General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's chicken is undeniably one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes in North American, and most deifnitely one of our favorite dishes. The sweet, tangy, spicy and savory sauce pairs perfectly with the crispy and juicy fried chicken. The sticky and shiny glaze will win anyone over.

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword fried chicken, general tso

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 392kcal

Ingredients

Fried Chicken Batter

1 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken thigh cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 whole egg

General Tso's Chicken Sauce

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup chicken broth
3 tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp garlic minced
1 tsp ginger minced
2 stripes orange peel
3 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
1 fresh small red chilli de-seeded, chopped
5 tbsp water
3 tbsp green onions chopped
sesame seeds for topping

Instructions

Place the cubed chicken in a mixing bowl. Add the low-sodium soy sauce, salt, and pepper and mix well. Add the beaten egg into the chicken bowl and combine well. Add 2/3 cup of cornstarch into the chicken and egg mixture. Combine until the cornstarch is well mixed into the eggs and all the chicken cubes are well covered with the batter. Let marinade and set aside for 5-10 minutes.
To make the General Tso sauce, combine the low-sodium soy sauce, chicken broth, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Prepare the cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch and water in a bowl. Heat two tablespoons of oil on a pan or a wok on high heat and stir fry the garlic, ginger, chillies, and the strips of orange peel for about 30 seconds or until the ginger and garlic and fragrant and tender. Put heat on medium high and add the sauce mixture into the pan. When the sauce boils, add the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and mix well. Once the sauce boils and becomes thicker, remove the orange peel strips, remove sauce from heat and transfer to a mixing bowl.
Fill a deep saucepan with about 1 1/2 inch of oil and heat over high heat. Once the oil reaches about 375 degrees Fahrenheit, slowly and gently add the chicken into the oil one by one. We recommend to work in batches in order to not overcrowd the pan and lower the temperature of the oil. Let fry for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. Remove chicken from oil and drain off excess oil using paper towels. Place the fried chicken on a drying rack and let cool for about 5 minutes. Put the chicken back into the hot oil and fry for another 1 minute and a half or until golden brown and crispy. Repeat steps with other chicken batches. Note cooking time may vary depending on the size of the chicken cubes and the temperature of the oil. If you do not have a meat thermometer, we suggest to cut one chicken in half after the first batch of frying to ensure that it is well cooked.
Add the fried chicken into the mixing bowl with the General Tso sauce. Toss until well combined and every fried chicken is evenly covered with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add warm water one tablespoon at a time into the sauce before mixing in the chicken until it reaches the desired consistency. Top with toasted sesame seeds and green onions and serve with rice.

Nutrition