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GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

cook:

45 min

Picture for GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

6,501,978 views  General Tso's can be more than the saccharine, gloopy sauce soaked into flabby, over-breaded chicken to which we've become accustomed. With just a little technique and a little love, the 45-minute wait for this takeout mainstay can be better spent making it yourself. The recipe below is adapted from

2 Servings

US

original

metric

INGREDIENTS

For the chicken and marinade

For the chicken and marinade

egg whites

2 egg whites

dark soy sauce

3 tbsp dark soy sauce

Chinese cooking wine

3 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

vodka

3 tbsp vodka

baking soda

¼ tsp baking soda

cornstarch

3 tbsp cornstarch

boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs

For the breading

For the breading

all purpose flour

1 cup all purpose flour

cornstarch

1 cup cornstarch

baking powder

1 tsp baking powder

salt

1 tsp salt

reserved marinade

3 tbsp reserved marinade

For the sauce

For the sauce

dark soy sauce

4 tbsp dark soy sauce

Chinese cooking wine

4 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

rice wine vinegar

3 tbsp rice wine vinegar

chicken stock

4 tbsp chicken stock

sugar

¼ cup sugar

roasted sesame seed oil

1 tsp roasted sesame seed oil

cornstarch

1 tbsp cornstarch

scallions

6 scallions

garlic

4 cloves garlic

piece of ginger

2 inch piece of ginger

tbps vegetable oil

2 tbps vegetable oil

arbol chiles (optional)

12 arbol chiles (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1.

In a large bowl separate egg whites from eggs and beat the whites until frothy. Add dark soy sauce, chinese cooking wine, and vodka. Beat together and set aside half for later use. In the same large bowl where half mixture remains, add baking soda and cornstarch, and whisk until smooth. Cut chicken into 1 inch pieces and add to mixture. Mix together by hand, making sure every piece is coated. Cover and set aside for about 20 minutes.

egg whites

2 egg whites

dark soy sauce

3 tbsp dark soy sauce

Chinese cooking wine

3 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

vodka

3 tbsp vodka

baking soda

¼ tsp baking soda

cornstarch

3 tbsp cornstarch

boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs

2.

In your shallow breading dish, combine all purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Pour in reserved marinade and incorporate using your fingers until it’s clumpy. Set aside.

all purpose flour

1 cup all purpose flour

cornstarch

1 cup cornstarch

baking powder

1 tsp baking powder

salt

1 tsp salt

reserved marinade

3 tbsp reserved marinade

3.

Make the sauce: In a small bowl goes dark soy sauce, chinese cooking wine, rice wine vinegar, chicken stock, sugar, roasted sesame seed oil, and cornstarch. Whisk until completely smooth.

dark soy sauce

4 tbsp dark soy sauce

Chinese cooking wine

4 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

rice wine vinegar

3 tbsp rice wine vinegar

chicken stock

4 tbsp chicken stock

sugar

¼ cup sugar

roasted sesame seed oil

1 tsp roasted sesame seed oil

cornstarch

1 tbsp cornstarch

4.

From scallions, thinly slice all whites and 2 inches of the green. Next grate cloves garlic and ginger. In a saute pan over medium high heat, simmer vegetable oil and add most of scallions, grated garlic, and grated ginger. Saute for one minute. Add arbol chiles (optional) and saute for another minute. Pour in sauce and saute for one more minute until sauce has thickened.

scallions

6 scallions

garlic

4 cloves garlic

piece of ginger

2 inch piece of ginger

arbol chiles (optional)

12 arbol chiles (optional)

tbps vegetable oil

2 tbps vegetable oil

5.

Heat a quart of vegetable oil to 375°F. Coat chicken in the breading flour mixture while it’s heating. Then add to frying oil one piece at a time and make sure not to crowd, cooking each batch for about 4 minutes. Place batches on wire rack that’s set on a rimmed sheet pan, and place in oven on low heat. Repeat until all chicken is fried.

6.

Add chicken to sauce mixture and coat over low heat. Serve with white rice and garnish with leftover sliced scallions. Enjoy!

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