If you’re craving a hearty, spicy, and savory dish for dinner, General Tso’s chicken is a great choice. It’s a popular Chinese-American dish that’s easy to make at home. It’s a perfect combination of crispy fried chicken, spicy sauce, and lightly steamed vegetables.

This dish is named after a Chinese military general, and the recipe has evolved over the years. Now, it’s a favorite in many Chinese restaurants and home kitchens. If you’re wondering how to make General Tso’s chicken, don’t worry. It’s an easy and straightforward recipe that anyone can follow. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious dish at home.

Ingredients

To make the perfect General Tso’s chicken, you will need to gather the following ingredients:

1. Chicken

Firstly, you will need to get a pound of boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Cut them into small bite-size pieces.

2. Cornstarch

You will need a quarter cup of cornstarch to help coat the chicken and give it the crispy texture we all love.

3. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is an essential ingredient in Asian cuisine, and General Tso’s chicken is no exception. You’ll need two tablespoons of soy sauce to add to the marinade and the sauce.

4. Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar adds the tangy flavor to General Tso’s chicken, and you’ll need one and a half tablespoons of it.

5. Sugar

You’ll need a tablespoon of sugar in this recipe to balance out the flavors of the sauce.

6. Garlic

Garlic adds a deliciously aromatic flavor to any dish. You’ll need two cloves of garlic, minced, for the sauce.

7. Ginger

Fresh ginger is another staple ingredient in Asian cuisine. You’ll need one tablespoon of ginger, freshly grated, for the sauce.

8. Chili Paste

For those who love a little heat in their food, one teaspoon of chili paste will do the trick.

9. Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil is used as the frying oil and for sautéing the chicken.

10. Scallions

To garnish, you’ll need finely chopped scallions to sprinkle over the finished dish.

Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients ready, you can start making your General Tso’s chicken!

1. Marinade the Chicken

In a bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to make the marinade. Add the chicken to the marinade and let it rest for about ten minutes.

2. Fry the Chicken

Using a wok or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil until it’s hot. Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat it dry with a paper towel. Coat each piece of chicken with cornstarch, shaking off any excess, and fry until the chicken is crispy and golden brown.

3. Make the Sauce

In a separate pan, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for about 30 seconds. Add soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, and chili paste. Simmer the mixture for about two minutes until the sauce is thickened.

4. Add the Chicken to the Sauce

Remove the sauce from the heat and add the fried chicken to it. Stir gently until the chicken is coated with the sauce.

5. Garnish with Scallions

Transfer the General Tso’s chicken to a plate or serving dish, garnish it with scallions, and serve it hot.

Conclusion

Making General Tso’s chicken is relatively easy and requires readily available ingredients. With this recipe, you can have a crispy and flavorful meal in no time. Impress your family or guests with this beautifully balanced dish of sweet, sour, tangy, and spicy flavors that come together to make a delightful experience. Enjoy!

How to Make General Tso’s Chicken

Ingredients

General Tso’s chicken is a popular dish that is easy to make at home. Before getting started, you need to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

1. 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
2. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3. 1 tablespoon cornstarch
4. 2 cloves garlic, minced
5. 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
6. 1/4 cup soy sauce
7. 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
8. 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
9. 2 tablespoons brown sugar
10. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
11. 1/4 cup water
12. 1 tablespoon sesame oil
13. 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation

Now that you have all your ingredients, you can start preparing the dish. Below are the steps to follow:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water. Add the chicken and mix to coat well.

2. Heat a pan over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil, and add the chicken once the oil is hot.

3. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes until it turns golden brown.

4. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate to cool.

Sauce

The key to making a delicious General Tso’s chicken dish is in the sauce. Below is a step-by-step guide to making the sauce:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and water. Mix well.

2. Heat a pan over low-medium heat, and pour in the sauce mixture.

3. Cook the sauce mixture for 3-4 minutes until it thickens.

4. Turn off the heat and add the sesame oil and sesame seeds. Mix well.

Combining the Chicken and Sauce

Now that the chicken is cooked and the sauce is ready, you can combine the two to create the General Tso’s chicken dish. Here’s how:

1. Add the cooked chicken to the pan with the sauce mixture.

2. Stir the chicken and sauce until the chicken is coated well with the sauce.

3. Cook the chicken and sauce mixture for an additional 2-3 minutes until the chicken is fully coated in the sauce, and the sauce is heated through.

4. Remove the General Tso’s chicken from the heat, and serve it immediately with your favorite sides.

Cooking Tips

To make the perfect General Tso’s chicken, you should follow these cooking tips:

1. Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast as the former is more flavorful and tender.

2. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces as it will cook faster.

3. Cook the chicken in small batches, so it browns evenly without getting overcrowded.

Conclusion

Now that you know what ingredients you need and how to make General Tso’s chicken, you can prepare a restaurant-quality meal at home. All you need is a few simple ingredients, and you’re good to go. Just follow these easy steps, and you’ll have a delicious and mouth-watering meal that everyone will enjoy. Give it a try today!

Ingredients

Making General Tso’s chicken requires specific ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients needed to prepare the famous dish:

Procedure

The procedure for making General Tso’s chicken can be quite tricky, but it’s worth the effort. Here are the steps to make the delicious dish:

Preparing the chicken

1. In a mixing bowl, season the chicken breast cubes with salt and pepper.
2. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and cornstarch.
3. Coat the chicken cubes with the egg-cornstarch mixture.
4. In a frying pan, heat the vegetable oil until it reaches 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Fry the chicken cubes in batches until they turn golden brown.
6. Remove the chicken cubes from the frying pan and transfer them onto a plate lined with paper towels.

Making the sauce

1. In the same frying pan, remove the excess oil and leave around one tablespoon of oil.
2. Over medium-high heat, sauté the chopped garlic and ginger until fragrant.
3. Add the red pepper flakes and green onions, and cook for around 30 seconds.
4. In a mixing bowl, stir together the soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar.
5. Pour the soy sauce mixture into the frying pan and let simmer for 2 minutes.
6. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water.
7. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the frying pan and let it simmer for another 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Putting it all together

1. Add the fried chicken cubes into the sauce and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
2. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with chopped green onions.

Conclusion

Making General Tso’s chicken can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Hopefully, this article has provided you with all the information and guidance required to make this delicious dish in the comfort of your own kitchen. Remember to stick to the recipe and not be afraid to experiment with the different ingredients to make it your own. Happy cooking!

Enjoy Your General Tso’s Chicken!

That’s it, folks! I hope you found this article helpful and entertaining. Making General Tso’s Chicken at home isn’t as hard as you might have thought, and the results are always worth it. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust the recipe to your taste – that’s the beauty of cooking. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to come back for more delicious recipes and cooking tips!