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A serving of General Tso's Chicken coated in a rich, sweet, and spicy sauce, garnished with scallions.

Quick way to grow General Tso's Chicken fanatics

This recipe provides a quick and delicious way to make General Tso's Chicken, perfect for turning anyone into a fan. It balances sweet, sour, and spicy flavors for an unforgettable meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 0.5 cup cornstarch
  • 1 egg
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
For the Sauce
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp ginger grated
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 0.25 cup water
For Garnish
  • 2 green onions sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Equipment

  • Large skillet or wok
  • Bowls
  • Whisk
  • Wire rack
  • Tongs

Method
 

Prepare the Chicken
  1. Pat dry the chicken pieces, then season with salt and pepper.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the egg.
  3. In another bowl, place the cornstarch.
  4. Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then dredge in cornstarch, ensuring it's fully coated.
Fry the Chicken
  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Fry chicken in batches for 4-6 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on a wire rack.
Make the Sauce
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, cornstarch, and water until smooth.
  2. In a clean skillet or wok, pour the sauce mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens.
Combine and Serve
  1. Add the fried chicken to the thickened sauce and toss until all pieces are evenly coated.
  2. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
  3. Serve immediately with rice and steamed vegetables.

Notes

For extra crispiness, you can double-fry the chicken. Fry once until lightly golden, remove, increase oil temperature slightly, and fry again for 1-2 minutes until deeply golden and crispy. Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level. Can be served with white rice and steamed broccoli.