Homemade General Tso’s Chicken
This General Tso’s Chicken is near and dear to my heart. It’s actually the first meal my husband, Jared, ever made for me back when we were dating. How lucky am I to have a husband that loves to cook and makes a great chef! With a recipe as good and easy as this, you won’t ever have to, or want to, order-out for Chinese food again. Jared actually worked for a Chinese take-out restaurant when he was in high school. He learned how to make a bunch of the dishes, so keep a look out for some of his recipes when you are browsing Favorite Family Recipes. General Tso’s Chicken was his favorite to make and to eat when he worked there.
What is General Tso’s Chicken?
This dish is named for Chinese military general Zuo Zontang, or General Tso, from the Hunan Province in China. Famous Chinese Chef Peng Chang-kuei is said to have made this chicken dish in his honor. Since then it has been somewhat Americanized but still tastes delicious! Crisp, lightly fried pieces of chicken are soaked in a sweet and spicy sauce mixture and generally served over rice. The sweet and spicy flavors blend beautifully in the pan as you cook it and taste even better as leftovers the next day!
How do you pronounce “Tso?”
Some people aren’t quite sure how to pronounce “General Tso.” Some say “General Cho”, others I have heard say “General Sow,” or even “General Toes.” I have always pronounced it “General Soh”, but Jared has always called it “General Chow.” I always thought he was way off but I have come to find out he is technically right. At the Chinese restaurant where he worked, it was pronounced “Chow” and the owners of the restaurant assured him that this is the correct way of saying it. There is the Americanized way of saying and the correct Chinese way of saying it, which is indeed “Chow.” No matter how you say it, people will figure out what you are trying to say sooner or later!
Additions and Substitutions
We love cooking this dish up with a bowl of our Restaurant Ham Fried Rice and some steamed veggies on the side. Add sesame seeds or some scallions on top for extra texture and garnish. You can also add pineapple, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower or other veggies right in with the chicken to make it go further. It is also delicious to add bell peppers or chili peppers in with the chicken. Do what you think your family would like best! Add a tbsp or two of hoisin sauce for a deeper color and flavor in the sauce. For more of a kick, add a bit more cayenne pepper or even a shake or two of hot sauce. By the same token, if you want it less spicy, only add a bit of cayenne. Toss in a dash of rice wine vinegar, rice vinegar or Chinese rice wine for extra flavor.
How to Fry chicken for this recipe
Getting the perfect fried chicken for General Tso’s chicken is really easy! Just follow these simple steps:
More Recipes Like General Tso’s Chicken
How to make General Tso’s Chicken
SaveSave
Panda Express Chow Mein
Crockpot Cashew Chicken
Chinese BBQ Pork
Honey Sesame Chicken
We want to hear from you! Please leave a review. Rate and Review SaveSave
