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General Tso Sauce: The Ultimate Guide to Making It at Home Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 78 reviews

This classic General Tso’s Chicken recipe features crispy fried chicken chunks coated in a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce made from soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Perfectly balanced and easy to prepare at home, this dish is ideal for serving over steamed rice for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Marinade

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Frying

  • Vegetable oil, for frying (about 3-4 cups)

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chicken broth (or water)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)

Garnishes

  • Sesame seeds
  • Chopped green onions

Instructions

  1. Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine the chicken cubes with beaten egg, cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper. Mix well to ensure each piece is evenly coated. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator to allow the coating to adhere properly.
  2. Heat the Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a large, deep skillet or pot and heat over medium-high heat until oil reaches 350°F (175°C), the optimal frying temperature for crispy chicken.
  3. Fry the Chicken: Carefully add marinated chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry each batch for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, ensuring an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a slotted spoon to transfer fried chicken to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
  4. Prepare the Sauce Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin sauce, chicken broth (or water), and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside this sauce base.
  5. Sauté Aromatics: Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil together in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, building depth of flavor.
  6. Add the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the aromatics. Bring to a simmer while stirring constantly. Allow the sauce to thicken, which should take about 2-3 minutes, forming a glossy coating.
  7. Adjust the Spice Level: Stir in red pepper flakes to add heat. Adjust the quantity according to your preferred spice level.
  8. Add the Chicken to the Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces to the skillet and toss well to coat each piece evenly with the thickened General Tso’s sauce.
  9. Simmer and Serve: Continue simmering the coated chicken and sauce together for another 1-2 minutes to meld the flavors thoroughly.
  10. Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve immediately over steamed rice for a delicious and authentic meal experience.

Notes

  • Do not overcrowd the frying pan to maintain oil temperature and achieve crispy chicken.
  • Marinating the chicken for up to 30 minutes improves coating adhesion but is not mandatory.
  • You can adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
  • Use low sodium soy sauce to better manage salt levels in the dish.
  • Serve with steamed white or jasmine rice for the best experience.

Keywords: General Tso's chicken, Chinese chicken recipe, fried chicken, sweet and spicy sauce, hoisin sauce, easy Chinese food, homemade General Tso sauce

Find it online: https://recipeswithria.com/general-tso-sauce-the-ultimate-guide-to-making-it-at-home-recipe/