Gluten Free General Tso Chicken
Breaded, gluten free deep fried pieces of crispy chicken, tossed in an Asian sweet and spicy, savory General Tso's sauce.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 478kcal
Cost: $4.40
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast 1-2 inch pieces
- vegetable oil for frying
For the Dredge
- 1 cup all purpose flour can substitute gluten free all purpose flour
- 1 cup rice flour
- ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger ground
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- pepper to taste, optional
For the Egg Wash
- 6 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste optional
For the Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ginger ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon corn starch can substitute 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- ½ cup water
- 6-8 dried chili pepper pods
For Serving
- sesame seeds for garnish
- steamed white rice for serving
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce
- Mix together all sauce ingredients, leaving out the chili pods for now for a milder flavor. If spicier sauce is desired, add chili pods to the sauce to soak while the rest of the recipe is prepared (you can also do this a few days in advance for even more kick).
Prepare the Chicken and Frying Oil
- Cut thawed chicken into bite size pieces, pat dry. Salt and pepper to taste (optional).
- Combine the dredging ingredients in one medium sized bowl and egg wash ingredients in another bowl of the same size.
- Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dredge each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg, then back in the flour mixture again to coat; set aside on a plate. Repeat with each chicken piece.
- In a large, heavy skillet, heat 1-2 inches deep of oil to medium-high heat, or 350 degrees Fahrenheit with a thermometer. If the oil is smoking, it's too hot.
- Once the oil has come to temperature, begin frying the prepared chicken pieces, working in batches. Set the pieces in the hot oil, with some room between each of them. Fry on that side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Turn, and repeat for other side. Set finished pieces onto a wire rack over a paper towel lined baking sheet, making sure the chicken pieces are elevated at least half an inch over the paper towels. Don't crowd the chicken stack it, which will steam it and make it soggy. Repeat batches until all the chicken is fried. REMOVE OIL FROM HEAT-DRAIN IMMEDIATELY OR PLACE IN A SAFE PLACE TO COOL WHERE IT CAN'T BE PULLED DOWN BY CHILDREN-OIL STAYS HOT AND DANGEROUS FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM HEAT.
- Heat a shallow, dry skillet (preferably a cast iron skillet, if possible) on medium to medium-high heat.
- Give sauce a quick whisk to combine any ingredients that have settled, and pour into the hot skillet, along with the dried chili pods if they haven't been added to the sauce yet; simmer for 2 minutes until sauce begins to thicken. (If you substituted flour for corn starch, simmer for 4 minutes.)
- Add fried chicken pieces to thickened sauce, and toss to coat. Remove skillet from heat.
- Sprinkle chicken with sesame seeds in the skillet.
- Serve with steamed white, brown, or cauliflower rice and sesame seeds.
Notes
- For a gluten free version of this dish, substitute all purpose flour with gluten free all purpose flour. Prepare the rest of the dish as normal.
- Elevate fried chicken pieces on a cooling rack at least ½ an inch over paper towels or any surface to allow steam to escape (so they don't become soggy).
- Don't crowd the chicken while frying, or draining.
- Sauce can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator for up to one week.
- For a spicier sauce, make the sauce in advance and add chili pods directly to the sauce to soak. They can soak from 30 minutes for a mild kick, or longer for a spicier kick. The longer they soak, the spicier the sauce will be.
- For a mild sauce, only add the chili pods to the sauce with the chicken, and toss to coat. Don't serve chili pods to anyone who desires a mild flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 283mg | Sodium: 1695mg | Potassium: 751mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 448IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg