Spicy General Tso's Chicken (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to General Tso sauce to make it less spicy? ›

Sugar works to counteract the heat caused by capsaicin in peppers so adding a touch of honey or sugar can tone down a spicy dish.

General Tso's chicken (左宗棠雞 Zuǒ Zōngtáng jī) is a sweet and spicy deep-fried chicken dish.

They have “Chang's Spicy Chicken” on the menu, which is basically their version of general tso's. It has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the sauce is light in color, which indicates it's not overloaded with soy sauce.

Compared to General Tso's, orange chicken usually has a lighter-colored sweet, sour, savory glaze. It's not as spicy-hot because dried red chiles aren't as common or used as heavily in this dish. All recipes ask for orange in some form — juice, zest, dried peel, or a combination thereof.

Sweet Defeats Heat

Adding something sweet to a too-spicy dish is another great way to reduce spiciness. A sprinkle of sugar or honey should do the trick. Or add a touch of sweet ketchup. If it's a tomato-based sauce, stir in a little more tomato sauce and maybe a touch of sugar.

What's the difference between General Tso and Kung Pao Chicken? General Tso's is sweeter with a milder spice, featuring deep-fried battered chicken. Kung Pao is spicier with stir-fried chicken, vegetables, and peanuts.

General Tso's chicken (also known as General Tao's or Tsao's chicken) is an iconic Chinese-American takeout of deep-fried chicken coated in a thick sweet sauce. You can also make it spicy for those who like a little kick.

General Tso is of course not healthy, but Chinese people don't eat General Tso! At home, my dad never breaded and deep-fried chicken before cooking. We didn't throw in cashews or garnish with broccoli, and we definitely did not add three tablespoons of sugar to any dish, not even to desserts.

To begin, Szechuan chicken contains Sichuan peppercorns and is spicier. Whereas, General Tso's chicken is sweeter but is also typically deep-fried instead of pan-fried.

What is spicy chicken called in Chinese food? ›

Laziji (simplified Chinese: 辣子鸡; traditional Chinese: 辣子雞; pinyin: làzijī; lit. 'spicy chicken'), also known as dry chili chicken, firecracker chicken, Chongqing chicken, and mala chicken, is a dish of chicken cubes stir-fried in chilis, Szechuan pepper, spicy fermented bean paste, garlic, and ginger.

General Tso's Chicken is battered and deep fried whereas Hunan Chicken is lightly dusted in cornstarch and stir fried or lightly pan fried. General Tso's Chicken is sweet and mildly spicy, far less spicy than Hunan Chicken, with the zing coming from a generous amount of ginger verses chili peppers.

General Tso's Chicken is that perfect combination of sweet, savoury, spicy and tangy with crispy Chinese chicken bites.

General Tso Variations

You could also add some Sriracha as well. Sweeter – A sweeter and milder version of this delicious sauce is what some prefer. So, if that's you, add a little extra maple syrup or honey (not vegan). You can also add a bit of hoisin sauce as well.

Milk and dairy products contain a protein called casein that is able to bind with capsaicin before it reaches our tongue, so it can reach fewer receptors, and lessens the sensation of spice. If your dish is too spicy, try adding heavy cream, yogurt, sour cream or butter to help mellow it out.

Adding dairy is an ideal way to dull down the heat in hot spicy food. Try serving spicy curries with a dollop of plain yoghurt or serve that spicy soup with a hearty pour of cream or sour cream. Another method to counteract spiciness in a dish is to add a squeeze of acid such as lime or lemon juice, even vinegar.

Try mixing in a spoonful of honey or sugar to cut the spice with sweetness. Sometimes, a sweet flavor can counteract spiciness and make your soup taste more balanced. Only add in a spoonful at a time and mix it into the broth.