General Tsos Stew Food

GENERAL TSO'S STEW

Steps:

• In a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker, combine the first 6 ingredients. Stir in chicken, onion and broccoli. Cook, covered, on low about 2 hours, until vegetables are tender. Top with green onions and sesame seeds to serve.

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

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.

MEAN GUY'S GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, thoroughly blend the 1/2 cup of cornstarch and the eggs; add the chicken and toss to coat.
• If the mixture is too thick, add some vegetable oil to separate the pieces.
• In a small bowl, prepare the sauce mixture by combining the 2 tsp cornstarch with the wine, vinegar, sugar and soy sauce.
• First-Stage Frying: Heat 1-2 inches of peanut oil in a wok to medium-high heat (350-400).
• Fry the chicken in small batches, just long enough to cook the chicken through.
• Remove the chicken to absorbent paper and allow to stand (this step can be performed well in advance, along with the sauce mixture, with both refrigerated).
• Second-Stage Frying: Leave a tablespoon or two of the oil in the wok.
• Add the pepper pods to the oil and stir-fry briefly, awakening the aroma but not burning them.
• Return the chicken to the wok and stir-fry until the pieces are crispy brown.
• The General's Favorite Sauce: Add the sauce-mixture to the wok, tossing over the heat until the sauce caramelizes into a glaze (1-2 minutes).
• Serve immediately.
• Serves 4, along with steamed broccoli and rice.

LAURA'S GENERAL TSO'S SEITAN

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the soy sauce, vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar, garlic, and ginger root.
• In another bowl, combine the egg and cornstarch and dip the seitan pieces.
• Heat the oil in a wok or deep, heavy skillet until very hot, add the seitan and fry it for 4 to 6 minutes, or until it is crisp-ish. (This was so much better after I finally broke down and bought a wok. It really does make a huge difference!).
• Add the soy sauce mixture and the chile peppers and cook the mixture over moderately high heat for 2 minutes, or until heated through. (I usually bring the sauce to a boil after I've poured it on, and then reduce the heat to simmer until it's as thick as I want it. It takes about five minutes, because I like the sauce pretty thick.).
• Serve with cooked rice and enjoy!
• Laura says: "This is more than enough for the three of us with left overs the next day, and it's really yummy. I'm actually not much of a chef, so I tend to keep it simple and quick.".