General Tso, I love your chicken. So. Crazy. Good.
Over the past few years I’ve become a morning person. Legit. Every morning I wake up to the annoying scream of my phone alarm at 5AM, and half asleep head out the door to the gym. This works well for me for 2 reasons: I have better/more productive days, and working in food, running is always a good choice. But in my heart of hearts, I will be now and forever, a night owl.
The night means night time cravings, and this (for me anyway) usually means something spicy, greasy and/or deep fried. Or all of the above. Forever.
Here’s an old fav of mine, perfect to cure the nighttime cravings. This one is slightly healthier – the chicken is baked, not fried, and the dish is ready in under 30 minutes. Bonus! Cure that craving, watch Fallon, repeat.
General Tso’s Chicken
1 1/2lbs chicken breast
1/4 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup panko
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup red chilis
1/3 cup green onions
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Preheat your oven to 450.
Top a baking tray with a rack.
Cut your chicken into 1 inch chunks. Prepare 3 bowls, 1 with your flour, 1 with your eggs, and one with the breadcrumbs & panko. Working in batches, top your chicken in the flour, then the eggs, and finally in the breadcrumbs, getting them completely coated.
Bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through.
In a large saucepan, combine your stock, hoisin, soy, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, and corn starch, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, drop in your chilis. After 3 minutes, add your chicken, and toss to get the chicken covered. Remove from the heat, and toss in your green onions.
Serve up with some rice, and top your chicken with sesame seeds.
Adapted from Damn Delicious.