General Tso Vs Sesame Chicken | Greedy Gourmet (2024)

TASTE

Sesame chicken: Sweet, sticky, rich and delicious, you've got to love that sesame chicken taste! The crispy coating of the chicken and the deep frying cooking method gives the chicken a pleasant crunch, while the sesame chicken sauce is sweet, tangy and mild.

General Tso's chicken: Just like sesame chicken, general tso's chicken features deep fried crispy bites. However, unlike sesame chicken, a general tso chicken recipe has heat. How much depends on the preferences of those eating it, but it can often be very spicy as well as sweet.

SPICES

Sesame chicken: In sesame chicken dishes, spices take a back seat. There are a few spices, of course, but they tend to be of the milder variety. So, expect light undertones of garlic and ginger, but for the majority of the flavor to come courtesy of that delectable sweet honey sauce mixture.

General tso's chicken: Spices play a key part in the flavor profile of general tso's chicken. Hot chili pepper flakes or powder, or even fresh chilies, are a key ingredient, as is ginger and garlic.

The heat of general tso's chicken is adaptable, with the amount and strength of chili varying depending on your preferences.

ORIGINS

Sesame chicken: Some say that sesame chicken's origins can be traced back to the southern Chinese region of Guangdong. However, the exact dish as served up in Chinese restaurants in the U.S. isn't part of Chinese cuisine.

Its exact origins are unknown, although it is thought to have been brought to the U.S. in the 1970s by Chinese immigrants. It closely resembles an authentic Sichuan dish called la zi ji. La zi ji contains fried chicken breast pieces with peppercorns, toasted sesame oil, and chili.

General Tso's chicken: There are several different stories about the origins of General Tso chicken.

The dish is named after 19th century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang, although he had no direct association with the dish – his descendants in China claim they've never even heard of the dish!

Chinese American chef Eileen Yin-Fei Lo claims that the dish takes its name from the Chinese word for meeting hall 'Zongtang', and that the association with General Tso was a mistake.

Other food writers claim that a Taiwanese chef invented the recipe and brought it to New York in the 1970s, specifically Peng's Restaurant, which claims to be the first restaurant in the U.S. to serve General Tso chicken.

Another New York restaurant, Shun Lee Palaces, claims to have been the first restaurant to serve the dish.

General Tso Vs Sesame Chicken | Greedy Gourmet (2024)

FAQs

General Tso Vs Sesame Chicken | Greedy Gourmet? ›

General Tso's chicken: Just like sesame chicken, general tso's chicken features deep fried crispy bites. However, unlike sesame chicken, a general tso chicken

general tso chicken
General Tso's chicken (左宗棠雞 Zuǒ Zōngtáng jī) is a sweet and spicy deep-fried chicken dish.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › General_Tso's_chicken
recipe has heat. How much depends on the preferences of those eating it, but it can often be very spicy as well as sweet.

Which is better, General Tso or sesame chicken? ›

Choosing by taste:

Sesame chicken if you like the nutty notes of sesame oil and seeds. General Tso if you like a bit of spice. Orange chicken if you want something a bit sweeter.

What is the closest thing to General Tso Chicken? ›

General Tso's Chicken is a Chinese-American dish of fried chicken pieces that are breaded and tossed in a tangy sauce. This dish is very similar in style to sesame or orange chicken.

What is the difference between General Tso's chicken and General Tao's chicken? ›

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.

What is better, Szechuan chicken or General Tso's? ›

Our experts say… General Tso's chicken is about the most dangerous Chinese dish on the menu—dark meat battered and deep-fried, then cooked with vegetables in a sweet, spicy sauce. Szechuan chicken, made with leaner, white meat and sautéed with vegetables, is a far better choice.

Why do people like General Tso Chicken? ›

It quickly became a favorite among Americans, who enjoyed the crispy texture and bold flavor of the dish. The controversy surrounding General Tso's Chicken is largely due to the fact that it bears little resemblance to any traditional Chinese dishes.

Why does General Tso Chicken taste different? ›

Flavor Profile

Chef Peng's original recipe is more in line with the intense spices, tanginess, and savory flavors of Hunanese cuisine, and in America, Chinese chefs added sugar to the recipe to appeal to a more western customer base. This recipe is more true to the Chinese American method, with a sweeter taste profile.

Is General Tso's chicken healthy? ›

Worst: General Tso's Chicken

The breaded, fried chicken is smothered in a sugary sauce. One order clocks in at around 1,500 calories and 88 grams of fat, and it delivers more sodium than you should get in a day. Other fried dishes to watch out for: sesame, orange, and sweet and sour chicken.

Which is better General Tso or kung pao? ›

In terms of flavor and spiciness, Kung Pao Chicken will win every time. While General Chicken offers a sweet and sour taste with just a hint of spice, Kung Pao Chicken has a distinctively spicy flavor that comes from the dried chilies added to it.

What is PF Chang's version of General Tso's chicken? ›

Have you ever eaten at P.F. Chang's? 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.

Do they eat General Tso's chicken in China? ›

You might be surprised to learn that General Tso's chicken, a staple on Chinese-American menus, is almost entirely foreign to people who live in the country from which it supposedly originated. While the dish isn't exactly authentic Chinese food, its namesake was a very real (and very powerful) general.

What does sesame chicken taste like? ›

Sesame chicken is a dish commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. The dish is similar to General Tso's chicken but the taste of the Chinese-based chicken is sweet rather than spicy.

What is the difference between General Tso and Hunan style chicken? ›

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.

Which is hotter General Tso or orange chicken? ›

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.

What Chinese food is similar to General Tso? ›

Sesame chicken: These two dishes are very similar. The main difference is the oil used in the sauce. Sesame chicken calls for sesame oil, which adds a salty and nutty taste, making it a little less sweet than General Tso.

Is General Tso's chicken good? ›

General Tso's chicken is crispy, twice-fried chicken in a deliciously sweet and sticky glaze. This mouthwatering dish delivers a combination of Asian flavors that will knock your chopsticks off! Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice and garnish with sliced green onions.

Is General Tso's chicken spicy or sweet? ›

General Tso's Chicken is that perfect combination of sweet, savoury, spicy and tangy with crispy Chinese chicken bites. It's a Chinese takeout favourite that just pushes all the right buttons!

Why is sesame chicken so good? ›

The crispy chicken pieces, coated in a sweet and savory sauce, offered a delightful contrast that made each bite irresistible. Imperial's innovative approach to Chinese cuisine didn't stop at Sesame Chicken.

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