Homemade General Tso's Chicken With Red Chili Peppers
This spicy recipe for General Tso's chicken is named after the famous Chinese General Tso and is based on an authentic Hunan recipe.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 1pound chicken (boneless thighs)
- 1tablespoon soy sauce (light)
- 1large egg (lightly beaten)
- Black or white pepper (freshly ground to taste)
- Cornstarch (as needed)
- 3to 4 cups oil (as needed for deep-frying and stir-frying)
- 3green onions (thinly sliced)
- 5to 10 small dried red chili peppers (to taste)
- For the Sauce:
- 2tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2teaspoons Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
- 1tablespoon sugar (granulated white)
- 3tablespoons chicken broth (or water)
- 1tablespoon ginger (minced)
- 2teaspoons garlic (minced)
- Optional: 2 teaspoons cornstarch for thickening sauce
Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes. Combine the chicken cubes with the light soy sauce, egg, and pepper.Step 2
Add enough cornstarch to nicely coat the chicken, using cooking chopsticks or your fingers to mix it in.Step 3
For the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, sugar, broth, ginger, garlic, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch, if desired, stirring to dissolve the sugar.Step 4
Set aside.Step 5
Heat the oil in a wok to 350 F to 360 F / 175 to 180 C. Drop the chicken cubes into the hot oil , a few pieces at a time, and deep-fry until crispy (3 to 4 minutes). Remove the chicken cubes and drain on paper towels.Step 6
Drain and clean out the wok. Heat 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the green onions and the dried chile peppers. Stir-fry until aromatic (about 30 seconds).Step 7
Return the deep-fried chicken cubes back into the wok. Stir-fry until the chicken cubes are browned (about 1 minute).Step 8
Push the chicken up to the sides of the wok. Give the sauce a quick re-stir and add into the middle of the wok. If you added cornstarch to the sauce, stir it continually for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken.Step 9
Push the chicken into the sauce and mix. Cook and stir for another 2 minutes until the chicken is nicely coated with the sauce. Serve immediately.