The Generals Chicken For One Food

GENERAL'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the fried chicken: Score skin side of breast and thigh with a sharp knife to promote even cooking while keeping the meat moist and tender.
• Whisk together eggs and hot sauce in a bowl. Add flour to a separate bowl. Add chicken pieces first to egg mixture, then transfer to flour, coating every nook and cranny.
• Remove any excess flour from chicken and transfer to a sheet tray.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 300 degrees F. Add chicken thigh and breast and let cook 3 minutes, then add the wing and drumstick. Let cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of each piece (not touching bone) registers 160 degrees F, about 9 minutes more. Let cool. (See Cook's Note.)
• For General's sauce: Heat soy oil in a wok (or medium saucepot) and add ginger. Cook until water from ginger is evaporated, then add garlic and cook until aromatic. Add sugar little by little, stirring continuously, and cook over medium heat until a caramel color is reached, about 20 minutes. Add Shaoxing wine and allow the alcohol to evaporate. Add vinegar and arbol chile. Turn down heat and let simmer while making slurry.
• For the slurry: Add soy sauce and mushroom seasoning to a small bowl and very slowly whisk in cornstarch. If the mixture seems too thick, add a bit of white vinegar to dilute.
• Slowly, whisk slurry mixture into wok, and cook until slurry has thickened the sauce like a proper maple syrup and the cornstarch chalkiness has left completely.
• Bring the oil in the deep-fryer back to 350 degrees F. Fry all chicken pieces together again until skin is golden brown, crispy, and delicious.
• Remove chicken from fryer and dip in sauce (making sure every little piece is smothered in saucy goodness).
• With metal tongs, place the saucy chicken on a really cute plate or your most cherished hardcover novel.
• For garnish: Garnish with chile oil, chile flakes, peanuts, orange segments and a gentle adornment of cilantro to create the most gorgeous display of a half a chicken you've ever seen (and tasted).

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. Toss each piece with cornstarch. Set aside.
• In a separate dish, combine all the ingredients for your sauce together.
• Preheat a non-stick skillet with oil. Cook each chicken piece until all the sides are golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan. Leave about 1 tbsp of oil in the pan for cooking.
• Add the garlic, ginger and pepper flakes. Sautee for about 30 seconds.
• Add the sauce to the skillet and bring it to a simmer then add the chicken and toss to coat. Serve right away!

THE GENERAL'S CHICKEN FOR ONE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine chicken, soy sauce, pepper, egg white, 3 teaspoons cornstarch; stir until mixed and clumpy.
• Whisk the remaining cornstarch with water in a cup to form a paste.
• To the cup add garlic, ginger, sugar, vinegar, chicken broth hoisin sauce (if using), and soy sauce (if using); mix to form a sauce.
• Heat enough oil in a skillet or wok to measure 1/2 inch deep over medium high heat.
• Cook chicken, in a single layer, while stir frying, until golden and crisped, about 2 or 3 minutes; drain on paper toweling.
• Pour out all but 1 teaspoon of the oil, add green onions and red pepper flakes; stir fry 1 minute.
• Add sauce and cook until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet or wok to heat through and coat with sauce.

GENERAL TSAO'S CHICKEN II

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat the egg in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken cubes; sprinkle with salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and white pepper; mix well. Mix in 1 cup of cornstarch a little bit at a time until the chicken cubes are well coated.
• In batches, carefully drop the chicken cubes into the hot oil one by one, cooking until they turns golden brown and begin to float, about 3 minutes. Remove the chicken and allow to cool as you fry the next batch. Once all of the chicken has been fried, refry the chicken, starting with the batch that was cooked first. Cook until the chicken turns deep golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir in the green onion, garlic, whole chiles, and orange zest. Cook and stir a minute or two until the garlic has turned golden and the chiles brighten. Add 1/2 cup sugar, the ginger, chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and peanut oil; bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.
• Dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the water, and stir into the boiling sauce. Return to a boil and cook until the sauce thickens and is no longer cloudy from the cornstarch, about 1 minute. Stir the chicken into the boiling sauce. Reduce heat to low and cook for a few minutes until the chicken absorbs some of the sauce.