Description
General Tso’s Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and chili flakes. This recipe offers a flavorful, easy-to-make version perfect for a comforting homemade takeout experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 2 lb chicken thighs (trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- 1/4 cup extra light olive oil (for frying, plus more as needed)
Sauce and Seasonings
- 2 tbsp minced ginger (from a 2-inch piece of ginger)
- 3 cloves garlic (or 1 tbsp grated or finely minced)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or added to taste)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional for garnish)
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 5 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar (or more to taste)
- 1 1/2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 4 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Toss chicken in batches with corn starch, tapping off the excess. Set the dredged chicken pieces on a platter and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine cold water, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, granulated sugar, and 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch. Whisk thoroughly until well combined and smooth.
- Fry the Chicken: Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add extra light olive oil. Cook chicken pieces in 2 to 3 batches, sautéing until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove cooked chicken from the pan and transfer to a bowl. Add more oil to the pan as needed for remaining batches, leaving at least 1 tbsp oil in the pan.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add minced garlic, minced ginger, and red pepper flakes to the hot pan oil. Sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the aromatics. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly. Let it cook for 1 minute to slightly reduce and mellow the vinegar taste. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more soy sauce or rice vinegar if desired.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Add the fried chicken back into the skillet and toss to coat all pieces evenly with the sauce. Heat through for a minute to allow the sauce to cling well.
- Serve: Plate the General Tso’s Chicken and garnish with sesame seeds if using. Serve immediately with steamed rice or your choice of sides.
Notes
- This dish works best with chicken thighs for juiciness, but chicken breasts can be used if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- You can substitute granulated sugar with honey or brown sugar for a different flavor profile.
- Make sure to let the sauce simmer properly to avoid a raw vinegar taste.
- General Tso’s Chicken pairs well with steamed rice and sautéed vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 386 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 502 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 111 mg
