General Tso's Chicken
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 1 hr 32 min
- Prep: 20 min
- Inactive: 1 hr
- Cook: 12 min
- Yield: 6 servings
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- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 1 hr 32 min
- Prep: 20 min
- Inactive: 1 hr
- Cook: 12 min
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast or thighs, cubed
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cornstarch, as required
5 cups frying oil, canola or grapeseed
8 small dried red chile peppers
6 green onions, sliced
Sauce:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup sake
2 tablespoons sugar
6 1/4 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons minced ginger
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons cornstarch slurry, (cornstarch and water mixed) for thickening the sauce
Fried or steamed rice, for serving
Whole cilantro leaves, for serving
Directions
- Combine the diced chicken with the eggs, and the light soy sauce and season with salt and pepper. Remove the chicken to a medium bowl and add enough cornstarch to coat the chicken; it should form a sticky-like paste around the chicken. Cover the bowl and let rest for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
For the sauce:
- Combine all the sauce ingredients, except the cornstarch slurry, in a large saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves.
- Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed pan to 350 to 360 degrees F.
- Carefully test the oil by dropping a single piece of chicken into it and cook for around 4 minutes. When the oil is hot enough, slowly add a few pieces of chicken at a time, until all the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken from the oil to paper towels to drain.
- Add a little more oil to a clean wok or skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the chiles and green onions to saute for around 1 minute. Add the already cooked chicken to the wok and toss around with the chiles so that all the chicken gets great flavor. At this point add the warmed sauce mixture, a few spoonfuls at a time, until all the chicken is coated but not soaking wet.
- If the sauce is a little runny add the cornstarch slurry, a little at a time, to thicken the sauce. Remember you have to cook the sauce until bubbling after you have added the cornstarch. This normally takes a couple of minutes over low heat. Remove the chicken mixture from the wok to a serving bowl and serve immediately on fried or steamed rice. Garnish with whole cilantro leaves before serving.
