General Tsos Chicken Better Than Takeout
- General Tso's Chicken | Sweet: Ditch the Takeout!
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Ingredients & Equipment for Cracking General Tso's Chicken
- General Tso's Chicken: Better Than Takeout! (Sweet, Spicy & Seriously Addictive)
- Recipe Notes for the Best General Tso's Chicken Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 📝 Recipe Card
General Tso's Chicken | Sweet: Ditch the Takeout!
Fancy some Chinese Takeout Recipes but can't be bothered to wait? Ever wondered if you could make that amazing General Tso's Chicken you love, but even better , at home? Honestly, you can! This recipe brings the taste of your favourite Easy General Tso Chicken right to your kitchen.
Get ready for a culinary adventure!
General Tso's Chicken Recipe: A Taste of American Chinese History
General Tso Chicken isn't actually a traditional dish from China. It's a product of Chinese American cuisine. It's probably named after a Qing dynasty general.
This Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe takes about 45 minutes to make and is medium difficulty. It serves about 4 people .
Why You'll Love This Tso Chicken
This recipe is better than takeout. You can control the ingredients and spice levels. Plus, homemade always tastes better, right? Enjoy the crispy and flavorful chicken.
This Homemade General Tso's Chicken is perfect for a Friday night in or a casual dinner party. The star? The amazing General Tso's Sauce Recipe , of course.
Ingredients You'll Need
Get ready to gather your ingredients. You probably have most of them already. We're talking chicken thighs, soy sauce, cornstarch, and a few other bits and bobs.
Don't worry; it's all straightforward. Let's get to it!
Ingredients & Equipment for Cracking General Tso's Chicken
Fancy some General Tso's Chicken | Sweet that's better than takeout? Getting your ingredients sorted is half the battle, mate.
Let's dive in and see what you need to create the best General Tso Chicken ever! Honestly, once you've nailed this Easy General Tso Chicken , you'll be making it every week.
Main Ingredients: The Heart of Tso Chicken
- Chicken Thighs: 1.5 lbs (680g) , boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces. Seriously, go for good quality chicken; it makes a difference. I remember one time I tried to save a quid and the chicken was awful, never again!
- Egg: 1 large, lightly beaten.
- Cornstarch (Cornflour): 1 tbsp for the marinade, 1 cup (120g) for breading, 1 tbsp for the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp for the marinade, 1/4 cup (60ml) for the sauce. Low sodium is your friend if you're watching your salt intake.
- Sesame Oil: 1 tsp for the marinade.
- White Pepper: 1/2 tsp for the marinade, 1/4 tsp for the breading.
- Salt: 1/4 tsp for the marinade, 1/2 tsp for the breading.
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup (120g) for the breading.
- Baking Powder: 1 tsp for the breading.
- Vegetable Oil: 1 tbsp for the sauce, about 4 cups (1 litre) for frying.
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced. Fresh is always best!
- Ginger: 1 inch , minced.
- Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 tsp (adjust to your heat preference). Want a Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe ? This is your chance to adjust the spice.
- Chicken Broth (Stock): 1/3 cup (80ml) .
- Granulated Sugar: 1/4 cup (60g) .
- Rice Vinegar: 2 tbsp .
- Hoisin Sauce: 1 tbsp . It gives that signature General Tso's flavour.
- Water: 1 tbsp for the cornstarch slurry.
- Sesame Seeds & Green Onions (Scallions): For garnish (optional).
Seasoning Notes: Flavor Town
Don't underestimate spices! They can make or break your Crispy General Tso's Chicken . Garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes are the holy trinity here.
For a deeper umami punch, add a splash of dark soy sauce to the sauce. No rice vinegar? White wine vinegar will do in a pinch.
Want more heat in the sauce? Sriracha or a touch of chilli oil. Making Homemade General Tso's Chicken is all about tweaking things to your own tastes, innit?
Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple
You don't need fancy kit for this General Tso's Chicken Recipe . A large bowl for marinating, shallow dishes for breading, and a wok or deep frying pan are essential.
If you don't have a wok, a large, deep frying pan is fine. A slotted spoon or spider skimmer is great for fishing out the chicken.
Honestly, Chinese Takeout Recipes like this is easy to do with just a few tools. And remember paper towels, for draining all that yummy extra oil.
Now you have everything ready for your next cooking, enjoy it when cooking General Tso . The most important thing of General Tso's Sauce Recipe is to have all the ingredients at hand.
General Tso's Chicken: Better Than Takeout! (Sweet, Spicy & Seriously Addictive)
Fancy some Chinese Takeout Recipes ? Then Let's ditch those delivery apps, yeah? We're making a Homemade General Tso's Chicken that's way better than your local takeaway.
This Easy General Tso Chicken recipe is seriously addictive. Its a Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe that's so good, it’ll become your new Friday night fave.
Get ready for a flavour explosion! The dish we gonna dive into is a classic Chinese American delight: crispy, juicy chicken covered in a finger licking-good Sweet and spicy sauce.
Prep Steps: Your Mise en Place Mission
Honestly, getting organised is half the battle. Chop your 1.5 lbs (680g) of chicken thighs into bite sized bits. Mince 2 cloves of garlic and 1 inch of ginger .
Measure out all your sauce ingredients. This is essential mise en place. It will save you loads of time later.
Think of it as your culinary "get out of jail free" card. Safety First! Be extra careful when chopping! Nobody wants a trip to A&E, right?
step-by-step to Crispy General Tso's Chicken
Okay, here's how to make the magic happen. Follow these steps, and you'll be golden:
- Marinate the chicken for at least 15 minutes in the marinade mix. Longer is better, innit?
- Mix your breading in a shallow dish. Make sure it's fully combined.
- Coat each chicken piece in the breading. Shake off the excess.
- Fry the chicken in 350° F ( 175° C) oil for 3- 4 minutes until golden. Don't overcrowd the pan!
- Drain on paper towels. Get rid of that extra oil.
- Sauté garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan for 30 seconds . Until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce until it thickens. About 1- 2 minutes .
- Toss the fried chicken in the sauce. Make sure it's evenly coated!
Pro Tips for General Tso's Sauce Recipe
Want to level up your General Tso game? Double frying the chicken for extra crispness is the way to go! Trust me on this one.
Also, adjust the red pepper flakes to your liking. Can't handle the heat? Tone it down a bit. You can even get the General Tso's Sauce Recipe and ingredients ready ahead of time.
Just remember to toss it all together just before serving. This will keep things super fresh. And to avoid Soggy chicken is no fun! Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying.
And that’s it! You’ve just mastered a killer General Tso's Chicken Recipe without any dodgy takeout menus, for your easy Tso Chicken . Enjoy your own Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe .
Recipe Notes for the Best General Tso's Chicken Recipe
Alright, you've got the rundown on how to make this cracking General Tso's Chicken . Now let's chat about a few extras.
These are the bits that can take your Homemade General Tso's Chicken from "good" to "OMG, this is better than takeout!" Honestly, these little nuggets are what make the whole experience even better.
Plating Perfection & What to Serve it With!
How you serve up your Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe matters! For presentation, think about contrast. Pile it high on a bed of fluffy white rice.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Trust me, it looks amazing . As for sides, some steamed broccoli is always a winner.
Lightly stir fried veggies like carrots and bell peppers bring some freshness. And who can say no to egg rolls or spring rolls? Grab a bottle of Chinese beer from your local off-license.
If you want something non-alcoholic, iced green tea works a treat, innit?
Storing Your Leftover Tso Chicken
Got leftovers? You are lucky. Store that Tso Chicken properly! Once the Crispy General Tso's Chicken has cooled, pop it in an airtight container.
It'll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days . Freezing isn't ideal because the chicken can get a bit soggy. But if you must, freeze it in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag.
When reheating, use the oven or a pan. This will help retain some crispiness. Microwaving is fine in a pinch, but expect a softer texture.
Variations to Make It Your Own
Fancy switching things up? This Easy General Tso Chicken recipe is super adaptable. Make it vegetarian using tofu or cauliflower.
Just coat it and fry it like the chicken. Going gluten-free? Swap out the soy sauce for tamari. Use gluten-free hoisin.
Want to cut down on sugar? Use a sugar substitute. Feel free to play around with the spice level too.
Add more or less red pepper flakes. General Tso is all about making it your own, so have a go!
Quick Nutrition Breakdown
Let's be real, this General Tso's Chicken | Sweet isn't health food. But, it's not the worst either. It's got a decent whack of protein from the chicken.
Some carbs for energy, and a good dose of flavour. Try to go easy on the sugar and sodium. Remember, the homemade version will be always be better than Chinese Takeout Recipes .
You know exactly what's going in it.
So there you have it! With these extra tips, you're all set to make the best General Tso's Chicken ever. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun. Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is General Tso's Chicken | Sweet actually Chinese? I've never seen it in China!
That's a cracking question! General Tso's Chicken is a classic example of Chinese American cuisine. It's thought to have been invented in the US, possibly in New York in the 1970s, and while inspired by Hunanese cuisine, it isn't traditionally found in China.
So, while delicious, its authenticity is more "Chinatown" than China!
Can I make General Tso's Chicken | Sweet ahead of time? I'm planning a dinner party.
You absolutely can do some prep work in advance. The sauce can be made a day or two ahead and stored in the fridge. You can also fry the chicken and keep it in a low oven (around 200F/93C) to keep warm and crisp but for the best results (and ultimate crispiness) combine the fried chicken with the warmed sauce just before serving.
Nobody wants a soggy bottom!
My General Tso's Chicken | Sweet sauce isn't thickening up! What am I doing wrong?
The thickening agent in the sauce is the cornstarch slurry. Make sure you're using the right ratio of cornstarch to water (1 tbsp of each as per the recipe). Also, ensure the sauce is simmering gently when you add the slurry, and whisk constantly while it thickens.
If it still doesn't thicken, mix another teaspoon of cornstarch with water and add it gradually until you reach the desired consistency. A bit of patience is key!
Is there a way to make this General Tso's Chicken | Sweet recipe healthier? It seems quite high in calories.
Good shout! To lighten things up, you could bake the chicken instead of frying it, though you won't get the same level of crispiness, it will still be fairly tasty. You can also reduce the amount of sugar in the sauce, use a sugar substitute, or try a lighter oil.
Serving with plenty of steamed vegetables rather than rice will also help create a more balanced meal.
I don't have hoisin sauce. Can I still make General Tso's Chicken | Sweet? What can I use instead?
Fear not! Hoisin sauce adds a lovely depth of flavour, but you can create a decent substitute. Mix together some soy sauce, a dollop of peanut butter (if no allergies), and a touch of honey or maple syrup. Adjust the amounts to your taste preference.
It won't be exactly the same, but it will get you pretty close to that sweet and savoury hoisin flavour.
How long does leftover General Tso's Chicken | Sweet last in the fridge?
Leftover General Tso's Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the chicken will lose some of its crispness as it sits in the sauce. Reheat it gently in a pan or microwave until heated through. Best served sooner rather than later, mind!
General Tsos Chicken Better Than Takeout
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Nutrition Facts:
| Calories | 550 calories |
|---|---|
| Fat | 25g |
| Fiber | 0g |
