BAKED GENERAL TSO CHICKEN RECIPE
We don’t have cable in our house. It’s something we decided to sacrifice in exchange for a nice apartment located on a quiet block tree-lined with brownstones – something that comes at a high price in Brooklyn these days. But you know what? We don’t miss it. Just like many of our friends in NYC who also don’t have cable, it doesn’t take long to forget it ever existed. That isn’t to say we don’t watch tv, oh no no no! Ben and I NEED television to take ourselves away from SEO, social media and other blogging chores.
Netflix is one of the ways we entertain ourselves and a few nights ago we came across this funny and very interesting documentary on general Tso’s chicken! If you’d like to see it, it’s called The search for general Tso and it’s about finding the origins of general Tso’s chicken. It also talks about the history of Chinese food in America and the struggles Chinese immigrants had to live through in order to survive and eventually thrive in this country. Very interesting doc!
Once I finished watching the documentary I wasn’t only craving a big plate of general Tso’s chicken but I suddenly wanted to see if I could make it in my own kitchen – a healthier version of it. Baked general Tso chicken recipe. Yup, I’m going to make a baked general Tso chicken recipe but first I’m going to need help finding what goes into a general Tso sauce. One thing I can tell you is that there is no shortage of general Tso’s chicken recipes online! I had to read through a dozen of them before I felt well informed about the ingredients the sauce was made of and different methods of preparation. I picked three of my favorite adaptations and began experimenting with the measurement of each ingredient. I knew I didn’t want my own general Tso chicken recipe to be too sweet. I don’t like much sweetness unless it’s in a dessert. And since general Tso’s chicken hails from Taipei by Hunan Province-born chef Peng, it only seemed right to create something with a little heat (Hunan province is known for its hot and spicy flavors). And while I still kept the dish somewhat sweet, I focused more on its savory and tangy side.
For this baked chicken Tso recipe I used crushed corn flakes to give the chicken a crispy, breading-like texture. It’s a technique I’ve seen used a lot lately that I wanted to try. No frying is needed and the chicken is instead baked in the oven for about 15 minutes. The result is pretty amazing: crispy and juicy chicken bites just like you would get if you deep fried them! I had to remind myself every time I thought I was eating fried chicken that these were baked chicken pieces. Not fried – baked!
The baked cornflake chicken pieces are then put in a pan and tossed with the general Tso sauce. Lastly, I sprinkled some sesame seeds and chopped dried red chiles, and added a dash of sesame oil. Really, really delicious. If you are looking for a less sweet and healthier general Tso chicken recipe, I urge you to try my version!
Serve this general Tso chicken recipe with a bowl of rice, a quick and healthy Japanese cabbage salad, some pickled watermelon rinds and spicy egg drop soup. And if you want something sweet for dessert, try these yummy healthy rice crispy treats!
OTHER YUMMY AND HEALTHIER CHINESE TAKEOUT INSPIRED RECIPES:
Did you like this Baked General Tso Recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!
Baked General Tso Chicken Recipe
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This is a healthy baked general Tso chicken recipe - Baked chicken pieces tossed in a tangy and sweet sauce. Delish!
Author: Pickled Plum - Caroline Phelps
Recipe type: Main, Chicken,
Cuisine: Chinese, Easy, Healthy
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch chunks
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large egg, beaten
- 2 cups crushed Corn Flakes
- For the sauce:
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ½ tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1½ tsp sriracha sauce
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1½ tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp water
- Optional:
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil or regular sesame oil
- 2 Chinese dried red chiles, finely sliced (optional)
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Move one of the oven racks to the upper-middle part and preheat oven to 450ºF.
- Cover a large cooking tray with parchment paper.
- Place three large bowls one next to another and fill the first one with flour, the second with eggs and the last one with crushed corn flakes.
- Dip each piece of chicken in flour and egg and cover with crushed cornflakes, while gently pressing to coat. Place on cooking tray.
- Bake in the oven for about 13 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and cornflakes are golden brown.
- Meanwhile put all the ingredients for the sauce- except for cornstarch - in a medium size pot and bring to a gentle boil. Give the cornstarch and water a quick stir and slow add to the sauce while stirring. Cook for a minute until sauce thickens and turn the heat off.
- Take chicken out of the oven and transfer to a large pan. Turn the heat on to low and pour sauce over the chicken, coating each piece evenly while tossing. *If you are adding sesame seeds, sesame oil and dried red chiles, this is the time to add them.
- Turn the heat off, transfer to a plate and serve immediately.
Notes
You can also use panko breadcrumbs. I have never tried it myself but others have said it's just as delicious!
By: www.pickledplum.com/baked-general-tso-chicken-recipe
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