How to Make Your Own General Tso Chicken and Lo Mein at Home

If you’re craving some Chinese takeout, but don’t want to spend a fortune or wait for delivery, we have the perfect solution for you. You can make your own General Tso chicken and lo mein at home, with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. And trust us, it’s easier than you think.

General Tso chicken is a popular dish of crispy fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce, named after a 19th-century Chinese military leader. Lo mein is a type of noodle dish, made with egg noodles, vegetables, and meat or seafood, tossed in a savory sauce. Together, they make a satisfying and delicious meal that will satisfy your cravings.

To make your own General Tso chicken and lo mein at home, you’ll need the following ingredients:

For the General Tso chicken:

– 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

– 1/4 cup of cornstarch

– Salt and pepper, to taste

– Oil, for frying

– 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce

– 1/4 cup of water

– 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar

– 2 tablespoons of honey

– 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

– 2 teaspoons of sesame oil

– 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or more to taste

– 2 cloves of garlic, minced

– 1 teaspoon of grated ginger

– 2 green onions, sliced

– Sesame seeds, for garnish

For the lo mein:

– 8 ounces of dried egg noodles

– 2 tablespoons of oil

– 1/2 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined

– Salt and pepper, to taste

– 2 cups of broccoli florets

– 1 carrot, peeled and sliced

– 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce

– 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce

– 1 tablespoon of brown sugar

– 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

– 2 cloves of garlic, minced

– 1 teaspoon of grated ginger

– 2 green onions, sliced

For the pork and vegetable egg rolls:

– 1/4 pound of ground pork

– Salt and pepper, to taste

– 2 teaspoons of oil

– 2 cups of shredded cabbage

– 1/4 cup of shredded carrot

– 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce

– 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

– 1/4 teaspoon of sugar

– 1/4 teaspoon of salt

– 10 egg roll wrappers

– Oil, for frying

– Sweet and sour sauce, for dipping

To make the General Tso chicken, follow these steps:

1. In a large ziplock bag, toss the chicken pieces with the cornstarch, salt, and pepper, until well coated. Shake off any excess cornstarch.

2. Heat about an inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches, turning once, until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and keep warm.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes, until smooth. Set aside.

4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat some oil and sauté the garlic and ginger, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the sauce mixture and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

5. Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.

To make the lo mein, follow these steps:

1. Cook the noodles according to the package directions, until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

2. In a large skillet over high heat, heat some oil and season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.

3. In the same skillet, add some more oil and stir-fry the broccoli and carrot, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, until well combined. Set aside.

5. In the same skillet, add the sauce and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

6. Add the noodles, shrimp, and vegetables, and toss to combine. Sprinkle with green onions.

To make the pork and vegetable egg rolls, follow these steps:

1. In a small skillet over medium-high heat, cook the pork, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and drain the excess fat. Set aside.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat some oil and stir-fry the cabbage and carrot, until wilted, about 10 minutes. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and salt, and toss to combine. Set aside and let cool slightly.

3. To assemble the egg rolls, lay one wrapper on a flat surface, with one corner pointing towards you. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture and 2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture on the lower third of the wrapper. Fold the bottom corner over the filling, tuck in the sides, and roll up tightly, sealing the edge with some water. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.

4. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Fry the egg rolls in batches, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve with sweet and sour sauce.

And there you have it, your own General Tso chicken and lo mein at home, with pork and vegetable egg rolls on the side. This homemade Chinese feast will make you feel like you’re at your favorite restaurant, without the hassle or the cost. Enjoy!