General Tso’s Chicken

Prep Time:10 minutes Cook Time:10 minutes Total Time:20 minutes Servings: 4

A quick and easy version of the classic Chinese takeout General Tso’s chicken, only better!

ingredients

1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup corn starch
2 tablespoons oil (peanut or vegetable)
8 dried red chilies (such as chilies de arbol)
1 tablespoon garlic, grated
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon chinkiang vinegar (Chinese black vinegar) (or rice wine vinegar)
1 teaspoon chili sauce (such as sambal oelek)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
4 green onions, thinly sliced

directions

Mix the chicken into the egg until fully coated before mixing in the corn starch until just evenly coated.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat, add the chicken, separate, and cook until golden brown, about 2-4 minutes per side, before setting aside.
Add the dried red chilies, garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the mixture of the broth, sugar, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, chili sauce and cornstarch, bring to a boil and simmer until it thickens a bit, about a minute.
Add the chicken, toss to coat, remove from heat, mix in the sesame oil, sesame seeds and green onions and enjoy over rice or noodles

Option: Omit the cornstarch and egg batter for a lighter version. (Also cut down to 1 tablespoon of oil from 2.)
Option: Replace the dark soy sauce and/or light soy sauce with the soy sauce that you already have if you do not have or cannot find them.
Option: Add some veggies, such as snap peas, sugar peas, diced bell peppers, broccoli, etc.
Option: Start cooking rice before you start making the General Tso’s chicken and it will be ready at about the same time!