General Tso is a popular and favorite chicken dish of all ages not only in China but also in many other parts of the world.
The key ingredient in this dish is the General Tso chicken sauce, which you can make at home or opt for the store-bought version.
In this article, we will figure out what is special about General Tso chicken sauce and where you can buy the premade sauce to complete your own version of General Tso chicken.
What is General Tso chicken sauce?
General Tso chicken is a dish that is usually found in North America.
It originated in China but is now very common in the United States too.
General Tso chicken sauce is the sauce that is used in the General Tso dish.
Chicken pieces, after being fried until reaching the crispy outside, will be tossed into a tangy sauce and stir-fried over heat for a few minutes before serving.
The resulting General Tso dish is most often served with mashed potatoes, French fries, or steamed white rice, and many restaurants also offer different sauces for dipping.
General Tso chicken sauce is usually made with a few easy-to-find ingredients that are common in most kitchens: soy sauce, dry sherry (or rice wine), ginger root paste, red chili paste, water chestnuts (optional), scallions (optional), and sugar.
The sauce will offer a beautiful caramel color and a nice flavor to the dish.
How many calories are in General Tso chicken sauce?
General Tso chicken sauce is low in calories and doesn’t have any fat or protein.
You will need about 15ml for a portion of the General Tso chicken dish, with 35 calories from the sauce.
- What Is The Difference Between Sesame Chicken And General Tso’s Chicken?
- Tai Chien Chicken Vs General Tso: What’s The Difference?
- Mongolian Chicken Vs General Tso Chicken: What’s The Difference?
- Szechuan Vs General Tso Chicken: What’s The Difference?
- Governor’s Vs General Tso Chicken: What’s The Difference?
In fact, General Tso chicken sauce, like most seasoning sauces, is meant to add flavor and color to the dish.
Therefore, it isn’t packed with any nutrients or is at a very low level.
Store-bought General Tso chicken sauce makes it easier for us to cook this classic Chinese dish, but usually contains sodium, which is not good for our health if consumed in the long term.
How to choose the best General Tso chicken sauce?
Many people think it is easiest to choose the best General Tso chicken sauce, it is, indeed, as long as you know the following tips.
1. Read reviews about each product before deciding what brand of General Tso chicken sauce to buy
Since this is a popular ingredient sold on the market, there are many brands of the sauce, making it hard to choose which one to buy.
Therefore, you should do some research about each brand before going shopping and choosing the one that you believe in.
2. Try out a few different sauces before settling on just one
It is also great if you can try out more than just one brand of General Tso chicken dish.
By doing this, you can find out more flavors from different brands and choose your favorite one after that, but the risk is you might have to discard some that don’t work with your taste buds.
3. Inspect the package of the General Tso chicken sauce
General Tso chicken sauce is often contained in a plastic bag.
One of the must-have things to choosing the best sauce is to inspect the condition of the package.
Avoid buying the one that looks old and fake (blur inscription or image), torn, or leaked.
If the sauce is exposed to the air for a while at room temperature, it might be spoiled.
Also, check the expiration date on the label of the product to make sure the sauce is still safe and best to use.
4. Give the sauce a smell and taste before cooking
You won’t want to ruin your crispy chicken pieces with a spoiled sauce, right? So smell and taste the store-bought General Tso sauce before adding it to your dish.
It should have a caramelized brown color, a velvet texture, and a tangy taste.
Where to buy General Tso chicken sauce?
Today, you have more access to General Tso chicken sauce in any part of the United States.
The following places are some of the most popular places where you can buy the best General Tso chicken sauce:
1. Grocery store or supermarket
Find a package of General Tso chicken sauce in the canned goods section in a grocery store or supermarket in your area.
It can be a local small store or a large chain like Walmart or Whole Foods Market, all will carry this ingredient.
2. Online
The good news for lazy and busy people who don’t have time to go shopping is that General Tso chicken sauce can be purchased online.
- General Tso’s Chicken Vs Kung Pao Chicken: What’s The Difference?
- Empress Vs General TSO Chicken: What’s The Difference?
- Mongolian Chicken Vs General Tso Chicken: What’s The Difference?
- Tai Chien Chicken Vs General Tso: What’s The Difference?
- What Is The Difference Between Sesame Chicken And General Tso’s Chicken?
You can order from Amazon, eBay, a website from any store in your area with a variety of brands.
Conclusion
General Tso chicken is a mouth-watering dish that cannot be completed without a good sauce.
There are two ways to have the best General Tso chicken sauce on hand, by making your own at home or buying the store-bought version.
Which one you choose will depend on your time, availability, and food preferences.
Going ahead with the premade General Tso sauce that is made from natural ingredients will be best.
No need to visit China to buy General Tso chicken sauce because now you can easily find this ingredient at any local store or even online in America.
As a affiliate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to Amazon from our site & choose make a purchase. Last update on 2022-08-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
