General Tso's Chicken - Japanese Style

Ingredients

This Japanese version of General Tso's Chicken is less sweet and more savory than the original Chinese-American dish. It also incorporates Japanese ingredients such as mirin, sake, and soy sauce to enhance the umami flavors. We alse have the original recipe for General Tso's Chicken, so you can check it out.

• 500g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces 500g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup (60g) cornstarch 1/2 cup (60g) cornstarch
• 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp (15ml) grated ginger 1 tbsp (15ml) grated ginger
• 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
• 1/4 cup (60ml) mirin 1/4 cup (60ml) mirin
• 1/4 cup (60ml) sake 1/4 cup (60ml) sake
• 2 tbsp (30ml) rice vinegar 2 tbsp (30ml) rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp (30ml) hoisin sauce 2 tbsp (30ml) hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp (15ml) gochujang (Korean chili paste) 1 tbsp (15ml) gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 1 tbsp (15ml) honey 1 tbsp (15ml) honey
• 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) black pepper 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) black pepper
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Sesame seeds, for garnish Sesame seeds, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories: 450 kcal / 1884 KJ
• Fat: 22g (Saturated: 4g)
• Carbohydrates: 28g (Sugars: 9g)
• Protein: 34g
• Fiber: 1g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large bowl, toss the chicken with cornstarch until evenly coated.
2. 2.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. 3.
   Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
4. 4.
   Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
5. 5.
   In the same skillet, add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
6. 6.
   Add the soy sauce, mirin, sake, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, gochujang, honey, and black pepper to the skillet and stir to combine.
7. 7.
   Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
8. 8.
   Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce.
9. 9.
   Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Chicken — Make sure to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
• Gochujang — Adjust the amount of gochujang to your desired level of spiciness.
• Mirin — If you don't have mirin, you can substitute it with a mixture of rice vinegar and sugar.

Tips & Tricks

• To make the chicken extra crispy, you can double-coat it in cornstarch before frying.
• If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with a little bit of water or chicken broth.
• Serve the General Tso's Chicken with steamed rice and a side of pickled vegetables for a complete meal.

Serving advice

Serve the General Tso's Chicken hot and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Presentation advice

Arrange the General Tso's Chicken on a platter and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for an eye-catching presentation.