General Tso's Chicken（左宗棠鸡）

General Tso's Chicken is a classic Chinese dish known for its crispy chicken coated in a thick, savory sauce that is irresistibly delicious. Paired with fluffy white rice, it's an unforgettable culinary experience.

General Tso's Chicken perfectly blends sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors with a crispy texture. Many people, after trying it at a Chinese restaurant, often want to recreate it at home but find the results less than ideal. Today, I plan to share with you the authentic recipe for General Tso's Chicken that my grandfather taught me. We are from a traditional Hunanese family in China, and General Tso's Chicken is a specialty dish from Hunan province.

1.About General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's Chicken, also known as "Zuo Zongtang Chicken," is a traditional specialty from Hunan Province, China, belonging to Hunan cuisine. It primarily uses chicken thighs, fried and then stir-fried with dried red chilies, eggs, and other ingredients. The dish is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with a vibrant color and delicious taste.

Legend has it that in 1952, during the visit of Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, to Taiwan, he was hosted by Admiral Liang Xuzhao, who arranged three days of banquets. Chef Peng Changgui was tasked with preparing different dishes each day. On the third day, to offer a change of taste, Peng cut chicken into large pieces, fried them to a golden brown, then stir-fried them with sauce and spices, creating a new dish. When Radford asked for the name of the dish, Peng, being from Hunan and wanting a name with a strong association to Hunan, spontaneously named it "Zuo Zongtang Chicken."

In 1973, Peng Changgui opened a restaurant named Peng's Garden in the United States. During one occasion, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dined at Peng's Garden and praised the "General Tso's Chicken." This event was extensively covered by media such as The Washington Post and The New York Times, propelling the dish to fame and establishing it as one of the most popular Chinese dishes in the United States.

2.What's in General Tso's Chicken?

Making General Tso's Chicken involves three main steps:

Sauce/Marinade: To achieve tender chicken, the chicken is first marinated using a mixture that serves both as a marinade and a thick, sticky sauce to coat the chicken.

Crispy Chicken: For a crispy texture, the key is to coat the chicken with an appropriate amount of cornstarch or corn flour and then deep-fry it in oil until crispy.

Stir-frying: General Tso's Chicken is renowned for its aromatic flavor. Before stir-frying, onions, ginger, and garlic are sautéed to release their flavors, enhancing the chicken's taste. The chicken is then stir-fried and coated with the thick sauce, resulting in a fantastic dish.

3. Do you have to use chicken thighs to make General Tso's Chicken?

Since authentic General Tso's Chicken traditionally uses chicken thighs, it's best to use this cut if you're planning to make the dish. Chicken thighs are readily available for purchase in supermarkets and Chinese grocery stores.

4. What flour is used for General Tso's Chicken?

As mentioned earlier, to achieve a crispy texture for the chicken, it's necessary to coat the chicken with a layer of flour before frying. It's generally recommended to use cornstarch because it is a good thickening agent. In Chinese cuisine, cornstarch mixed with water forms a thickening agent known as "slurry" or "cornstarch slurry," commonly used to thicken sauces.

5. Why isn't General Tso's Chicken popular in China?

Although General Tso's Chicken originates from Hunan Province, China, you'll find that it's not widely consumed within China itself. This is primarily due to its origin and the path of its dissemination. The dish was originally created by a chef named Peng Changgui from Hunan in 1949. When he later refined the dish in the United States, it took on a sweeter and stickier flavor profile to cater to American tastes.

The popularity of General Tso's Chicken in the United States partly stems from its creator's adaptation of traditional Hunan cuisine to Western preferences, creating a dish that bridges cultural and culinary boundaries. It has not only become widely beloved in the United States but also well-known among food enthusiasts worldwide, serving as a cultural ambassador showcasing the diversity and inclusiveness of Chinese cuisine.

6. What should you eat with General Tso's Chicken?

General Tso's Chicken pairs well with rice, making it an excellent choice for a meal. It's recommended to enjoy it with steamed white rice, as the crispy chicken and thick sauce complement the rice perfectly, creating a delightful flavor. In addition to rice, you can also pair it with broccoli, salad, or other vegetables.

Having covered so much about General Tso's Chicken recipes, I believe you now have a comprehensive understanding of it. Let's now try making this delicious and flavorful dish together!