General Tso Chicken

Who doesn't love General Tso Chicken?  It's that classic Chinese take out dish that is sweet, tangy and sticky.  It's so easy to make at home and much better for you than take out.  Almost all of the ingredients are things that I always have in my fridge and pantry, so it's great for a last minute meal.  Also, check out my recipe for Spicy Garlic Shrimp which has similar flavors, but no breading! Here's how to make it:

What you'll need:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup of flour

Canola oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and minced or grated

1 bunch of scallions, sliced, whites and greens separated

1 tsp sesame oil

1 1/2 tbsp sambal oelek (more or less depending on your taste)

1 tbsp cornstarch

Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, scallion whites, sesame oil and sambal.  Mix well and set aside.

Coat the bottom of a large skillet with canola oil about a 1/4 of an inch deep.  Heat over medium high heat.  While the oil is heating, prepare the chicken.

Cut up the chicken and place in a large Ziploc bag.  Add the flour, seal the bag and shake until all the chicken is coated in flour.  Pour the chicken into a colander and shake off the excess flour.

Fry the chicken in batches, making sure not to crowd the pan.  Cook on both sides until golden brown.  Remove and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with enough water to dissolve it.  A few tablespoons.  Stir and set aside.

Ditch the oil and pour the soy sauce mixture into the pan.  Let it cook for about 3 minutes, then add the cornstarch mixture.  Stir and add the chicken back to the pan.  Toss to coat the chicken and continue to cook until the chicken has cooked all the way through, 2 minutes or so.

Serve over sticky rice with the scallion greens and toasted sesame seeds.  Enjoy!

 

General Tso Chicken and Spicy Garlic Shrimp