soy Curls
Description
This recipe begins by soaking dry soy curls in a flavorful marinade combining water or vegetable broth with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and optional chili paste. After marinating for 10 to 15 minutes, the soy curls are browned in a hot skillet with garlic and chopped green onions. Bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini are added and cooked briefly to retain some bite.
The sauce is thickened by mixing cornstarch with the remaining marinade liquid and then added to the skillet to coat the soy curls and vegetables evenly. The mixture is covered and cooked until the sauce thickens and flavors meld. This technique produces soy curls that absorb the sauce yet maintain a chewy texture, characteristic of this dish.
Serve the vegan General Tso's with steamed rice and optionally blanched broccoli, garnishing with additional green onions. The sauce provides a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy flavor, and the readiness of various vegetables balances both taste and texture elements.
Variations include adding more sauce for a saucier texture or using tofu or chickpeas as soy curl substitutes. Note that soy curls absorb liquid unevenly, so reserving marinade and adjusting liquid amounts ensures the right sauce consistency.
Ingredients
- 4 oz soy curls (dry), see notes for where to buy and sub options
General tso's Sauce:
- 3/4 cup water warm, or veggie broth
- 3 to 4 tbsp sugar or coconut sugar or other sweetener
- 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium; use tamari to make gluten-free
- 2 tsp mirin rice wine
- 2 to 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1.5 tsp sesame oil toasted
- 2 tsp sambal oelek chile paste optional, or sriracha or pepper flakes to taste
- 2 tsp ginger grated fresh
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Stir fry:
- 1 tsp neutral cooking oil safflower or sesame, generic cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion white portions as well, use greens for garnish, chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper
- 1 cup zucchini or other veggies
- 1 cup carrot or other veggies
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Mix the marinade. **Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade in another bowl to use later. Add soy curls to the marinade and mix and soak for 10-15 mins. Toss twice in between so all soy curls marinate well.
- Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add oil. When hot, add garlic and green onion and toss for a few seconds.
- Fish out the soy curls from the marinade and add to the pan, cook for 4 to 5 mins to brown some edges. (you can also toss the marinated soy curls in cornstarch before using for extra crispness). Add the peppers and veggies and mix. Add a pinch of salt and cook for 2 mins
- Add 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1/4 cup water to the remaining marinade (reserved plus remaining) and mix well.
- Add the marinade sauce mixture to the pan and mix. Cover and cook for 3 to 4 mins to thicken. Stir once in between. Also taste at the time to adjust flavor. Add salt, sugar, heat if needed. Let sit covered for another min.
- Serve with rice and blanched broccoli. garnish with green onions , toasted sesame seeds, and fresh black pepper.
Notes
- Reserve some marinade before soaking the soy curls to maintain sufficient sauce after cooking.
- Add water or broth to the marinade if the soy curls absorb too much liquid to keep them moist.
- To increase crispness, toss marinated soy curls in cornstarch before cooking.
- For a saucier dish, double the sauce and add extra vegetables.
- Use firm or extra-firm tofu pressed and crisped as an alternative to soy curls, or substitute with canned chickpeas.
- Szechuan variation includes adding roasted crushed Szechuan peppercorns to the oil used in the marinade.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 17096 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 170.96kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 22.53g | 8% |
| Protein | 15.1g | 30% |
| Fat | 1.73g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.26g | 1% |
| Sodium | 601.89mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 193.29mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 5.58g | 22% |
| Sugar | 11.68g | 23% |
| Vitamin A | 645.09IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 40.34mg | 45% |
| Calcium | 106.84mg | 11% |
| Iron | 3.6mg | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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