Chinese Take-Out General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's Chicken is one of those Chinese dishes that would be hard to find in China. Seems that this dish of battered, deep-fried chicken pieces bathed in a sweet garlicky spicy sauce was born back in the seventies in a Chinese restaurant in New York. But even though it would be difficult to locate a recipe for it in a traditional Chinese cookbook, it stands as one of the most-ordered favorites on the Chinese-American menu. Just who is this General Tso guy? Turns out he was a successful Chinese statesman back in the mid-1800's. We're not sure why this dish was named after him, since we can be pretty sure he never tasted it. From the Take-Out Menu Cookbook.
- Ready In:
- 1hr
- Serves:
- Units:
3
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ingredients
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1⁄4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons mirin
- 1 1⁄2 lbs boneless chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1⁄4 cup rice vinegar
- 1⁄4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili paste with garlic
- 10 black peppercorns, crushed
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 -3 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- 5 hot chili peppers, cut in half
- 1 (1 inch) knob fresh ginger, peeled and minced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
- white rice, for serving
directions
- In a medium bowl, combine the egg, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon mirin. Add the chicken and let it marinate at room temperature while you assemble the rest of the ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch, the remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, the remaining 2 tablespoons mirin, and the rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin, chili paste, peppercorns, sesame oil, and 1/2 cup water. Set aside.
- In a heavy pot over medium heat, heat 3 inches of oil to 360ºF.
- Add about 10 pieces of chicken to the hot oil and fry until brown and crispy, about 2 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Set aside.
- Remove all but 3 tablespoons of oil from the pot and add the chilies, ginger, and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Add the broccoli and bell pepper and stir-fry, tossing the vegetables for 2 minutes or until they are brightly colored and partially cooked.
- Add the cooked chicken to the pot along with the reserved sauce and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are tender, about 2 minutes.
- To serve, sprinkle green onions over the top and serve hot with rice.
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RECIPE MADE WITH LOVE BY
@TxGriffLover
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@TxGriffLover
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"General Tso's Chicken is one of those Chinese dishes that would be hard to find in China. Seems that this dish of battered, deep-fried chicken pieces bathed in a sweet garlicky spicy sauce was born back in the seventies in a Chinese restaurant in New York. But even though it would be difficult to locate a recipe for it in a traditional Chinese cookbook, it stands as one of the most-ordered favorites on the Chinese-American menu. Just who is this General Tso guy? Turns out he was a successful Chinese statesman back in the mid-1800's. We're not sure why this dish was named after him, since we can be pretty sure he never tasted it. From the Take-Out Menu Cookbook."
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We had company over and served this and Recipe#40339 over a bed of rice. Everyone raved. Preparation is a bit involved and time needs to be allowed for the two cooking steps, but the result is worth it. Beautiful blend of colors is matched by a beautiful blend of flavors. Made for Pool Party Tag game.Reply
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General Tso's Chicken is one of those Chinese dishes that would be hard to find in China. Seems that this dish of battered, deep-fried chicken pieces bathed in a sweet garlicky spicy sauce was born back in the seventies in a Chinese restaurant in New York. But even though it would be difficult to locate a recipe for it in a traditional Chinese cookbook, it stands as one of the most-ordered favorites on the Chinese-American menu. Just who is this General Tso guy? Turns out he was a successful Chinese statesman back in the mid-1800's. We're not sure why this dish was named after him, since we can be pretty sure he never tasted it. From the Take-Out Menu Cookbook.