5 from 360 votes
General Tso's Chicken
General Tso's Chicken is made by marinating chicken pieces in egg whites, tamari, and rice wine, then coating them with a cornstarch and flour mixture before deep frying to a crisp. The fried chicken is tossed in a sauce of tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, ginger, dried chilies, and green onions, resulting in a balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors with a crunchy exterior.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
4
servings
Calories:
451 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- For the Marinade:
- 2 egg large, whites
- 2 tablespoons tamari (or light soy sauce)
- 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (can substitute dry sherry)
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast cut into 1/2 inch pieces, boneless skinless
- For the coating:
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour gluten free: substitute GF flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons tamari (or light soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil toasted
- 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine (can substitute dry sherry)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar white
- or sugar alternative (for low sugar)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil e.g., avocado, peanut, canola, generic cooking oil
- 2 garlic minced, large cloves
- 2 teaspoons ginger minced
- 6 chilies seeded and broken into pieces, small, dried, red
- 3 green onions , cut into 1 inch pieces
- cooking oil e.g. peanut, canola, avocado, for deep frying
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside.In a small bowl, whisk the marinade ingredients together and then pour over the cubed chicken. Stir to thoroughly coat and set aside.Combine the sauce ingredients and stir until the sugar and cornstarch are dissolved. Set aside.
- Pick up the chicken pieces and shake off the excess marinade, then dredge the pieces in the cornstarch coating mixture, shaking off the excess.Working in batches, deep fry the chicken in oil heated to 375ºF until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Place the chicken on paper towels to drain.Note: If you don't have a deep fryer you can also fill a non-stick skillet with an inch or so of oil and fry the chicken in that.
- Heat the tablespoon of oil in a wok or large heavy frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the garlic, ginger and red chilies for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the sauce and simmer until thickened. Add the fried chicken and stir to thoroughly coat. Simmer for a minute until the chicken has absorbed the sauce but is still crispy. Stir in the green onions.Serve immediately with steamed rice and broccoli (traditional in many takeout places).
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
451kcal
(23%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
42g
(84%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
(18%)
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
109mg
(36%)
Sodium
1689mg
(70%)
Potassium
821mg
(17%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
10g
(20%)
Vitamin A
141IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
49mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 451
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 451kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 42g | 84% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 109mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 1689mg | 70% |
| Potassium | 821mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 141IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 49mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.