General Tso’s chicken got to the states through Chinese restaurants that opened in New York in the 1980s.Īside from General Tso’s chicken which looks quite similar to Hunan chicken, you can also make General Tso’s shrimp, tofu, salmon, and more! So, the sweetness of General Tso’s chicken may be a purely American thing. Chef Peng named his dish after the famous Hunanese general.Ĭhef Peng, however, claimed that his authentic General Tso’s chicken didn’t have the sweet flavor that the Chinese American version of this dish has. It is commonly believed that the dish was created in Taiwan in 1955 by Peng Chang-kuai, a Hunan cuisine chef. A few people claim to be the author of the dish. There are a few stories regarding the origin of General Tso’s chicken. Though this was a real person, the military leader never made or ate the dish now known as General Tso’s chicken. The dish is named after a Hunanese general, Zuo Zongtang. General Tso’s chicken, also known as General Tao’s (or Tsao’s) chicken, is a sweet-spicy chicken dish and a staple in Chinese American cuisine. Hunan chicken is a dish featuring velveted pan-seared chicken and various vegetables in a delicious savory sauce that contains chilies for heat. Since then, Hunan-style dishes, including Hunan chicken, have become popular foods in Asian bistros and restaurants. In the 1940s, a group of Chinese chefs fled from the Hunan province to Taiwan and then moved to the US. Restaurants featuring Hunan-style cuisine appeared in the US starting from the 1970s. The latter uses Sichuan peppers that are quite high on the Scoville scale.Īdditionally, unlike Sichuan cuisine, sweet and spicy flavor combinations are not very popular in Hunan-style dishes. But Hunan cuisine is not as scorching spicy as Sichuan cuisine. Hunan cuisine is often considered related to Sichuan cuisine, another popular style of Chinese cuisine. The two main characteristics of Hunan cuisine are spicy flavors and bright deep colors. Xiang River is a river in Hunan province, hence the two names of the cuisine. This is the cuisine of the Xiang River region of China. Another name for Hunan cuisine is Xiang cuisine. Hunan chicken is one of the most popular dishes in Hunan cuisine. You will also find out which one is spicier! What Is Hunan Chicken? This article includes a detailed comparison of these two popular Chinese American dishes.Ĭontinue reading to learn how the ingredients, preparation, and the overall flavor of these Asian chicken dishes differ. Hunan chicken is also spicier than General Tso’s chicken and lacks the sweet flavor that General Tso’s chicken has. What are the differences between Hunan chicken and General Tso? The key difference between the two dishes is that the chicken is cooked differently. While these two chicken dishes look similar, they are certainly not the same. If you live in the United States and are a fan of Asian food, you have most likely seen or tasted Hunan chicken and General Tso’s chicken.
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