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General Tso's Chicken

A delightful dish featuring crunchy, crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, perfect for weeknight meals or casual gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 3-4 pieces chicken breasts, cut into juicy cubes
  • 3/4 cup flour for coating
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch for coating and thickening
  • 1/2 tsp salt for seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper to enhance flavor
  • 2 large egg whites for coating
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
For the Sauce
  • 2/3 cup hoisin sauce for rich sweetness
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar for zesty kick
  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce for umami flavor
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar to balance the sauce
  • 3 tsp minced garlic for aromatic warmth
  • 1 tsp ground ginger for a hint of spice
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes for mild heat
  • 2 tsp cornstarch to thicken the sauce

Method
 

Preparation of Sauce
  1. In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch until well blended. Set this sauce aside.
Coating the Chicken
  1. In a large ziplock bag, combine the flour, remaining 3/4 cup of cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Shake the bag thoroughly to mix the ingredients.
  2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, add the cubed chicken and the beaten egg whites. Toss the chicken pieces to ensure an even coating.
Frying the Chicken
  1. In a large skillet, heat 1/2 cup of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  2. Using a large slotted spoon, carefully scoop the chicken pieces, allowing the excess egg whites to drip off. Drop the chicken into the ziplock bag with the flour mixture, then shake until the pieces are evenly coated.
  3. Once the oil is hot, fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook each batch until golden brown and chicken is fully cooked through.
Finishing the Dish
  1. Remove the fried chicken pieces and place them on a sheet pan lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
  2. After all the chicken has been fried, wipe out the skillet, removing excess oil. Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and simmer until it starts to thicken.
  3. Add the fried chicken back into the skillet and toss to coat all the pieces evenly with the sauce.
Serving
  1. Serve the General Tso's Chicken immediately with white or brown rice, and optionally garnish with sliced green onions.

Notes

For ultra-crispy chicken, double-coat the pieces by dipping them back into the egg whites and then into the flour mixture again before frying. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after frying to maintain its crispy texture. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the heat level.