General Tso's Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that is known for its sweet and spicy flavor. It typically consists of chicken pieces that are breaded and fried until crispy, then tossed in a sweet and savory sauce made with ingredients like soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make this dish at home:
Here are some tips and variations for making General Tso's Chicken:
Use dark meat: Dark meat is considered to be more tender and flavorful compared to white meat. This makes it a great choice for General Tso's chicken.
Make a thicker sauce: For a thicker and more flavorful sauce, try using cornstarch to thicken sauce instead of flour. You can also add a little bit of honey or sugar to balance the flavors.
Add some heat: For a spicy twist on General Tso's Chicken, try adding some dried red chili peppers or sriracha sauce to the sauce. This will give the food a good kick.
Use fresh ingredients: Fresh ingredients, such as garlic and ginger, will give the dish a much better flavor than using pre-packaged ingredients.
Try different vegetables: You can also add some vegetables to the dish, such as bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas. This will give the meal color and nutrition.
Bake instead of fry: For a healthier version of General Tso's Chicken, try baking the chicken instead of deep-frying it. This will reduce the amount of oil used in the dish.
Make it gluten-free: To make General Tso's Chicken gluten-free, use cornstarch instead of flour to make the sauce. You can also use gluten-free soy sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless funk guts or shanks, cut into 1- inch pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup water
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Sauce:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, and baking soda.
Whisk the water and egg together in another bowl.
Dip the chicken pieces in the egg mixture, then coat them with the flour mixture.
In a deep saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F.
Fry the chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce. Bring to a boil.
In a small coliseum, whisk together the cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of water. Add to the saucepan and stir until thickened.
Add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan and stir to combine.
Toss the fried chicken with the sauce in a large bowl until coated.
Serve General Tso's Chicken with steamed rice and vegetables.
Enjoy your delicious and flavorful General Tso's Chicken!
