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General Tso’s Chicken

November 1, 2023
General Tso’s Chicken

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

  • 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying

For the Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

For Stir-Frying:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Coat the Chicken:
    • In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1/2 cup of cornstarch until they’re evenly coated.
  2. Fry the Chicken:
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
    • Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches until they’re golden and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
  3. Prepare the Sauce:
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, minced ginger, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth.
  4. Stir-Fry the Vegetables:
    • In the same skillet or wok, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
    • Add the chopped red and green bell peppers and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes, until they’re slightly tender but still crisp.
    • Add the chopped green onions and continue to stir-fry for another minute.
  5. Combine and Simmer:
    • Return the fried chicken pieces to the skillet or wok with the vegetables.
    • Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Stir everything together.
  6. Simmer and Thicken:
    • Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and coats the chicken and vegetables.
  7. Serve:
    • Serve the General Tso’s Chicken over cooked rice.

Optional: Garnish with additional chopped green onions and sesame seeds for extra flavor and presentation.

Enjoy your homemade General Tso’s Chicken! Remember, you can adjust the level of spiciness and sweetness by altering the amount of red pepper flakes and brown sugar to suit your taste.