Vegan General Tso's Chicken

Vegan General Tso's Chicken

On those evening when all you want to do is order take out for those comforting Chinese food dishes, this recipe will make you hang up your phone and pick up a pan. You can now have your vegan chicken and eat it too! With a few pantry items, you can have many different Chinese food recipes whenever you want. Better for you in the long run, you know what's going into your food and you can control it all. You can fry like the recipe does here or even bake for a lighter recipe. Serve this dish with white or brown rice and your favorite veggies mixed in or on the side. Enjoy! 

Vegan General Tso's Chicken

Ingredients

Marinade:
1 bag vegan chicken strips or cutlets sliced into pieces
6 Tablespoon soy sauce
4 Tablespoon water

For the Batter: 
1 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder

Sauce:

1 teaspoon Wok oil
2 Tablespoons soy sauce 
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1/8 tsp chili oil, (You can add less or more depending on spiciness)  
1/2 Tablespoons chili paste, (You can add less or more depending on spiciness)  
1 teaspoon Sirachi hot sauce
2 cups vegan chicken broth
1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water (Thickener)
2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar (regular vinegar is fine also)
1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoons finely chopped scallions, for cooking & garnish

Other:
Vegetable Oil, for deep-frying
1/2 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, for cooking & garnish 
1 Tablespoons finely chopped scallions, for cooking & garnish


Directions




Marinade:

Defrost Morningstar chicken strips and put into a large mixing bowl. Add the marinade ingredients to the bowl and stir to combine. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the sauce.



(The chicken mixture can be marinated over night for deeper flavor)



Sauce: 
In a saucepan, add the wok oil and set over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic and fry for about 2 to 3 minutes or until fragrant  Once that's done, combine the remaining sauce ingredients in the pan, Whisk well to dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon green onions & cook. Once the mixture has cooked down for about 8 to 10 minutes, Add the cornstarch slurry (I usually add it when vegan chicken is almost done). Stir as you pour because the cornstarch will thicken up VERY quickly. Keep warm over low heat or turn off if you are going to wait a while. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed. 



Pre-Thickened General Tso's Sauce


Cornstarch Thickening Mixture
Thickened General Tso's Sauce

In a heavy-bottomed pot OR deep-fryer heat enough oil to come halfway up the sides of the pot, to 375 Degrees.


Frying

Be VERY Careful!!!
Dredged Vegan Chicken Strips

Fry the chicken, in small batches, until golden and crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken using a wire mesh strainer and drain on paper towels. To serve, Add all your fried vegan chicken pieces into the sauce mixture and stir until all are coated. 
Fried Vegan Chicken Strips

Place the Vegan General Tso's Chicken on a platter and Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and garnish with scallions. Serve with White or Brown Rice, Add in broccoli or other veggies & Enjoy!



-Amy