Popular Chinese-American cuisine known as "General Tso's Chicken" features crispy fried chicken pieces covered in a sweet and sour sauce. The dish is named after General Tso Tsung-tang, a famous military leader from the Qing dynasty in China.
How To Make:
To make General Tso's Chicken, chicken pieces are first marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch. They are then dredged in a seasoned cornstarch and flour mixture and fried until golden brown and crispy.
Meanwhile, the sauce is made by whisking together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, and chili flakes. This mixture is then simmered on the stove until thickened and glossy.
Once the chicken is cooked, it is tossed with the sauce and served hot over rice or noodles. Sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions are common additions to the dish's garnish.
While traditionally a Chinese-American dish, there are many variations of General Tso's Chicken, with different levels of spice and sweetness. Some recipes use chicken thighs or wings instead of breast meat, while others include vegetables such as broccoli or bell peppers.
Tips and Variations:
To make the chicken extra crispy, use a double-frying technique. Fry the chicken pieces once for a few minutes, then remove them from the oil and let them rest for a few minutes before frying them again for a couple of minutes until golden brown.
If you prefer a spicier sauce, add more chili flakes or substitute with a spicy chili paste such as gochujang or sambal oelek.
For a healthier version of General Tso's Chicken, you can bake the chicken instead of frying it. Simply coat the chicken pieces in the cornstarch and flour mixture, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy.
To add more vegetables to the dish, you can stir-fry some broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas in the same pan as the chicken, then toss with the sauce and serve over rice.
For a vegetarian or vegan version of the dish, you can substitute the chicken with tofu or seitan, and use a vegan hoisin sauce and soy sauce.
.webp "Perfect General Tso's Chicken Recipe")
For a gluten-free version of the dish, use gluten-free cornstarch and flour, and substitute the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
To make the sauce thicker and more velvety, add a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to the sauce while simmering.
For a sweeter sauce, add honey or maple syrup to the sauce mixture.
To make the dish more aromatic, add some minced garlic and ginger to the sauce.
To balance the heat and sweetness of the dish, serve with some steamed white rice and garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Ingredients:
- For the chicken:
- One pound of cut-up, skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/4 cup sliced scallions
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat. Let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours to marinate.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. The chicken pieces should be added to the flour mixture and coated.
In a large skillet or wok, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces to the pan in batches and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
To make the sauce, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, cornstarch, and chili flakes in a small bowl.
In a clean skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once they are fragrant, add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute.
Add the sauce mixture to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Add the fried chicken pieces to the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the sauce is evenly distributed.
Serve the General Tso's Chicken hot, garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the spice level of the sauce by adding more or less chili flakes to your preference. Also, be careful when handling hot oil, and use a thermometer to ensure the oil reaches the proper temperature for frying.