Step 1: Prepare the Chicken. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg. In another bowl, combine the cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken pieces to the egg, tossing to coat. Then, dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, ensuring it's fully coated. Place the coated chicken on a wire rack to rest while you prepare the sauce and heat the oil.
Step 2: Make the General Tso's Sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, granulated sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and chicken broth until smooth. Set aside. Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Prepare your dried red chilies.
Step 3: Fry the Chicken. Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a large wok or deep skillet to 350-375°F (175-190°C). Fry the chicken in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes per batch, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and place it on a clean wire rack set over a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil. This ensures maximum crispiness for your general tsos chicken recipe.
Step 4: Sauté Aromatics. Carefully drain almost all of the oil from the wok, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, grated ginger, and dried red chilies (and red pepper flakes if using). Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 5: Combine and Serve. Give the prepared General Tso's sauce a quick whisk again (cornstarch settles at the bottom). Pour the sauce into the wok with the aromatics. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency, about 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: Add Chicken and Garnish. Add the fried chicken back into the wok and toss quickly to coat all the crispy pieces evenly with the glorious general tsos chicken recipe sauce. Serve immediately over steamed rice, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Enjoy your homemade General Tso's Chicken!
Step 7: Storage Tip. Store any leftovers in an airtight container. If you anticipate having leftovers, consider storing the sauce and chicken separately and combining them just before reheating to maintain crispiness. Glass food storage containers work great for this!