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General Tso's Chicken

Crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet-savory General Tso's sauce for a comforting takeout-style meal at home.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time19 minutes
Total Time29 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable oil for deep frying
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for skillet
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp packed brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch for sauce slurry

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to make the dry coating.
  • Beat the 2 large eggs in a separate bowl.
  • Pour 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil into a deep pot and heat to about 340°F (170°C) for frying.
  • Dip each chicken piece first into the beaten eggs, then coat evenly in the flour-cornstarch mixture.
  • Fry the coated chicken in batches of 5–6 pieces, cooking 3–4 minutes per batch and turning once, until golden and cooked through; drain on paper towels.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and 1 teaspoon grated ginger and sauté about 2 minutes until fragrant.
  • In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup chicken stock, 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 4 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 4 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth.
  • Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and bring to a simmer, stirring until it thickens slightly.
  • Add the fried chicken to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly in the sauce, heating until everything is hot and glazed.
  • Serve the General Tso's chicken immediately with rice and steamed vegetables if desired.

Equipment

  • large mixing bowls
  • deep pot or Dutch oven
  • slotted spoon or spider
  • Paper Towels
  • Skillet
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisk

Notes

  • If you can't find hoisin sauce, make a homemade version using the linked recipe.
  • To reduce calories, skip the coating and deep-frying and cook the chicken in a pan with oil until cooked through, then add the sauce.
  • Nutrition values will vary depending on product choices.