Sweet Heat: The Legendary General Tso's Chicken

For those of you that know me, you know how much I love chinese food. General Tso's Chicken is, indeed, one of my favorite Chinese food dishes. It's tangy, a little sweet, and got a great firey kick! This is what you'll need to make

Photo byChristi

Sauce/Chicken Marinade:

• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp hot chili paste
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
• 3/4 cup chicken stock/broth , low sodium

Chicken:

• 1.4 lb chicken thighs , boneless skinless, cut into 1" pieces
• 1 tsp ginger, finely grated
• 1 tsp garlic, finely grated
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 - 4 cups oil, for frying (peanut, vegetable or canola)

Stir Fry Sauce:

• 2 tbsp oil (peanut, vegetable or canola)
• 2 tsp ginger, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Garnishes (at least 1 recommended):

• Finely sliced green onion
• Sesame seeds

In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, chili, and sesame oil. Set aside 2 tablespoons of this mixture and coat the chicken with it. Add ginger and garlic to the chicken and mix well. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.

Once marinated, toss the chicken with cornflour, ensuring each piece is well-coated and separated. Use a colander to shake off any excess cornflour.

To the remaining sauce mixture, stir in the sugar and cornflour. Add the chicken stock and mix until combined.

In a deep skillet or large pot, heat about 4-5 inches of oil to 370°F. Fry the chicken for 3 minutes, turning halfway, until crispy and golden. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Discard the used oil and either clean the skillet or use a new one. Heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic, ginger, and chili flakes for about 30 seconds, until the garlic turns lightly golden. Pour in the sauce, bring to a simmer, and stir until it thickens.

Finally, add the fried chicken and toss quickly in the sauce to coat. Serve immediately with your choice of rice, garnished as desired. Enjoy!