Description
This General Tso Shrimp recipe offers a deliciously crispy and tangy take on the classic takeout favorite. Large shrimp are coated in a light and crunchy batter, fried to golden perfection, and then tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and a hint of sesame oil. Perfect served over steamed rice or noodles, it makes for a quick and satisfying Asian-inspired main course that’s bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Battering Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails removed)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- Vegetable oil for frying
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Additional Flavorings
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated)
- 2 green onions (sliced, divided)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, sugar, cornstarch, water, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Set the sauce mixture aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Coat the shrimp: In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper. Dip each shrimp into the beaten eggs to fully coat, then dredge them in the flour mixture until evenly coated for a crisp crust.
- Fry the shrimp: Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the shrimp in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove shrimp and drain on paper towel-lined plates to remove excess oil.
- Sauté aromatics: In a clean skillet or wok, heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and half of the sliced green onions; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook the sauce: Stir the prepared sauce again to ensure the cornstarch is incorporated, then pour it into the skillet with the aromatics. Cook while stirring continuously until the sauce thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Toss shrimp in sauce: Add the fried shrimp to the skillet and toss carefully to coat each piece evenly with the thickened sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the remaining green onions over the shrimp and serve immediately, ideally over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- Serve over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- To save time, use pre-cooked shrimp and skip the frying step by heating them directly in the sauce.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the level of spiciness.
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp during frying to keep them tender and juicy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
