General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's Chicken is a popular dish in American Chinese cuisine. Named after Zuo Zongtang, a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader, the dish is not commonly found in Chinese cuisine in China.

History

The origins of General Tso's Chicken are somewhat unclear. The dish is named after Zuo Zongtang, but there is no recorded connection between him and the recipe. The dish was likely created in the 1970s in New York City by Peng Chang-kuei, a chef from the Hunan Province in China. Peng had moved to New York after running a restaurant in Taiwan. The dish was originally a version of a traditional Hunan dish, made sweet to suit American tastes.

Preparation

General Tso's Chicken is typically made with chicken breast, which is cut into bite-sized pieces, marinated, and then deep-fried. The chicken is then tossed in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce, made from soy sauce, rice wine, rice wine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, dried red chili peppers (often Tien Tsin peppers), and garlic. The dish is often served with broccoli and over white rice.

Variations

There are many variations of General Tso's Chicken. Some recipes include other vegetables, like bell peppers and snow peas. Others use different types of meat, like pork or beef, instead of chicken. The sauce can also vary, with some versions being more sweet, more spicy, or more savory.

In popular culture

General Tso's Chicken has become a symbol of American Chinese cuisine. It has been featured in films, television shows, and books, often as a representation of the adaptation and evolution of Chinese cuisine in America.

See also

• American Chinese cuisine
• Zuo Zongtang
• Peng Chang-kuei
• Hunan cuisine