Episode 66: General Tso's Chicken

Imgur albumSpecial Ingredients - NoneSpecial Equipment - Chinese Take-Out BoxesRecipe Marinade:1 egg white, beaten2 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine2 tablespoons vodka3 tablespoons arrowroot powder1/2 teaspoon baking sodaDry Breading:1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup arrowroot powder1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon saltSauce:4 tablespoons sugar3 tablespoons chicken stock3 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine2 tablespoons rice vinegar1 tablespoon arrowroot powder2 teaspoons avocado oil2 teaspoons minced garlic2 teaspoons minced ginger2 teaspoons minced scallions1 teaspoon sesame oil5-8 chili peppers, ideally dried arbolChicken:1-3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces. Start by cutting your chicken and setting it aside.To make the marinade, beat together your foamy egg whites, soy sauce, wine, and vodka. Reserve half of this marinade for later. To the other half, add arrowroot powder and baking soda and whisk to combine. Add the chicken to this bowl, cover with Saran Wrap, and set aside. Heat avocado or peanut oil (approximately 1 quart) to 350ºF in a wok, dutch oven, or other frying vessel. As that is heating up, mix together flour, arrowroot powder, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the reserved marinade and mix into the dry ingredients with a fork.Bread the chicken pieces one at a time and gently set them into the oil. Fry-time should be 4-5 minutes before golden brown. Bread and fry the chicken in batches that doesn’t overwhelm the oil. As the chicken finishes cooking, remove with a slotted spoon and put them onto a wire rack over a baking sheet. The chicken can be kept in a 250ºF oven while you finish the recipe. To make the sauce, combine sugar, chicken stock, soy sauce, wine, vinegar, arrowroot powder, and sesame oil in a bowl. In a wok or frying pan, add avocado oil and heat on medium-high. To the oil, add the minced garlic, ginger, scallions, and chili peppers. Stir-fry those until the onion and garlic start to turn lightly golden brown.