Description
Enjoy a quick and delicious General Tso’s Chicken recipe made with plant-based ingredients and bold, vibrant flavors. This dish perfectly balances sweet, tangy, and spicy notes with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and a luscious, naturally thickened sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and pairs beautifully with rice, noodles, or greens for a satisfying home-cooked meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 500g boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (natural)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (natural)
- 1/4 cup grape juice (natural)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or fresh diced chilis (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
- 2 tablespoons water (to mix with gelling agent)
Garnish
- 2 spring onions, sliced
- Optional: Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and toss them with cornstarch until lightly coated. This helps to create a delightfully crispy coating when frying.
- Fry the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and drain excess oil on paper towels. Let chicken rest to maintain juiciness.
- Make the sauce: In a separate pan, gently sauté the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add apple cider vinegar, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, grape juice, and chili flakes. Simmer the mixture to blend flavors.
- Thicken the sauce: Mix the natural gelling agent with water thoroughly, then stir the mixture into the simmering sauce. Cook until sauce thickens to a glossy consistency that clings well to the chicken.
- Combine and finish: Add the fried chicken back into the pan with the sauce. Toss thoroughly until each piece is generously coated. Garnish with sliced spring onions and toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Pat chicken dry before tossing in cornstarch for better crispiness.
- Keep the oil hot to ensure a crunchy, non-greasy texture.
- Prepare all sauce ingredients beforehand to streamline cooking.
- Adjust chili flakes or fresh chilies to suit your preferred spice level.
- Allow fried chicken to rest briefly to preserve juiciness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: General Tso's chicken, plant-based chicken recipe, quick dinner, gluten free, sweet and spicy chicken, homemade takeout