General Tso’s Chicken is a beloved dish in Chinese-American cuisine, known for its crispy chicken coated in a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce. Here’s a recipe to recreate this classic dish at home:
General Tso's Chicken
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb 450g boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 cup 60g cornstarch
- 1/4 cup 30g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- Sliced green onions for garnish
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
For Garnish (optional):
- Sliced green onions
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
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In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the beaten egg, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Let it marinate for about 15-20 minutes.
Prepare the Coating:
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In another bowl, mix the cornstarch and flour together. Dredge each piece of marinated chicken in the cornstarch-flour mixture until evenly coated, shaking off any excess.
Fry the Chicken:
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Heat vegetable oil in a wok or deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot (around 350°F or 175°C), carefully add the coated chicken pieces in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove the cooked chicken and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Make the Sauce:
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In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water until well combined and the cornstarch is dissolved.
Cook the Sauce:
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In a clean wok or skillet, heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Pour in the sauce mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 2-3 minutes.
Combine Chicken and Sauce:
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Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss until they are evenly coated with the sauce.
Serve:
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Transfer the General Tso's Chicken to a serving dish. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, if desired.
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Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.
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Enjoy your homemade General Tso's Chicken! Adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your preference.
