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    Home » Recipes » Sauces » General Tso's Sauce

    General Tso's Sauce Recipe

    Published: November 16, 2021 by Sangeetha Vel | Updated: March 19, 2023 Leave a Comment

    30 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    General Tso's Sauce is a sweet, spicy, and tangy Chinese dip or condiment. The authentic recipe is usually made with sesame oil, ginger, garlic, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, and other seasoning ingredients. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make General Tso's Sauce from scratch with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try at home.

    I have also shared a detailed video of this recipe to make the cooking process clear and simple. This Homemade General Tso's Sauce is easy to make and delivers one of the best flavors and tastes. And it is served as a dip for appetizers and used as a condiment to make General Tso's Chicken, General Tso's Shrimp, or General Tso's Tofu.

    General Tso Sauce in a bowl
    General Tso's Sauce
    Jump to:
    • What is General Tso's Sauce?
    • Ingredients
    • How to make General Tso's Sauce?
    • Tips
    • Storage Suggestions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Related Recipes
    • General Tso's Sauce Recipe video
    • 📖 Recipe
    • FAQ

    What is General Tso's Sauce?

    General Tso's Sauce is an authentic Chinese sauce that is packed with flavors of fresh ingredients and sauces. It is usually sweet, spicy, and tangy in taste and flavor that is widely used for chicken, shrimp, or tofu dishes.

    This sauce is unique for its bold and complex flavors similar to many Chinese dishes. It is also a multi-purpose sauce that you use as a dip for appetizers, condiments for most non-vegetarian dishes. You can also use this sauce to stir-fry a quick and delicious meal. And all it takes to prepare the sauce from scratch is under 10 minutes.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients you will need to make this General Tso's Sauce needs a trip to your nearby Asian grocery stores. Some of the ingredients are basic that can be found in regular grocery stores while others need a trip to Asian stores. So let's check out the ingredients below.

    General Tso Sauce Ingredients on a table
    General Tso's Sauce
    • Sesame oil - Delivers a rustic and earthy flavor to your sauce
    • Ginger and Garlic - Freshly minced ginger and garlic gives unique aroma and taste. You can also repalce them with powders if the fresh ones are not handy
    • Soy and Hoisin Sauce - I have always got a chance to get soy sauce in my regular grocery stores but not the Hoisin sauce. I found it only near by Asian grocery store
    • Red Pepper Flakes - I have used flakes and whole dry red chili for the heat here, feel free to adjust the quantity according to your preference
    • Shaoxine Wine or Rice Vinegar - Even though authentic recipes call for the wine, I have added only rice vinegar here, as I have small kids who love to this sauce with chicken. But I felt the taste was good even without the wine
    • Chicken Broth - It gives a unique and deep flavor to the sauce. But feel free to use veg stock for a vegan friendly sauce

    How to make General Tso's Sauce?

    The recipe I have shared here delivers the authentic taste and flavor that is similar to the sauce served in most Chinese Restaurants. This sauce is easy to make and all you need is under 10 minutes to make this sauce. Also, you can customize this sauce into vegan friendly.

    General Tso Sauce in a bowl
    General Tso's Sauce

    Following are the high-level instructions to make this sauce but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photo and video, please check out the recipe card below.

    • Saute Ginger and Garlic - In a pan with with medium heat, pour sesame oil, and add ginger, garlic and dry red chili. Saute until they turns aromatic
    • Caramelize the Sugar - Now add the white and brown sugar and mix well until it caramelizes
    • Add in the Sauces - Pour in the hoisin, soy sauce, chili flakes, rice vinegar and give a good mix
    • Pour in the Chicken Broth - Add the chicken broth and mix well
    • Boil for few minutes - Boil the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes
    • Add in the cornstarch slurry - Now dilute 1 tsp of orn starch in 3 tsp of water and add the slurry to the sauce mixture. Give it a good until it thickens
    • Remove and Serve or Store - Remove the sauce immediately from heat, and serve as adip for your appetizers or use as a condiment in Tso's Chicken, Seafood or other similar recipes

    Tips

    • Flavor and Taste- Adding chili flakes, white and brown sugar gives the sweet and spicy flavor to your sauce and I recommend to add the same for similar results
    • Hoisin and Soy sauce - These two sauces used here gives the saltiness and sweetness to the sauce. But you can also swap hoisin sauce with chili bean sauce if it is not handy
    • Shaoxing Wine - Even though the authentic recipe calls for this wine, I have used only rice vinegar which gave a nice tangy flavor to my sauce. So feel free to use the same if this Chinese wine is not handy to you
    • Vegan Sauce - For vegan friendly version of this sauce, I would recommend using vegetable stock and vegan soy sauce to make this sauce
    • Serving - This easy home General Tso's Sauce tastes great as a dip for appetizers or as a condiment for your chicken, seafood, veg or tofu dishes

    Storage Suggestions

    This sauce stays good for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator in a closed airtight container. Always make sure to heat the portion you would like to use and then mix or stir fry them with your favorite proteins or veggies.

    Serving Suggestions

    This General Tso's Sauce tastes great as a dipping sauce for most appetizers like popcorn chicken, samosas, and more. And it also can be used as a condiment for most chicken, seafood, veg, and tofu recipes.

    Related Recipes

    You could also find similar Sauce recipes below and more at Dips & Condiments.

    • Stir Fry Sauce
    • Teriyaki Sauce
    • Sweet Chili Sauce
    • Kung Pao Sauce
    • Orange Sauce
    • Szechuan Sauce
    • Garlic Butter Sauce
    • Garlic Parmesan Sauce
    • Pasta Sauce
    • Samosa Dipping Sauce
    • Tamarind Sauce

    More Tso's Recipes and Chinese Recipes.

    • General Tso's Tofu
    • General Tso's Chicken
    • Szechuan Chicken

    General Tso's Sauce Recipe video

    I have also shared a detailed video of this General Tso's Sauce below that I hope will help you to make a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce at home. For a quick reference, you could also find this recipe in story format.

    General Tso's Sauce Video

    📖 Recipe

    General Tso Sauce in a bowl

    General Tso's Sauce

    General Tso's Sauce is a sweet, spicy, and tangy Chinese dip or condiment. The authentic recipe is usually made with sesame oil, ginger, garlic, hoisin, soy sauce, chicken broth, and other seasoning ingredients. This Homemade General Tso's Sauce is easy to make and delivers the best flavor and taste. And it is served as a dip for most appetizers and used to make Tso's Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu.
    5 from 1 vote
    Author: Sangeetha Vel
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    Course: Dips & Condiments
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 10 mins
    Adjust 4 servings

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tsp Ginger, minced
    • 2 tsp Garlic, minced
    • 2 tsp Brown Sugar
    • 2 tsp White Sugar
    • 2 tsp Rice Vinegar
    • 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
    • 4 Dry Red Chili
    • ½ cup Chicken Broth
    • ¼ cup Soy Sauce, low sodium
    • 2 tsp Hoisin Sauce
    • 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
    • 1 tsp Cornstarch , 1 tsp cornstarch diluted in 3 tsp water
    More on Measurements & Conversions »
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    Instructions
     

    To Make General Tso Sauce

    • In a pan with medium heat, pour oil, and add ginger, garlic, and dry red chili. Saute until they turn aromatic
      sautéing garlic , ginger and dry red chili
    • Add white and brown sugar and mix well until it caramelizes
      caramelizing the white and brown sugar
    • Now add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red pepper flakes, rice vinegar and mix well
      stirring in the hoisin, soy and chili flakes
    • Pour in the chicken broth and give a quick mix. Allow the mixture to boil for 1 to 2 minutes
      allowing the mixture to boil
    • Now add corn starch slurry and mix well until the sauce thicken. Once it thickens remove it from heat. Now the homemade General Tso Sauce is ready for you to taste and enjoy
      Thickened General Tso Sauce

    To Serve

    • Serve this Homemade General Tso Sauce as a dip for an appetizer or as a condiment for chicken, seafood, or veg recipes
      Serving Tso Sauce

    Video

    Notes

    • Flavor and Taste- Adding chili flakes, white and brown sugar gives the sweet and spicy flavor to your sauce and I recommend adding the same for similar results
    • Hoisin and Soy sauce - These two sauces used here give saltiness and sweetness to the sauce. But you can also swap hoisin sauce with chili bean sauce if it is not handy
    • Shaoxing Wine - Even though the authentic recipe calls for this wine, I have used only rice vinegar which gave a nice tangy flavor to my sauce. So feel free to use the same if this Chinese wine is not handy for you
    • Vegan Sauce - For a vegan-friendly version of this sauce, I would recommend using vegetable stock and vegan soy sauce to make this sauce
    • Serving - This easy home General Tso Sauce tastes great as a dip for appetizers or as a condiment for your chicken, seafood, veg, or tofu dishes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 985mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 594IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @yellowchilis or tag #yellowchilis!

    FAQ

    What is General Tso's Sauce?

    General Tso's Sauce is an authentic Chinese sauce that is packed with flavors of fresh ingredients and sauces. It is usually sweet, spicy, and tangy in taste and flavor that is widely used for chicken, shrimp, or tofu dishes.

    What Tso's Sauce flavor?

    It is usually sweet, spicy, and tangy in its taste and flavor. You will also feel the earth and rustic taste of sesame oil and saltiness from the hoisin and soy sauce. Not to mention the heat from the red chili flakes. Yes, it is a combination of deep, strong, and complex flavors.

    Is Tso's Sauce is vegan?

    No the recipe I have shared uses chicken broth which is not vegan friendly but for a vegan version, you can use veg broth and vegan soy sauce to achieve a similar taste and flavor

    What can I substitute for Hoisin Sauce for this recipe?

    You can substitute it with bean paste, soy peanut butter, or garlic teriyaki sauce which delivers a similar taste as hoisin sauce.

    I hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.

    If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

    Happy Cooking!

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    Sangeetha Vel Yellow Chili's

    Hi, I'm Sangeetha Vel! the author, recipe researcher, creator, and cooking hands behind Yellow Chili's. A realistic, friendly, empathetic, and enthusiastic foodie who loves to share authentic, easy, quick, healthy, instant, and kids-approved recipes.

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