Martha Stewart shared this interesting recipe idea – General Tso’s Chicken – on her YouTube channel. Recipe details are below. Leave your comments and ratings at the bottom of this post.
Invented in 1950s Taiwan by chef Peng Chang-Kuei, this crowd-pleasing fried chicken dish was adapted for American palates with a chile-spiked sweet-and-sour sauce and has since become a Chinese takeout classic.
Martha Stewart YouTube Channel
Table of Contents
General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 pound 4 ounces boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
- 1 large egg white, beaten until frothy
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
For the sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Safflower oil, for frying
- 4 spicy dried red chiles, broken in half
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon peeled and finely chopped ginger
- 2 scallions, sliced 1/4 inch thick (1/2 cup) and green parts reserved for serving
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Steamed broccoli and cooked rice, for serving
Method
Combine chicken, egg white, soy sauce, wine, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Whisk together cornstarch, flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in another bowl. Let stand while making sauce.
Make the sauce: Whisk soy sauce into cornstarch. Then whisk in wine, sugar, vinegar, and broth.
Heat 1 1/2 inches oil in a deep pot (preferably cast-iron) to 350 degrees. Working in batches, remove chicken from marinade (do not worry about removing excess liquid) and toss in cornstarch mixture. Carefully add to oil and cook until crisp and light golden brown, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok over medium. Add chiles, garlic, ginger, and scallion whites. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Add chicken and toss to coat in sauce. Remove from heat. Stir in sesame oil. Garnish with scallion greens and serve immediately with broccoli and rice.
