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General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 85 reviews

General Tso’s Chicken is a classic Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. This recipe offers a perfect balance of flavors with a homemade sauce combining soy, hoisin, ginger, garlic, and brown sugar, resulting in a deliciously sticky glaze garnished with sesame seeds.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (cut into bite size pieces, approximately 1 inch)
  • 1/2 cup Cornstarch
  • 2–3 cups Olive Oil (for frying)

Sauce

  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Minced Ginger (or 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced or 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Cold Water
  • 1/4 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

Garnish

  • Sesame Seeds (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: Whisk together all the sauce ingredients—cold water, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch—in a mixing bowl and set aside to combine flavors.
  2. Coat the chicken: Toss the chicken pieces in the cornstarch in batches, ensuring each piece is fully coated to achieve a crispy exterior when fried. Set aside.
  3. Heat the oil: Pour approximately 2 inches of olive oil into a deep skillet or large saucepan and heat it to 375°F (190°C) for frying.
  4. Fry the chicken: Fry the coated chicken in batches, about 2-3 pieces per batch depending on pan size, cooking each batch for 2-3 minutes. Flip halfway through to brown all sides and cook chicken thoroughly.
  5. Drain the chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the oil and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
  6. Prepare the sauce base: Remove most of the frying oil from the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Heat the pan over medium-high heat and add the minced ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Simmer the sauce: Whisk in the prepared sauce mixture and bring it to a simmer, stirring constantly.
  8. Thicken the sauce: Continue cooking for about 1 minute until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
  9. Combine chicken and sauce: Add the fried chicken to the pan and toss well to coat each piece evenly with the glossy sauce.
  10. Serve: Serve the chicken warm, garnished with sesame seeds for added texture and flavor. Enjoy your delicious homemade General Tso’s Chicken!

Notes

  • Ensure the oil temperature is maintained at 375°F for optimal frying results and crispy chicken.
  • You can substitute olive oil with vegetable or peanut oil for frying if preferred.
  • If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
  • Use skinless chicken thighs for juicier and more flavorful chicken compared to breasts.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying to maintain the oil temperature and avoid soggy chicken.

Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, Chinese Chicken Recipe, Fried Chicken, Sweet and Spicy Chicken, Asian Cuisine

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/general-tsos-chicken-recipe-2/