General Tso chicken from a Boricua kitchen

Crispy, sweet, a little heat — the diaspora in one wok.

Legend has it that the dish is named after General Tso Tsung-t'ang, a 19th-century military leader, but the dish itself has little to do with the general or his favorite flavors. This sweet and spicy chicken dish is known for its crispy, deep-fried chicken coated in a sticky, tangy sauce made from soy and hoisin sauces, vinegar, sugar, and chili peppers. Of course, you'll notice a touch of our spices to create an equally delicious version that fuses the Caribbean with China and bursts the tastebuds. I promise it's just as enjoyable as the restaurant style you love. It's certainly one of my favorites!

§ Ingredients

Yields 6 servings

• 2 pounds boneless chicken cutlets or thighs, cut into 1" chunks
• ½ cup cornstarch for dusting
• ½ cup oil, for frying
• 2 tablespoons minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 6 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ cup Adobo (I use Goya® adobo with pepper)
• 2 tablespoons of mojo

§ Instructions · Let's get cooking

1. 01Pat and dry the chicken pieces with paper towels.
2. 02Powder the chicken with adobo and salt/pepper and rub in well, set aside for 5+ minutes
3. 03Next coat the chicken with cornstarch.
4. 04Heat oil in a large frying pan.
5. 05Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy.
6. 06While frying the chicken, prepare your sauce as follows:
7. 07Whisk the sauce ingredients together, adding the tablespoon of cornstarch last.
8. 08Blend well.
9. 09When chicken is done, remove from pan and set aside
10. 10Drain excess oil from pan leaving about 3 or 4 tablespoons.
11. 11Add chili flakes, ginger, and garlic to the oil and stir quickly.
12. 12Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
13. 13Return the chicken to the pan and toss with aromatics.
14. 14Add the sauce and mix well.
15. 15Stir for 30 seconds until the sauce thickens.
16. 16Serve immediately with white jasmine rice or fried rice and a steamed vegetable of your choice.
17. 17I like to add egg rolls as a side dish.

¡Buen provecho! zhù nín yòngcān yúkuài