Name: General Tso’s Chicken Delight
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp soy sauce (light or all-purpose); 1 tbsp hoisin sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar); 2 tsp chili paste (e.g., Sambal Oelek); 1 tsp toasted sesame oil; 3 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch); 3/4 cup low sodium chicken stock; 600g (1.4 lb) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2.5 cm (1″) pieces; 1 tsp ginger, finely grated; 1 tsp garlic, finely grated; 1 cup cornflour (cornstarch); 1 – 4 cups oil for frying (peanut, vegetable, or canola); 2 tbsp oil (peanut, vegetable or canola); 2 tsp ginger, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1/2 tsp red chili flakes; Finely sliced green onions; Sesame seeds

Description

Experience the delightful and spicy flavors of General Tso’s Chicken, a popular Asian fusion dish that brings crispy chicken and a fiery tangy sauce together. This easy-to-follow recipe is a homemade version that mirrors the essence of your favorite takeout while allowing you full control of the spice level and ingredients, ensuring a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

3 tbsp soy sauce (light or all-purpose)
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
2 tsp chili paste (e.g., Sambal Oelek)
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
3/4 cup low sodium chicken stock
600g (1.4 lb) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2.5 cm (1″) pieces
1 tsp ginger, finely grated
1 tsp garlic, finely grated
1 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
1 – 4 cups oil for frying (peanut, vegetable, or canola)
2 tbsp oil (peanut, vegetable or canola)
2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chili flakes
Finely sliced green onions
Sesame seeds

Instructions

Sauce-Marinade Preparation: In a mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, and sesame oil until well blended.
Marinate the Chicken: Reserve 2 tablespoons of the Sauce-Marinade. Mix the remaining sauce with the chicken pieces adding the grated ginger and garlic. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.
Prepare Chicken for Frying: Coat the marinated chicken evenly with cornflour, then shake off any excess using a colander.
Finish the Sauce: To the reserved Sauce-Marinade, add the brown sugar and cornflour. Mix well, then stir in the chicken stock until smooth.
Frying the Chicken: Heat oil in a deep skillet to 200°C (390°F). Fry the chicken pieces until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes, then drain on paper towels.
Make the Stir Fry Sauce: In a clean skillet, heat oil and sauté the chopped garlic, ginger, and chili flakes for 30 seconds. Add the prepared sauce and simmer until thickened.
Combine and Serve: Toss the crispy chicken in the sauce, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, and serve immediately with rice.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes