CHINESE GENERAL TSO RECIPES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the egg, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon mirin. Add the chicken and let it marinate at room temperature while you assemble the rest of the ingredients.
• In a separate bowl, combine the remaining tablespoon of cornstarch, the remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, the remaining 2 tablespoons mirin, and the rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin, chili paste, peppercorns, sesame oil, and 1/2 cup water. Set aside.
• In a heavy pot over medium heat, heat 3 inches of oil to 360ºF.
• Add about 10 pieces of chicken to the hot oil and fry until brown and crispy, about 2 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Set aside.
• Remove all but 3 tablespoons of oil from the pot and add the chilies, ginger, and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds. Add the broccoli and bell pepper and stir-fry, tossing the vegetables for 2 minutes or until they are brightly colored and partially cooked.
• Add the cooked chicken to the pot along with the reserved sauce and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are tender, about 2 minutes.
• To serve, sprinkle green onions over the top and serve hot with rice.

Steps:

• For the chicken: Place your broccoli florets in a medium bowl and add 2 tablespoons water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 2 minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside until ready to use.
• Heat the oil in a 4-quart (3.8-liter) Dutch oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) using a frying thermometer. Rinse the chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Mix 1 1/2 cups (335 grams) of the tempura flour and 1 cup (240 milliliters) water into a thick batter. It should look like thick pancake batter. Dredge the chicken cubes in the 1 cup (223 grams) of tempura flour and then coat them in the batter. Fry them in two batches until golden brown and crispy, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the chicken on paper towels or a rack.
• Heat a wok or large skillet to high and add 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of oil. When you see the first wisps of white smoke, stir in the fried chicken, onion, chiles, broccoli, and 1/3 of the ginger and garlic and cook them for about 30 seconds.
• For the sauce: While the chicken cooks, add the oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch slurry, red food coloring if using, 1/3 cup water and the remaining chopped ginger and garlic into a 1-quart (946-millileter) saucepan and bring the heat up to medium. Whisk gently as it comes to a simmer. Allow it to simmer and keep whisking it for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and reserve it.
• Stir in the sauce and allow it to coat the chicken and simmer. Cook it, folding all the ingredients until they are well coated, about 2 minutes. Garnish with the scallions.