Skinnyish General Tso’s Shrimp and Tofu

My Skinnyish General Tso’s Shrimp and Tofu is a lighter version of General Tso’s classic Chinese recipe! Still full of amazing flavor, this lower-fat version is not battered and deep fried, but stir-fried with my special sweet and spicy sauce.

This “skinny-ish” version of General Tso’s Shrimp and Tofu is a flavor bomb in your mouth! But, you’ll never know it’s lighter on the calories. There’s no battered and deep-frying in this dish! No chicken either in this recipe, which is the classic Chinese version (always trying to change history, LOL!).

So much flavor in this sauce, like garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes that compliment the shrimp and tofu so well. The cornstarch gives the sauce a nice thickness without weighing it down. You can use whatever protein floats your boat in this dish, but we’re obsessed with the shrimp and tofu combo, so that’s the “skinny” on this one!

What ingredients you’ll need for this skinnyish general tso’s shrimp and tofu:

• Block of extra-firm tofu
• Large shrimp
• Canola oil
• Garlic
• Fresh ginger
• Red pepper flakes
• Black pepper
• Green onions
• Sesame seeds
• Steamed white or brown rice

For the sauce:

• Reduced-sodium soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Hoisin sauce
• Water
• Brown sugar
• Corn starch
• Chopped green onions

I always use extra-firm tofu in stir-fry dishes so the tofu won’t fall apart. I often use Trader Joe’s sprouted tofu, which has a dense texture. The key to getting tofu that gorgeous golden brown is to remove all of the moisture first by wrapping the block in a kitchen towel or paper towels and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, cube them up!

TIP: Want an easy and quick way to soak up the liquid in the tofu? You might want to take a look at this tofu press on Amazon! I have one of these and it’s works great!

You can use whatever protein floats your boat in this dish, but we’re obsessed with the shrimp and tofu combo. Steak or chicken would be equally as good!

Steps to make this recipe:

1. Stir-fry the tofu cubes until golden brown. Throw in the shrimp and stir-fry until partially cooked through. Remove from the wok and set aside.
2. Make the sauce: In a small mixing bowl whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, water, brown sugar, and corn starch until well-combined and not lumpy. Stir in some chopped green onions (if desired) and set aside.
3. Heat the canola oil in a heavy wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the tofu until lightly browned on all sides. Add in the shrimp and partially cook, about 1 minute. Toss with salt and pepper and remove from the wok in a bowl and set aside.
4. Add the garlic and ginger to the wok over medium-high heat. Sauté until fragrant. Toss with the red pepper flakes. Pour in the sauce and cook over low heat until it starts to thicken. (Add in more water if sauce gets too thick.) Toss together with the shrimp and tofu, coating well with the sauce. Cover for 1 minute until shrimp is cooked through.
5. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, and serve with a side of steamed rice.

Serve this General Tso’s Shrimp and Tofu with a side of steamed white or brown rice and your dinner will rock! This lower-fat dish is perfect for the family, or impressive to serve to your dinner guests. So, that’s the “skinny” on this one!

Tips and tricks

• The key to getting tofu that gorgeous golden brown is to remove all of the moisture first by wrapping the block in a kitchen towel or paper towels and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.
• You can use whatever protein floats your boat in this dish, but we’re obsessed with the shrimp and tofu combo. Steak or chicken would be equally as good!
• Want to make this dish gluten-free? Use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free hoisin sauce instead!

Want more recipes like this general tso’s shrimp and tofu?

If you liked this recipe, you’re going to want these similar shrimp and tofu recipes too!

• Easy Tofu Pad Thai
• Healthy Shrimp Fried Rice
• Miso Tofu Bok Choy Stir Fry
• Shrimp Sambal with Roasted Cauliflower, Chickpeas and Ginger
• Coconut Curry Tofu and Shrimp

Update Notes: This post was originally published on February 12, 2018, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, like step-by-step instructions and tips, in August 2021.

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