Why air fry this chicken? Because it's healthy and fast! Air frying is a healthy cooking technique that gives food the same crispy texture as fried food but with less calories and fat. Healthy General Tso's chicken in the air fryer The final dish is also often garnished with orange zest or slices for an extra burst of citrus flavor. This is from the inclusion of orange juice in the sauce.

The sauce for Orange Chicken, on the other hand, has a sweeter flavor with some tanginess and prominent citrus notes. The spice is from dried red pepper flakes or dried whole red chiles. The sauce for General Tso's has a bold, savory flavor with a hint of sweetness and tanginess and a mildly spicy kick. The difference lies mainly in the sauce.īoth sauces include classic ingredients like ginger, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar. They both feature pieces of crispy chicken that are battered and deep fried. General Tso and Orange Chicken are both popular Americanized Chinese dishes that are staples on Chinese take out menus. Over the years and across continents, the dish changed, developing a thicker coating and sweeter sauce to appeal to American palates. Rather, it seems that the dish was invented by a Taiwan-based Hunan chef (Peng Chang-kuei) many years later and subsequently brought to America. Although it's named after a famed Chinese military leader (General Tso Tsung-t'ang), there is no recorded connection to him. There's no doubt about the popularity of the dish, but its origins are still up for debate. And for good reason! Who can resist crispy morsels of juicy chicken coated in a thick, savory, sweet, and tangy sauce? Gneral Tso's (or General Tso) Chicken is one of the most popular Chinese dishes in America.

General tso chicken takeout recipe