What's the difference between orange chicken and General Tso's chicken?

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To start, the difference between orange chicken and General Tso's chicken appears after the battering and frying: It's all in the sauce. Both dishes are American standbys not seen in China. Compared to General Tso's, orange chicken usually has a lighter-colored sweet, sour, savory glaze.



Similarly, what is the difference between General Tso and orange chicken?

The main difference between the two is the sauce. The chicken is prepared the same way, however the orange chicken sauce is a little more sweet. It usually doesn't include the spice factor (hot sauce/chili flakes) and contains a combination of orange juice/zest/peel.

Beside above, what's similar to orange chicken? General Tso's Chicken (you can find it here on the blog) is probably the closest tasting dish to Orange Chicken. Though it doesn't contain any orange, it does have many similar ingredients including soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, cornstarch as well as dried red chili peppers and garlic.

Just so, what's the difference between sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken?

Sesame Chicken is typically salty with a hint of sweetness, served with sesame seeds. General Tsos is typically sweeter with a little more heat and served with broccoli and carrots. The sauce is usually more red in color than the brown sauce served with sesame chicken.

Is General Tso's chicken bad for you?

General Tso's chicken or tofu In fact, it is one of the least healthy options you can order from your favorite Chinese restaurant. NBC reports this meal contains about 1,300 calories, 3,200 milligrams of sodium, and 11 grams of saturated fat. And this doesn't even include rice, an appetizer, or a fortune cookie.

38 Related Question Answers Found

Which is spicier Kung Pao or General Tso?

Kung Pao vs General Tso
Kung Pao is an authentic Chinese dish whereas General Tso is a dish that originated in Chinese restaurants across US. Kung Pao is hot and spicy, whereas General Tso is sweet and spicy. There are no peanuts in General Tso, whereas peanuts are integral to Kung Pao.

What is Chinese chicken called?

Sesame chicken (also called Chinese sesame seed chicken) is a dish commonly found in Chinese restaurants throughout the United States. The dish is similar to General Tso's chicken but the taste of the Chinese-based chicken is sweet rather than spicy.

How do you pronounce General Tso?

Spellings such as "tsao," "tsau," and "gau," have been found in Chinese takeout menus across the nation. The most popular, however, is the one that we've all come to know and love: tso. So, FINALLY. The big reveal: you don't pronounce the "T." 'Tso' is pronounced just as you would say "so."

Is orange chicken the same as sweet and sour chicken?

Both dishes are quite similar, the difference is all in the sauce. Both dishes involve chicken that is breaded and fried then coated in a sauce. Orange chicken usually has a lighter color and it's sweet, sour and savory whereas General Tos's chicken is usually spicier.

What else is General Tso Chicken called?


The dish is named after Zuo Zongtang (also romanized Tso Tsung-t'ang), a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader, although there is no recorded connection to him nor is the dish known in Hunan, Zuo's home province.

General Tso's chicken
Alternative names General Tao Chicken, Zuo Gong Ji
Serving temperature Hot

Which is better sesame chicken or orange chicken?

Once you start with that General Tso's base, sesame chicken is even easier than orange chicken. The main difference is that sesame chicken tends to be a little sweeter (if you can imagine that) than General Tso's, with no heat, and a good shower of toasted sesame seeds added to the sauce.

Is General Tso Chicken supposed to be spicy?

General Tso's Chicken is a favorite Chinese food takeout choice that is sweet and slightly spicy with a kick from garlic and ginger. The spicier, zestier less popular cousin to the ever popular Orange Chicken, General Tso's Chicken is a fantastic option when you're looking to change up your Chinese food routine.

What flavor is General Tso?

What is General Tso's chicken? This chicken dis is a popular Chinese entree made with fried chicken pieces coated in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce. This chicken is similar to sesame chicken, but the sauce has a little more heat and a more complex savory flavor. It is often served with a side of steamed broccoli.

Is there another name for General Tso Chicken?

General Tso's chicken is named for Tso Tsung-t'ang (now usually transliterated as Zuo Zongtang), a formidable nineteenth-century general who is said to have enjoyed eating it.

What does kung pao chicken taste like?


One of the most important features of kung pao chicken is its starchy, syrupy sauce. Michelazzo says Westerners appreciate the dish for the balanced taste of the sauce. “The sweet and sour flavor and starchy texture are typical of Chinese restaurants in the West,” he explains.

What is Szechuan chicken?

Szechuan chicken is a spicy chicken stir fry that hails from China's Sichuan province. It's very similar to Hunan chicken in that they are both stir fries, contain vegetables and use the same chicken preparation.

How do you make General Tso sauce from scratch?

Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine.
  2. 2 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar.
  3. 3 tablespoons Dark Soy Sauce.
  4. 3 tablespoons Chicken Stock.
  5. 4 tablespoons Sugar.
  6. 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil.
  7. 1 tablespoon Corn starch.
  8. 2 teaspoons Canola oil.

What is Mandarin chicken made of?

Mandarin Chicken Recipe
Chicken breast chunks coated in a sweet/salty brown glaze made of orange juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce.

What is Hunan chicken made of?

Hunan chicken is stir-fried chicken breast with lots of vegetables that originated from the Chinese province of Hunan. This dish incorporates the Hunan sauce which makes it, well, distinctively Asian. It is made with chili and lots of veggies and has a distinctive sweet and spicy taste.

What does Szechuan chicken taste like?


What Does Szechuan Chicken Taste Like? With its mixture of cayenne pepper, hot sauce, red chilies, ginger, brown sugar and soy sauce, Szechuan chicken has a savory hot and spicy flavor with a touch of sweetness. People who have a tolerance for dishes spiced with hot peppers tend to enjoy this dish.

Is Sesame Chicken bad?

Sesame chicken paired with fried rice can be a beneficial meal. It is a good source of healthy carbohydrates and protein. The large amount of oil used to deep-fry the chicken and prepare the sauce, however, contributes high quantities of fat to the dish.

Is Sesame Chicken white meat?

Sesame chicken is a basic American Chinese dish made from marinated, breaded and fried dark-meat chicken tossed in a sauce of cornstarch, sake, oyster sauce, ginger, low-sodium chicken stock, vinegar and sugar. White sesame seeds adorn the chicken, sticking to its thick sauce.