General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken are two popular Chinese-American chicken dishes. Both dishes consist of fried chicken pieces in a sweet, savory sauce. However, there are some key differences between the two dishes in terms of ingredients, taste, preparation method, and origins.
In the opening paragraphs, we will provide quick answers to the main questions around General Tso’s chicken versus sesame chicken:
– General Tso’s chicken features chicken pieces coated in cornstarch and fried, then tossed in a sweet, savory sauce made with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, chilies, and brown sugar. Sesame chicken features chicken pieces fried in batter, then coated in a thick, sweet sauce made with corn starch, chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame seeds.
– General Tso’s chicken has a hotter, more savory and gingery taste compared to the sweeter, milder taste of sesame chicken.
– General Tso’s chicken sauce has a glossy, translucent look while sesame chicken has an opaque, thick pasty sauce.
– General Tso’s chicken was invented by Chef Peng Chang-kuei in New York in the 1970s while sesame chicken was developed later in the U.S. as a more Americanized adaptation of General Tso’s chicken.
Now let’s dive into the details on the origins, ingredients, tastes, and preparation methods for General Tso’s chicken versus sesame chicken.
Origins and History
General Tso’s chicken was invented by Chef Peng Chang-kuei in New York City in the 1970s. Chef Peng fled China after the Communist revolution and brought his Hunan-style cooking to New York where he opened a restaurant. After tasting and being disappointed by early attempts at Hunan cooking in the U.S., he adapted Hunan dishes to American tastes.
The sweet, spicy General Tso’s chicken he created became immensely popular across the country. The name “General Tso” refers to Zuo Zongtang, a 19th century Qing dynasty statesman and military leader, though there is no dish actually called “General Tso’s chicken” in Chinese cuisine.
Sesame chicken emerged later, likely developed by Chinese restaurants in the U.S. as a tamer, sweeter take on General Tso’s chicken. The batter-fried chicken pieces coated in a sticky, opaque sesame sauce appealed to American tastes for chicken nuggets and other fried foods with thick sauces.
While both dishes have origins in Hunan cooking, sesame chicken was invented in America as a more mainstream adaptation of a Chinese dish. General Tso’s chicken has its roots as an authentic Hunan recipe later adjusted for American palates.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients in General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken are quite similar:
General Tso’s Chicken Main Ingredients:
– Chicken (boneless, skinless thighs or breast)
– Cornstarch
– Vegetable oil for frying
– Ginger
– Garlic
– Soy sauce
– Rice vinegar
– Chili peppers
– Brown sugar
– Scallions
Sesame Chicken Main Ingredients:
– Chicken (boneless, skinless thighs or breast)
– Cornstarch
– Batter ingredients (egg, flour, baking soda, water)
– Vegetable oil for frying
– Cornstarch
– Chicken broth
– Soy sauce
– Oyster sauce
– Sesame seeds
– Scallions
The main components in both dishes are fried chicken pieces and a sauce thickened with cornstarch. But General Tso’s chicken uses ingredients like ginger, garlic, vinegar, and chili peppers to create a savory, gingery flavor profile. Sesame chicken relies on chicken broth, oyster sauce, and sesame for a creamy, nutty flavor.
Sauces
The sauces are the defining difference between the two dishes:
General Tso’s Chicken Sauce:
– Soy sauce
– Rice vinegar – adds tanginess
– Ginger and garlic – provide aroma
– Chili peppers – contribute heat
– Scallions
– Cornstarch – thickens sauce
– Sugar – adds sweetness to balance other flavors
– Chicken broth
Sesame Chicken Sauce:
– Chicken broth – provides body
– Soy sauce
– Oyster sauce – adds savory umami flavor
– Cornstarch – thickens sauce
– Sesame oil
– Toasted sesame seeds
– Brown sugar – makes the sauce sticky and sweet
– Ginger, garlic, scallions – adds flavor
General Tso’s sauce is glossy and translucent with a vivid reddish-orange color from the chili peppers. It coats the chicken and clings to it. Sesame chicken sauce is opaque, creamy white, and thick, coating the chicken heavily.
Frying Methods
The frying technique also differs between the two dishes:
– General Tso’s Chicken: The chicken is coated in a cornstarch batter and fried until crispy. The cornstarch coating helps the sauce cling to the chicken.
– Sesame Chicken: The chicken is dipped in a batter of flour, egg, baking soda and fried until crispy. The batter creates a heavier crust than General Tso’s light cornstarch coating.
So General Tso’s chicken uses a light cornstarch crust while sesame chicken features a thicker batter crust. The frying method affects the texture of the chicken and how the sauce absorbs into it.
Flavors and Tastes
The taste profiles of the two dishes are noticeably different:
– General Tso’s Chicken: Hot, sweet, sour, savory, gingery. It often has a noticeable chili pepper spice and kick. The sauce is tart, gingery, and savory.
– Sesame Chicken: Sweet, mild, creamy, nutty. The sauce is cloying, thick, and sticky with a nutty sesame taste. It often lacks the chili pepper heat of General Tso’s.
So General Tso’s chicken has a more complex flavor with different taste elements – hot, sour, sweet, salty, and aromatic. Sesame chicken is mostly just sweet and has a one-note creamy, nutty sesame flavor.
Cooking Methods
The cooking methods for the two dishes:
General Tso’s Chicken:
1. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces, marinate in soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch.
2. Coat chicken in cornstarch, fry in oil until crispy.
3. Remove chicken, drain oil.
4. Heat sauce ingredients in wok – chili peppers, garlic, ginger, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, broth.
5. Mix cornstarch and water, add to wok to thicken sauce.
6. Add fried chicken and toss to coat in sauce.
Sesame Chicken:
1. Cut chicken into chunks, marinate in egg white, cornstarch.
2. Coat chicken in batter, deep fry until crispy.
3. Remove chicken, drain oil.
4. Heat sauce ingredients in pan – chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil.
5. Mix cornstarch and water, add to pan to thicken.
6. Add fried chicken and toss to coat in sauce.
7. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
The main differences are General Tso’s uses a cornstarch coating and sesame chicken uses batter. General Tso’s sauce ingredients are cooked fresh in the wok while sesame chicken uses pre-made sauce. General Tso’s chicken has a final toss in the wok to coat while sesame chicken sauce is thick enough to coat the chicken without tossing.
Nutrition
Both dishes are high in calories, fat, sodium, and sugar since they feature fried chicken in a starch-thickened sauce:
General Tso Nutrition Facts (6 oz serving)
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 730 | 24g | 87g | 25g | 870mg |
Sesame Chicken Nutrition Facts (6 oz serving)
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650 | 18g | 75g | 25g | 970mg |
Sesame chicken is slightly lower in calories and fat since it uses a wet batter versus General Tso’s dry cornstarch coating. But both are high-calorie dishes – a full meal often provides over 1000 calories. Making either dish at home and controlling oil, sauce, and coating ingredients can make them healthier.
Popularity and Availability
General Tso’s chicken is found on nearly every Chinese takeout menu in the U.S. It’s become one of the most popular Chinese chicken dishes in America over the past few decades. Sesame chicken is also extremely common on takeout menus, but is slightly less ubiquitous than General Tso’s.
Both dishes are hard to find in China. General Tso’s was invented in America and sesame chicken is also an Americanized adaptation. But their popularity has spread beyond the U.S. – you can now find General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken at Chinese restaurants around the world.
Cost
General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken have a similar cost at restaurants and for takeout:
– Restaurant price: $12 – $15 per plate
– Takeout price: $7 – $10 per pint
Sesame chicken is made with common ingredients so it is often priced similarly to General Tso’s chicken. Price can vary depending on the restaurant. Higher end Chinese restaurants may charge more for both dishes compared to takeout joints.
Making either recipe at home can bring down costs substantially, with a full dish costing only about $20 if buying ingredients at a grocery store. Deep frying does add cost due to the amount of oil needed.
Accompaniments and Side Dishes
Some common side dishes and accompaniments for General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken include:
– Rice – white, fried, brown or vegetable fried rice
– Chow mein or lo mein noodles
– Steamed or stir fried vegetables – broccoli, carrots, snap peas, etc.
– Egg rolls
– Wonton or egg drop soup
– Crab rangoons
– Hot and sour soup
The rice and noodles help balance the sauce-coated chicken. Vegetable sides add freshness and nutrition. Fried items like egg rolls complement the fried chicken main.
General Tso’s chicken is often spicy enough to be a main dish on its own. Sesame chicken is commonly served as an entree with 2-3 side dishes as part of a larger Chinese takeout meal.
Regional and Substitutions
There are some regional and substitution variations for each dish:
General Tso’s Chicken:
– Bone-in chicken can be used for more flavor and texture
– Serrano, jalapeno, or habanero can sub for chili peppers
– Rice vinegar sub with red or white wine vinegar
– Add orange zest or peel for citrus aroma
Sesame Chicken:
– Peanut or almond butter used for nuttier flavor
– Add ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes for more spice
– Use black or brown sesame seeds for bolder sesame flavor
– Use breast or thigh meat for lighter or richer chicken flavor
– Substitute honey for brown sugar for stickiness
So ingredients can be tweaked in each recipe for seasonal or regional variations. But the core sauce ingredients remain distinct for General Tso’s versus sesame chicken.
Pairings with Wine and Beer
The sauces and flavors of the two dishes lend themselves to different wine and beer pairings:
General Tso’s Chicken Wine Pairings:
– Riesling – fruity sweetness contrasts spicy sauce
– Gewürztraminer – floral, lychee flavors complement ginger
– Moscato – sweet matches brown sugar, bubbly cuts heat
Sesame Chicken Wine Pairings:
– Torrontes – fruity and floral like the sesame sauce
– Viognier – soft and lightly sweet
– Off-dry Riesling – matches sauce sweetness
Beer Pairings for Both:
– Wheat beer – fruity esters contrast salty soy
– Pilsner or lager – clean taste doesn’t compete with flavors
– Belgian white ale – hint of spice complements dishes
The sweeter sesame chicken matches better with aromatic, fruity wines. General Tso’s works with wines that have enough sweetness to balance the spice and ginger. Light beers complement both dishes.
Leftover Uses
Leftover General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken reheat well for a day or two in the fridge. Some creative ways to use up leftovers include:
– Fried rice – dice up chicken and stir into rice with veggies and egg
– Tacos or lettuce wraps – pile chicken into wraps with sriracha mayo
– Soup – add shredded chicken to chicken noodle or wonton soup
– Stir fry – toss chicken and sliced veggies in a wok or skillet
– Salad topping – dice chicken over greens for protein
– Quesadillas or pizza topping – crispy chicken adds great texture
– Breakfast – toss chicken in scrambled eggs or breakfast tacos
So the saucy chicken works great in stir fries, tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and more. The sauce acts as a flavor boost in many leftover recipes.
Conclusion
While General Tso’s chicken and sesame chicken appear similar as fried, sauced chicken dishes, they have distinct differences in terms of history, ingredients, taste, and preparation.
General Tso’s has its roots in authentic Hunan cuisine, with a flavor profile of hot, sweet, sour and savory. Sesame chicken was invented later in America as a milder, thicker adaptation using common Chinese-American ingredients.
Both remain beloved staples of American-style Chinese food. But foodies seeking an authentic Chinese flavor will find General Tso’s chicken more aligned with its origins while sesame chicken appeals to those looking for a tame, sticky sweet sauce on fried chicken. Their rising popularity globally shows how Chinese cuisine has been reinvented in America for broader appeal.