General Tso's Chicken is a delightful blend of sweet, savory, and crispy flavors, a staple in classic Chinese cuisine. Made with succulent boneless fried chicken, each piece is generously tossed in the distinctive General Tso's Sauce, creating a taste sensation.
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This dish stands out in the world of stir-fries, perfectly complementing a variety of rice options like white, basmati, brown, and fried rice, or even noodles, making it a versatile choice for both lunch and dinner.
Renowned as a crispy and juicy Chinese-American favorite, General Tso's Chicken typically features breaded fried chicken stir-fried in a unique sauce that balances sweetness and savoriness. This sauce imparts a bold and complex flavor typical of Chinese dishes, setting it apart from others. Originally a bit spicy, the recipe has been modified with white and brown sugar to suit western taste preferences.
The dish's creation is attributed to a Taiwanese chef, who named it in honor of General Tso (Zuo Zongtang), a historical figure from China's Hunan Province. This backstory adds to its allure, making General Tso's Chicken a popular choice for those who enjoy richly flavored Chinese chicken dishes.
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Ingredients Overview
Creating the perfect General Tso's Chicken starts with gathering the right ingredients, easily found in most Asian grocery stores. Let's explore what you'll need:
- Chicken: Opt for chicken breast for leaner meat, or use thighs for a richer taste. Both cuts yield equally delicious results.
- Spice Powders: A blend of ginger, garlic, pepper powder, and chili flakes brings heat and flavor to the dish. For an added burst of freshness, substitute the powders with fresh ginger-garlic paste.
- Flour Mixture: A mix of cornstarch and all-purpose flour is key for achieving that ideal crispy coating on the chicken.
- Oils: Sesame oil enhances the sauce with its earthy flavor, while canola oil is perfect for frying, ensuring a non-overpowering taste.
- General Tso's Sauce Ingredients: Fresh ginger, garlic, and whole dry red chilies infuse the sauce with aromatic flavors. The combination of low sodium soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chicken broth contributes to the sauce's authentic taste and rich flavor profile.
These ingredients come together to create the classic, deeply flavored General Tso's Chicken that is a favorite in Chinese-American cuisine.
How to make General Tso's Chicken?
Dive into the art of making General Tso's Chicken, with photos and a detailed video to guide you, each step of the recipe is designed to be easy and engaging. Let's start with marinating and frying the chicken, followed by preparing the signature sauce and assembling the dish to create the perfect General Tso's Chicken.
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General Tso's Chicken
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1½ lb Chicken Breast, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 1½ tsp Ginger Powder
- ½ tsp Pepper Powder
- Salt, as needed
- 3 tsp Corn Starch
- 3 tsp All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ cup Oil
- Sesame Seeds, to garnish
- Spring Onions, to garnish
To make General Tso's Sauce
- 1 tsp Ginger, minced
- 2 tsp Garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Brown Sugar
- 2 tsp White Sugar
- 2 tsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 tbsp. Red Pepper Flakes
- 4 Red Chili, dry
- ½ cup Chicken Broth
- ¼ cup Soy Sauce, low sodium
- 2 tsp Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tbsp. Sesame Oil
- 3 tsp Corn Starch Slurry, 1 tsp corn starch diluted in 3 tsp water
Instructions
Marinating the Chicken
- In a bowl, combine cut chicken, garlic, ginger, pepper powder, salt, cornstarch, and all-purpose flour, mixing well to ensure the chicken pieces are thoroughly coated with the seasonings.
Frying the chicken
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and carefully add the marinated chicken pieces, ensuring they are spaced apart.
- Fry the chicken until it achieves a golden brown color on both sides.
- Once fried, remove the chicken from the oil and set aside for later use.
Making General Tso's Chicken
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat, then add ginger, garlic, and dry red chili. Sauté until aromatic.
- Mix in both white and brown sugar, stirring well until they caramelize.
- Pour in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar, and mix them thoroughly to blend well.
- Pour chicken broth into the mixture, stir briefly, and allow it to boil for a couple of minutes.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce, stirring continuously until it thickens to the desired consistency.
- Add the fried chicken pieces into the sauce, gently tossing them to ensure each piece is fully coated with the sauce.
- Complete the dish by sprinkling sesame seeds and spring onions over the top, give everything a final stir, and your delicious General Tso's Chicken is now ready to be savored.
Serving
- Serve this General Tso's Chicken alongside white rice, fried rice, noodles, or your preferred dishes for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Crispy Chicken: For a crunchy texture, fry the marinated chicken over medium heat. This ensures crispiness without excess oil absorption, unlike frying at high heat.
- Homemade Sauce: To capture the essence of General Tso's Chicken, prepare the sauce from scratch. Fresh ginger, garlic, and chicken broth significantly enhance the sauce's flavor and freshness.
- Versatile Cooking: While this recipe uses pan-frying for the chicken, feel free to adapt by deep frying, baking, or air frying according to your preference.
- Flexible Protein Choices: Chicken breast is used here, but thighs or bone-in pieces are equally suitable. For a vegetarian twist, substitute chicken with tofu.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We’re not nutrition experts. Nutritional info is estimated and should be used as a guide. For precise details, consult a professional.
Delve into the diverse world of Chinese cuisine through our collection of chicken dishes, blending time-honored flavors with contemporary cooking methods. From spicy stir-fries to hearty curries, our assortment caters to every palate. Experience the true spirit of Asian culinary traditions in each dish.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
- Best Served Fresh: Enjoy General Tso's Chicken right after cooking to savor its crispy texture. Prolonged storage can make the outer layer of the chicken soggy.
- Versatile Pairing: Serve this dish as a main or side. It pairs wonderfully with various rice varieties like white, basmati, brown, or fried rice, as well as noodles or your preferred accompaniments.
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