General Tso shrimp is an easy Chinese shrimp dish which you can rustle up in less than 30 minutes. It offers sweet, tangy and savoury flavours, along with a hint of spice. Also known as General Tao’s shrimp or General Tsao’s shrimp, this shrimp stir fry is a popular addition to Chinese takeout orders. It’s also a popular dish at restaurants and buffets.
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Seafood fans will love General Tso shrimp for its big, bold and distinctive Chinese flavours. With ingredients such as soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chillies, and Shaoxing wine, it’s easy to see why this shrimp stir fry dish is so popular.
General Tso Shrimp Ingredients
You don’t need too many ingredients to make this delicious Chinese takeout order favourite. In fact, you probably already have most, especially if you love making Asian dishes such as tofu kung pao or pork egg roll in a bowl.
The main ingredient here is the shrimp, and I recommend choosing medium-size ones. Fresh or thawed will work fine. The amazing flavours come from Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, chilli oil, salt and black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, and fresh chillies.
You also need peanut oil, sesame seeds, scallions and cornstarch. The sauce is a combination of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil, mirin, and some more cornstarch.
The great thing about making your own easy Chinese shrimp dish is you can tweak the ingredients. This means that whether you want to omit something you aren’t keen on or adjust the spice level, you can.
Take the chillies, for example. If you prefer a mild result or somewhere between mild and moderate, you can adjust how many chillies you add. If your palate is on the other end of the scale, and you love spice, then you could even add extra.
As for the Shaoxing wine, you can replace it with dry sherry because it tastes similar. Mirin is a Japanese cooking wine. It’s a lot sweeter than Chinese cooking wine so not a suitable replacement for the Shaoxing. If you want to leave out the alcohol altogether, then sub rice vinegar for the Shaoxing wine and half a teaspoon of white sugar for the mirin.
How to Make General Tso Shrimp
The first thing to do is prepare the shrimp by peeling them (if necessary) and removing the black tract from the back of each one. Depending on the shrimp you’re using this might already be done.
Next you can marinate the seafood in a mixture of Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, chilli oil, salt, and pepper. They don’t need to marinate for long – less than 30 minutes is fine.
While the shrimp marinate, you can make the sauce. Bring soy sauce, hoisin, chilli oil, sesame oil, and mirin to a boil in a pan, then mix in the cornstarch and take it off the heat.
Now you can add cornstarch and red pepper to the shrimp, tossing it to coat. Fry the seafood in chilli oil for a few minutes, working in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Drain the shrimp on paper towels and discard most of the oil, leaving a tablespoon in the pan.
Add the chillies, garlic and ginger to the oil and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the sauce and cook for a few more minutes. Add the cooked shrimp back in, tossing to coat, then serve garnished with sesame seeds and scallions.
How to Serve General Tso Shrimp
Popular sides for this Chinese takeout order favourite include steamed or boiled white rice and perhaps some broccoli too. Since it’s a spicy dish, mild-tasting sides offer a nice contrast.
Since the recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make, you can start the rice at the same time. Then go ahead and drain it and keep it warm while you finish the shrimp stir fry, so you can serve them together.
Easy Shrimp Stir Fry FAQs
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat them within 3 days. You could also freeze it for up to 3 months. As for reheating, let any frozen leftovers thaw overnight first. Then reheat in a foil-covered baking dish for about 10 minutes at 325 degrees F in the oven or until hot. I like to remove the foil during the last minute or so, so the top can crisp up a little.
If you’re super-hungry or in a rush, you can also microwave leftovers, although shrimp have a tendency to go rubbery when microwaved so I’d recommend the oven for the best results.
Chicken works well in this dish, or you could even try pork or another favourite. Tofu would also work at a pinch. Bear in mind not every protein cooks as fast as shrimp, so if you’re using meat, make sure it’s cooked through. If you’re using tofu, give it at least half an hour in the marinade so it can soak it up.
Easy General Tso Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe
Easy General Tso Shrimp Stir Fry
Ingredients
- peanut oil for frying
- 1 Pound shrimp
- 1 Tablespoon shaoxing wine
- 1 Teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 Teaspoon chile oil spicy
- ½ Cup cornstarch
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Pinch pepper
- red pepper flakes
- 2 Teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 Teaspoon ginger minced
- 6 red chiles dried
- 2 green chiles
- 2 red chiles
Garnish
- sesame seeds
- scallions
General Tso Sauce
- ¼ Cup soy sauce
- ¼ Cup hoisin sauce
- 1 Teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon chili oil spicy
- 2 Tablespoon mirin
- 2 Teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat 2 cups of oil in a wok until 350 degrees F.
- Add shrimp to a bowl with shaoxing wine, soy sauce, spicy chili oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Let marinate as the sauce is prepared.
- General Tso Sauce. Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add soy sauce, hoisin, spicy chili oil, sesame oil, and mirin to the pan and bring to a low boil. Once the sauce starts to bubble, stir in the cornstarch and remove from heat.
- Add cornstarch and red pepper flakes to the shrimp and toss to coat. Fry for 3 minutes. Do not overcrowd the oil. Work in batches and place fried shrimp onto a paper towel lined sheet as you work.
- Remove all but 1 tbsp of oil from the pan. Add the garlic, ginger, dried red chiles, and sliced green and red chiles to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the sauce and stir. Cook until thickened, about 4 minutes.
- Add the shrimp to the sauce in the wok and toss to coat.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
General Tso shrimp is a delicious and easy Chinese shrimp recipe you can make in less than 30 minutes in one pan. It’s just as delicious as any Chinese takeout order – I’d say it’s even better! If you’re a fan of seafood and spices, you have to try this delicious seafood recipe.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for recipes, dogs, sustainability, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
Bella Bucchiotti is a freelance food, travel, and lifestyle writer for MSN and the Associated Press Wire.
Delicious and so quick to make!