General Tso's Chicken or Shrimp

By Lsweetnell

Servings: 4
Suggest using far less hot peppers unless you like it really hot.
I use 1 hot chili or 1/2 tsp pepper flakes.
You can use peeled raw medium or large shrimp instead of chicken.

For a change up: Just add a 3rd cup of molasses and about a 1/3 cup of sesame seeds for a change up.

Ingredients

• For the chicken (Or shrimp):
• 2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
• 1 cup rice wine
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cubed(or shrimp)
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• For the general tso’s sauce:
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 cup dried chili pods (caution, very hot, I use one pepper or one half a teaspoon)
• 1/4 cup rice wine
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar (may substitute white wine vinegar)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch slurry (equal parts cornstarch and water, mixed)
• For the garnish:
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• White rice

Details

Adapted from buzzfeed.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup rice wine, ¼ cup of soy sauce, and cubed chicken thighs. Stir and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour.

2. In a separate large bowl, combine 1 cup of flour and 1 tablespoon of salt. Remove chicken from wine/soy marinade and place in flour mixture. Mix thoroughly, until all the chicken pieces are coated.

3. Fill a dutch oven or large pot at least two inches deep with vegetable oil. Heat oil to 365˚F/185˚C.

4. Place chicken (or whole peeled raw shrimp) pieces in frying oil, stirring occasionally. Fry until they are golden brown, roughly 4-5 minutes.
 (Do not cook the shrimp that long unless they are large)
5. Remove chicken from oil and set aside to drain on paper towels or a wire rack.

6. In a large skillet, bring one tablespoon of vegetable oil to medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger, stirring frequently for one minute.

7. Add dried chili pods. Continue stirring for 30 seconds before adding rice wine, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sugar. Stir occasionally until mixture is bubbling.

8. Add cornstarch slurry, stirring frequently. The sauce should begin to thicken in a minute or less. 

9. Add cooked chicken pieces, stirring them to coat with the sauce.

10. Remove from heat and garnish with green onions and rice.

11. Enjoy!