Prior to the big move to America in 2009, I had only visited this country once before on a work trip and spent most of that in an office. There were many things that amused me when I first got here… most of it involved what I found at Walmart and of course the novelty of drive-through Starbucks (You mean I don’t ever have to get out of a car???).
First Impressions of America – Crazy priced wine, $2 IKEA hot dogs, Drive-thru Starbucks and Snuggies
Also part of my many little discoveries about living in America was this dish called General Tso’s Chicken. It did not exist outside of this country so it was the first time I had had some. Unlike a lot of my Chinese friends, I didn’t mind that PF Chang’s wasn’t “authentic Chinese”. Call it what you want though, it was still downright tasty! We miss going there but I have been able to find some comfort in making my own Paleo-friendly version at home.
We start with some cut up chicken marinated. I always prefer using chicken thighs because I am a dark meat kind of girl but it will work equally well with chicken breast.
Prepare some fresh ginger, garlic and green onion.
Coat the chicken in tapioca flour and fry in some hot olive oil.
Drain the chicken pieces on paper towels.
Leave 2 TBSP of oil in the skillet and fry up your fresh ginger, garlic and green onion.
Next, cook the sauce until it is thick and bubbly. The sauce includes my own Paleo-friendly Hoisin sauce.
Add the chicken back to the skillet and cover with the yummy sauce.
And serve and enjoy!
You’ll need:
- 1 lb chicken, cut into pieces
- 1 egg
- 1 TBSP sherry or other cooking wine
- 1 TBSP coconut aminos
- 1 TBSP tapioca flour
- 3 slices of ginger, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Enough olive oil or coconut oil to fry
- 1 cup tapioca flour to coat chicken
For the Sauce:
- 4 TBSP vinegar
- 4 TBSP coconut aminos
- 2 tsp hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 2 1/2 TBSP raw honey
- 1 TBSP wine or sherry
- 1 TBSP tapioca flour
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Optional: chili flakes or chili sauce to taste
- Mix together sauce ingredients and set aside
- Mix together chicken, egg, coconut aminos, sherry/wine and tapioca flour. Let sit for 30 minutes
- Coat chicken with tapioca flour
- Heat up oil in a large skillet and shallow fry the chicken pieces for 2 minutes or until golden brown and cooked
- Drain chicken on paper towels
- Drain skillet except for 2 TBSP of oil
- Fry garlic, ginger and green onion until fragrant
- Add sauce to skillet and cook until thick and bubbly
- Add chicken back to the skillet and coat evenly in sauce
Bon Apetit!
Where do you find “Coconut aminos”? Thanks, really looks good can’t wait to try.
Hi Crystal
Coconut aminos can be found at a local Whole Foods if you have one or from an online store like Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Secret-Organic-Vegan-Aminos/dp/B003XB5LMU) – it tastes just like soy sauce but so much better for you 🙂
This recipe is nothing short of amazing! Thank you!
Thank you Steve! I’m so happy you like it 🙂
I saw you said marinated chicken does it matter what I use?
Hi Lacey – the marinade described in Step 2:
Mix together chicken, egg, coconut aminos, sherry/wine and tapioca flour. Let sit for 30 minutes
1 egg
1 TBSP sherry or other cooking wine
1 TBSP coconut aminos
1 TBSP tapioca flour
Okay that was a silly question I see now. : ) I let you know how it turns out.
No worries! I hope you like it 🙂
I made this today and we liked it very much! Thanks! I served it with sauteed zucchini and toasted kale.
That’s wonderful Nelly! I hope you also find a chance to try many of the other dishes I have posted 🙂
Looking forward to trying this. Do you think I could use either almond or coconut flour instead of tapioca?
Hi Leah, you can technically do that but you will end up with more of a crumb coating (like fried chicken) instead of a batter with tapioca.
So if you’re OK with that, I would add a bit of almond milk to the egg and use a dipping method – dip the chicken in egg+milk and then dip in almond/coconut flour before frying
Most Hoisin sauce I have seen has Soy. Do you have a variation or have found an alternative version? Thanks the recipe looks great will try.
Oh I see…..I clicked on the Hoisin link and it took me to your alternate version, exactly what I was looking for! Thanks and will give this a whirl:)
yay!
This dish is amazing… I ask people at work to try my dishes just to make sure they really are as good as I think they are, and no one believed that I made it, or that it was paleo! Curious to find the nutrition content though. Do you happen to have that available? Thanks!! 🙂
Any particular vinegar, or will any do?
I know it’s years after the most recent post, just want to let you know this is my favorite paleo General’s chicken recipe. Worth every minute prepping!! Thanks!