How to Make General Tso Chicken Sauce
General Tso’s chicken is a beloved Chinese-American dish that combines tender, stir-fried chicken with a rich, savory sauce. The key to this mouthwatering dish lies in the General Tso chicken sauce, which is a flavorful blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a few other secret ingredients. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making this iconic sauce, ensuring that your General Tso’s chicken will be a hit at any meal.
Ingredients
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s gather the necessary ingredients:
– 1/2 cup soy sauce
– 1/4 cup sugar
– 1/4 cup water
– 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
– 2 tablespoons ketchup
– 2 tablespoons sesame oil
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
– 1 teaspoon cornstarch
– 1 teaspoon soy sauce
– 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (optional)
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Now that we have all the ingredients, let’s move on to the cooking process:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sugar, water, rice vinegar, ketchup, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, cornstarch, soy sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, and black pepper. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. This will help the chicken absorb the flavors and become tender.
3. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a generous amount of oil and heat it until it’s shimmering.
4. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and stir-fry until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
5. In the same skillet, add a little more oil if needed. Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent any sticking.
6. Once the sauce has thickened and boiled, return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss the chicken and sauce together until the chicken is well-coated.
7. Serve the General Tso chicken over steamed white rice or noodles, and garnish with green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
Conclusion
Making General Tso chicken sauce is an easy and rewarding process that will leave you with a delicious dish that everyone will love. By following this recipe, you can enjoy the rich flavors of General Tso’s chicken at home. Happy cooking!
