Ah, General Tso Chicken. The beloved Chinese-American dish that has become a staple in American Chinese restaurants. But did you know that the dish has a complicated history? In today’s post we’re going to walk through a little of the history of General Tso Chicken, and give you a great recipe so you can make your very own at home.
The dish itself is a combination of culinary influences from both China and the United States. It was created in the 1950s in Taiwan, and is named after General Tso Tsung-tang, a 19th-century Chinese military leader. The original dish was made with deep-fried chicken pieces lightly coated in a sweet and spicy sauce.
However, the version of General Tso Chicken we know today was created in 1972 in New York City by Chinese-American chef, T.T. Wang. He changed the original recipe by adding more sugar and spice and eliminating the traditional deep-frying. This new version of the dish quickly became a staple in American Chinese restaurants.
Today, General Tso Chicken is a popular dish around the world. Its sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors have made it a favorite of many foodies.
General Tso Chicken Ingredients:
-2 lbs chicken breast, diced
-1/2 cup cornstarch
-1/4 cup vegetable oil
-1/4 cup soy sauce
-1/4 cup white vinegar
-2 tablespoons sugar
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
-1 teaspoon sesame oil
-1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
-1/4 teaspoon white pepper
-1/4 cup scallions, diced
Kitchen Tools Needed:
-Large skillet
-Tongs
-Mixing bowl
-Whisk
Cook Time:
-Prep time: 10 minutes
-Cook time: 10 minutes
Cooking Instructions:
- Add the chicken to a large mixing bowl and add the cornstarch. Toss to coat the chicken.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and white pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to combine. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with scallions and serve.
Garnishes:
-Scallions
-Sesame seeds
-Freshly chopped cilantro
-Sliced jalapeno peppers
How did it turn out? Anything you add or tweak to the recipe? Let us know in the comments.
Need some other great recipe ideas? Check out this list of great Asian recipes.