General Tso's Chicken à la Française

Ingredients

This French adaptation of General Tso's Chicken incorporates French ingredients such as Dijon mustard and Herbes de Provence, and uses a combination of pan-frying and oven-baking to create a crispy texture. The dish is also served with a side of ratatouille, a traditional French vegetable stew. We alse have the original recipe for General Tso's Chicken, so you can check it out.

• 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup (60g) cornstarch 1/2 cup (60g) cornstarch
• 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
• 1/4 cup (60ml) Dijon mustard 1/4 cup (60ml) Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup (60ml) honey 1/4 cup (60ml) honey
• 2 tbsp (30ml) rice vinegar 2 tbsp (30ml) rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp (30ml) vegetable oil 2 tbsp (30ml) vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp (5g) Herbes de Provence 1 tsp (5g) Herbes de Provence
• 1/2 tsp (2g) red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp (2g) red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced 1 onion, sliced
• 1 can (14 oz/400g) diced tomatoes 1 can (14 oz/400g) diced tomatoes
• 1 zucchini, sliced 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 eggplant, sliced 1 eggplant, sliced
• 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste

Nutrition

• Calories: 420 kcal / 1760 KJ
• Fat: 18g (3g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 35g (22g sugars)
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 6g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat oven to 200C (400F).
2. 2.
   In a bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in the mixture.
3. 3.
   In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, Dijon mustard, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, Herbes de Provence, and red pepper flakes.
4. 4.
   Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
5. 5.
   Pour the soy sauce mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Add sliced bell peppers and onion to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes.
6. 6.
   Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
7. 7.
   While the chicken is baking, prepare the ratatouille. In a large baking dish, toss together diced tomatoes, sliced zucchini, sliced eggplant, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
8. 8.
   Serve the General Tso's Chicken with the ratatouille on the side.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Ratatouille — Be sure to slice the vegetables evenly so that they cook at the same rate.

Tips & Tricks

• For a spicier dish, increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
• If you don't have Herbes de Provence, you can substitute with dried thyme or rosemary.
• To make the dish healthier, you can use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs.

Serving advice

Serve the General Tso's Chicken with the ratatouille on the side, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Presentation advice

Arrange the chicken and ratatouille on a large platter, and sprinkle with additional Herbes de Provence for a pop of color.