Description
General Tso’s Chicken is a delicious dish featuring crispy chicken bites coated in a perfectly balanced sweet, tangy, and savory sauce. This easy-to-make recipe uses fresh ingredients and a natural gelling agent to create a sticky, glossy sauce that clings to every bite. Suitable for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions, this recipe promises bold flavors, great texture, and plant-based friendly ingredients, making it a versatile and crowd-pleasing favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup plant-based dairy egg substitute
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Sauce
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1 tsp chili flakes or 1 chopped fresh chili
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (natural)
- 1 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (natural)
- 1/4 cup grape juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp natural gelling agent mixed with cold water
For Garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Optional: sesame seeds (natural)
- Optional: thinly sliced fresh red chilies
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Lightly toss the chicken pieces in the plant-based dairy egg substitute to help the coating adhere. In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture to create a light, crispy coating for frying.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches, making sure each piece turns golden and crispy on all sides. Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels to maintain crispiness.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate pan, combine minced garlic, ginger, chili flakes, soy sauce (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), apple cider vinegar, brown sugar (natural), grape juice, and water. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves and flavors meld.
- Thicken the Sauce: Mix the natural gelling agent with a little cold water and slowly whisk it into the simmering sauce. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky and glossy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces to the thickened sauce in the pan. Toss gently to coat each piece evenly with the luscious sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped green onions, sesame seeds (optional), and sliced fresh red chilies (optional) over the chicken. Serve immediately with steamed rice or your preferred noodles.
Notes
- Double coat chicken by dipping it again in the egg substitute and flour mixture before frying a second time for extra crunch.
- Adjust the chili flakes gradually to control the spiciness according to your taste.
- Use fresh garlic and ginger for a more vibrant flavor.
- Prepare the sauce ahead of time to speed up assembly when chicken is ready.
- Fry chicken in small batches to maintain oil temperature and keep coating crispy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-five g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: General Tso's Chicken, crispy chicken, sweet and tangy sauce, plant-based egg substitute, natural gelling agent, easy Chinese recipe
