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General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

Rebecca
If I had to pick one dish that truly surprised me the first time I made it at home, it’s General Tso’s Chicken. I had always ordered it at restaurants, but I never thought I could recreate that bold, tangy, and slightly sweet taste in my own kitchen.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • ½ cup cornstarch or all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup chicken broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 4 –6 dried red chilies
  • 2 green onions
  • Optional sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Take your chicken pieces and season them with salt and pepper.
  • Dip the chicken into the beaten egg, then coat each piece evenly with cornstarch or flour.
  • Set the chicken aside while heating oil in a wok or pan for frying.
  • Heat enough oil in your wok to shallow fry the chicken pieces.
  • Fry the chicken in small batches until golden brown and crispy.
  • Remove the fried pieces using a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, chicken broth, and sesame oil.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in the same wok and sauté garlic, ginger, and dried chilies until fragrant.
  • Pour in the sauce mixture and bring it to a simmer. Add the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to thicken the sauce.
  • Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce and toss to coat them evenly.
  • Cook for another 2–3 minutes, ensuring the chicken is well coated and heated through.
  • Transfer the finished dish to a serving plate.
  • Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for a professional touch.

Notes

  1. Get the Crispiest Chicken by double-frying it. Fry it once lightly, rest for a minute, then fry again for ultimate crispiness.
  2. Adjust the Sweetness to your preference by reducing or increasing the sugar in the sauce.
  3. Control the Spice by using fewer or hotter dried chilies.
  4. Keep it Fresh by serving immediately after cooking. The longer it sits, the less crispy the chicken becomes.
  5. Experiment with Garnishes by adding fresh herbs or crushed peanuts for added crunch.
Keyword General Tso’s Chicken Recipe