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–+ servings
a shallow white bowl filled with jasmine rice and homemade general tso's chicken, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onion
5 from 5 votes

General Tso's Chicken

This recipe for General Tso's Chicken is just like the dish you order at your local take-out spot - savory, sweet, spicy, and crispy.
Author Diana
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces, see note 1
  • ⅓ cup cornstarch aka cornflour
  • ¼ cup canola oil or vegetable oil, for frying
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger fresh or jarred, not powdered
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes optional
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green onion for garnish

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch aka cornflour

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or a Ziploc bag, toss the chicken with the corn starch until well coated, then shake off the excess (I use a colander to do this).
  • In a jar or a medium bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and set aside.
  • Over medium high heat, heat oil. When it’s hot, drop the chicken and cook until lightly golden and crispy (keep turning the chicken to crisp up as many sides as possible) Cook for 3-4 minutes in total, or until the chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F/74°C. Remove onto a plate and set aside.
  • Discard the oil, leaving 1 tablespoon in the pan. Add garlic and ginger (and chili flakes if using) and saute for 30 seconds.
  • Add the sauce mixture, bring to a simmer and stir occasionally until it’s thickened. Toss the chicken in the sauce to coat, garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onion and serve immediately over rice.

Notes

  1. Chicken breast can be used in place of chicken thighs, but it's dryer and will be different than what is typically served at Chinese restaurants. 
  2. This chicken is best served immediately when it’s crispy. The longer it sits, the coating will get soft and eventually soggy. 
  3. For even crispier chicken, fry in 1 inch of oil that has been heated to around 350°F/180°C for 2-3 minutes. 
  4. To Store: General Tso's Chicken is best when you serve it immediately after cooking it. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, but it will never be as crispy as it was when it was fresh.

Nutrition

Calories: 659kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 1279mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 282IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/general-tsos-chicken/