When the topic of "authentic" General Tso's chicken comes up, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. This iconic dish is one of the most popular dishes in American-Chinese cuisine, and as such there are many variations and interpretations out there. But if you're looking for a recipe that will give you the closest thing to the real deal, then you'll need to start with the right ingredients and techniques. In this article, we'll break down the essential elements of General Tso's chicken and provide you with a recipe that will help you create an authentic and delicious version of this beloved dish.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN RECIPE
General Tso's chicken - the BEST and easiest General Tso's Chicken recipe ever. It's so delicious and much better and healthier than Chinese takeouts!
Provided by Rasa Malaysia
Categories Chinese Recipes
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Marinate the chicken meat with the Shaoxing wine and salt for 15 minutes. Mix all the ingredients for the Sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Coat the chicken generously with the 1/3 cup cornstarch. Heat up the oil for deep-frying. Deep fry the chicken until they turn light brown. Dish out with a strainer, draining the excess oil by laying the chicken on a dish lined with paper towels.
- Heat up a wok with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Add the minced ginger, garlic, and dried chilies into the wok, stir-fry until you smell the spicy aroma of the chilies. Pour the sauce into the wok. When the sauce boils and thickens, add the chicken, stir to combine well with the sauce. Add the scallion and stir a few times, dish out and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 398 calories, Carbohydrate 44 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 91 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 14 grams fat, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 34 grams protein, SaturatedFat 9 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 2 people, Sodium 899 milligrams sodium, Sugar 17 grams sugar
GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 25m
Yield 1 to 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring oil to between 350 and 375 degrees F. Cut chicken into chunks, then mix together with cornstarch. Fry in oil.
- For the sauce: Mix together soy sauce, sugar, hoisin, vinegar, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, chili flakes and 1/2 cup water. Toss fried chicken in sauce, then serve.
AUTHENTIC GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
This Authentic General Tso's Chicken is the real deal. Use the links below to easily order the Shaoxing rice wine, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce online. It's super easy! And be sure to use a wok ring when making this dish. Super important! This dish is one of our all-time favorites!
Provided by Kris Longwell
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Place all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk until the corn starch has dissolved and is fully combined. Set aside.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add the soy sauces, 1 tsp peanut oil, and egg yolks. Mix with two large wooden spoons. Add the corn starch and continue mixing until the chicken pieces are coated with the marinade mixture.
- Heat the oil (3½ cups) over high heat in your wok (on a wok ring), or heavy 12-inch saucepan. Working in batches, carefully add the coated chicken pieces into the oil, once it has reached 375°F. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels. Set aside.
- Let the oil cool somewhat, and then very carefully discard. Wipe the wok clean with paper towels and place back on wok ring on the stove. Heat the 6 tbsp of oil over medium-high heat until shimmering and smoking very slightly.
- Carefully add the peppers, garlic, and ginger and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
- Add the sauce to the wok and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce has thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Carefully add the cooked chicken to the sauce in the wok and stir to fully coat. Simmer for about 2 minutes, enough time to heat the chicken pieces.
- Turn the heat off and stir in the sesame oil.
- Transfer the chicken with sauce to a serving platter. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions/scallions. Serve immediately with steamed white rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 648 kcal, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 31 g, Fat 38 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Cholesterol 233 mg, Sodium 950 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 10 g, ServingSize 1 serving
GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
Steps:
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg white, 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of the wine, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
- To make the sauce, in another bowl, whisk remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of the chicken stock until smooth. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons chicken stock, 1 tablespoon wine, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, the vinegar, and sugar and whisk to combine. Set aside until ready to finish the dish.
- In a large wok or pot, heat enough oil to come 3 inches up the sides to 350 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and carefully slide into the hot oil. Fry, turning, until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Discard all but about 1 tablespoon of the oil from the wok. (Alternatively, in a clean wok or saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.) Add the chile peppers and stir-fry until nearly black. Add the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup green onions. Stir-fry until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the chicken stock sauce, bring to a boil, and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
- Arrange the chicken on a platter and pour the sauce over it. Garnish with the cashews and additional green onions. Serve with hot rice.
GENERAL TSAO'S CHICKEN II
A genuinely mouthwatering dish with an Asian kick that will knock your chopsticks off! Don't be fooled by other General Tsao impostors: this is simply the best Chinese chicken you will ever have. With a flair of peanut oil, a streak of sesame, a dash of orange, and a sweet spot for hot, this is sure to be a favorite. Just don't forget to deep-fry twice! Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Provided by ChefDaddy
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Beat the egg in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken cubes; sprinkle with salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and white pepper; mix well. Mix in 1 cup of cornstarch a little bit at a time until the chicken cubes are well coated.
- In batches, carefully drop the chicken cubes into the hot oil one by one, cooking until they turns golden brown and begin to float, about 3 minutes. Remove the chicken and allow to cool as you fry the next batch. Once all of the chicken has been fried, refry the chicken, starting with the batch that was cooked first. Cook until the chicken turns deep golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir in the green onion, garlic, whole chiles, and orange zest. Cook and stir a minute or two until the garlic has turned golden and the chiles brighten. Add 1/2 cup sugar, the ginger, chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and peanut oil; bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.
- Dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the water, and stir into the boiling sauce. Return to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens and is no longer cloudy from the cornstarch, about 1 minute. Stir the chicken into the boiling sauce. Reduce heat to low and cook for a few minutes until the chicken absorbs some of the sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 633.5 calories, Carbohydrate 54.9 g, Cholesterol 101.1 mg, Fat 36.5 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 24.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.1 g, Sodium 1191.6 mg, Sugar 17.7 g
SUPER-EASY GENERAL TSO CHICKEN
This is not authentic General Tso's Chicken, but it's a recipe I developed and it tastes quite similar. It's easy and requires no "odd" ingredients. You can either batter your chicken before adding to the sauce or just stir-fry your plain chicken, it's up to you. This makes plenty of sauce- I don't like dry General Tso's. After reading several reviews, I would just like to add that I must use VERY mild hot sauce, because I am definitely NOT someone who likes super-hot stuff and several have complained that it's too hot. I would have to say that it probably varies according to your brand of hot sauce, so be warned! :-)
Provided by DragonFly2
Categories Poultry
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix the soy sauce, water, hot sauce, sugar, boullion, and ginger in a saucepan and heat until boiling. Cut the heat down and simmer while you prepare the chicken.
- Take your chicken and cut into bite-size cubes. Now, at this point you can either use a boxed batter mix to add a coating on it (and deep-fry according to the box mix), or you can just stir-fry your plain chicken in a little oil until thoroughly cooked.
- Going back to your sauce, use the cornstarch in water to thicken it. Then add your cooked chicken. If you battered your chicken, it's ready to eat (don't leave the battered chicken too long before eating or it will get soggy). If you stir-fried plain chicken, use this time to simmer it awhile and prepare your veggies and rice.
- Serve this chicken over the veggies and rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 617.3, Fat 3.9, SaturatedFat 0.9, Cholesterol 75.8, Sodium 3187.2, Carbohydrate 110.2, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 51.2, Protein 33.8
JOE'S GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
General Tso's Chicken is a perfect combination of sweet and spicy flavors. It is found in a lot of Chinese buffets and take-out places. You can try substituting gin for the rice wine if you'd like.
Provided by joe harrington
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Chinese
Time 35m
Yield 3
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup of cornstarch until no lumps remain, then mix in the chicken until evenly coated in batter.
- In batches, carefully drop the chicken cubes into the hot oil one by one, cooking until the chicken turns golden brown and begins to float, about 3 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir in the dried peppers, and cook for about 30 seconds until the color brightens. Add the chicken, and cook for a few minutes until the chicken turns a deep, golden brown. Stir the vinegar, rice wine, sugar, soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch together in a small bowl. Pour into the wok, and boil until the sauce thickens and is no longer cloudy, about 2 minutes. Garnish with green onions to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 865.3 calories, Carbohydrate 61.7 g, Cholesterol 277.2 mg, Fat 52.6 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 38.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.7 g, Sodium 1208 mg, Sugar 13.5 g
GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN
Invented in 1950s Taiwan by chef Peng Chang-Kuei, this crowd-pleasing fried chicken dish was adapted for American palates with a chile-spiked sweet-and-sour sauce and has since become a Chinese takeout classic.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Thighs
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Combine chicken, egg white, soy sauce, wine, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Whisk together cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in another bowl. Let stand while making sauce.
- Make the sauce: Whisk soy sauce into cornstarch. Then whisk in wine, sugar, vinegar, and broth.
- Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a deep pot (preferably cast-iron) to 350 degrees. Working in batches, remove chicken from marinade (do not worry about removing excess liquid) and toss in cornstarch mixture. Carefully add to oil and cook until crisp and light golden brown, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok over medium. Add chiles, garlic, ginger, and scallion whites. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Add chicken and toss to coat in sauce. Remove from heat. Stir in sesame oil. Garnish with scallion greens and serve immediately with broccoli and rice.
GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: vegetable oil, rice wine, soy sauce, boneless, skinless chicken thighs, flour, salt, vegetable oil, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, dried chili pod, rice wine, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, water, green onion, white rice
Provided by Michael Price
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine 1 cup rice wine (240 ml), ¼ cup (60 ml) of soy sauce, and cubed chicken thighs. Stir and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour.
- In a separate large bowl, combine 1 cup of flour (125 g) and 1 tablespoon of salt.
- Remove chicken from wine/soy marinade and place in flour mixture. Mix thoroughly, until all the chicken pieces are coated.
- Fill a dutch oven or large pot at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep with vegetable oil. Heat oil to 365˚F (185˚C). Place chicken pieces in frying oil, stirring occasionally. Fry until they are golden brown, roughly 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken from oil and set aside to drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
- In a large skillet, bring one tablespoon of vegetable oil to medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger, stirring frequently for one minute.
- Add dried chili pods. Continue stirring for 30 seconds before adding rice wine, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sugar. Stir occasionally until mixture is bubbling.
- Add cornstarch slurry, stirring frequently. The sauce should begin to thicken in a minute or less.
- Add cooked chicken pieces, stirring them to coat with the sauce.
- Remove from heat and garnish with green onions and rice.
- Nutrition Calories: 4192 Fat: 434 grams Carbs: 55 grams Fiber: 3 grams Sugars: 18 grams Protein: 33 grams
- Enjoy!
Tips:
- Use a large skillet or wok to cook the chicken. This will help to prevent the chicken from overcrowding and ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Use a good quality soy sauce. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the dish.
- Don't overcook the chicken. It should be cooked through, but still tender and juicy.
- Use fresh ginger and garlic. This will give the dish a more intense flavor.
- Add the vegetables to the sauce just before serving. This will help to keep them crisp and colorful.
- Serve General Tso's chicken with rice or noodles.
Conclusion:
General Tso's chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. With its sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavor, this dish is a perfect choice for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting recipe to try, give General Tso's chicken a try. You won't be disappointed!
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