General Tso’s Chicken is saucy, juicy and crispy. The signature sauce is thick and loaded with flavor. If you are a die-hard orange chicken fan, you must try this dish! Make it all in one dish in the comfort of your home for a sweet and spicy treat!.
My family loves getting Chinese takeout, but lately I’ve been really enjoying making my favorite meals at home.
Not only is homemade “takeout” healthier, but you’ll save money. That’s a win-win in my book. Let’s get started!.
General Tso’s Chicken is a Chinese-American dish of fried chicken pieces that are breaded and tossed in a tangy sauce. This dish is very similar in style to sesame or orange chicken. But, like in much of Chinese food, it’s the sauce that makes each dish unique.
Typically, General Tso’s Chicken is served with a bed of steamed rice and a side of steamed broccoli. If you want to make a full spread of takeout favorites, try your hand at making some chow mein too. Don’t forget the chopsticks!.
Chinese chicken dishes are famous for their unique mix of flavors and cooking methods. Dishes like Kung Pao Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken are famous around the world thanks to the complex seasonings of Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and chili oils, but simple poached white-cut chicken is still a comfort food for Chinese families.
This article will talk about what plain Chinese chicken is called, how it’s made, where it comes from and what it means culturally, how it varies by region, its health benefits, and how to make it at home. If you like Chinese food or just want to learn more about healthy chicken recipes, keep reading!
What is Plain Chinese Chicken Called?
In Mandarin, plain poached chicken is called “bai qie ji” (白切雞), which literally translates to “white-cut chicken.” The name refers to the pale white color of the boiled chicken served without any additional seasonings besides salt.
It’s also commonly known as “white-cooked chicken,” “boiled chicken,” or “plain chicken” in English. Regional dialects like Cantonese may also have different names for the dish, like “bai zhan gai.”
A Classic Chinese Cooking Technique
Poaching chicken in plain water or broth has been a traditional Chinese cooking method for centuries. The gentle simmering results in tender, silky meat infused with the natural essence of chicken. It also has roots in ancient Chinese medicinal cuisine, with the broth believed to have restorative properties.
In traditional Chinese culture, serving a whole poached chicken means happiness and family. The pure, high-quality taste of the chicken was only served on special occasions and to guests who were truly honored.
So while elaborate seasoned chicken dishes have become popular globally, white-cut chicken remains nostalgic comfort food for many Chinese families. The minimalism highlights the pure, fresh flavor of quality chicken.
Regional Variations Across China
Plain poached chicken is enjoyed throughout China, but regions add their own touches:
-
Northern China: It’s often cooked with scallions, ginger slices, or goji berries to make it smell good. Served with dipping sauces.
-
Eastern China – Chilled chicken is favored in summertime. Shredded chicken also added to soups.
-
Southern China – Chicken poached in master stocks or herbal broths infuses more complex flavors.
-
Sichuan – Spicy pickled chili oils and peppercorn mixes offered as dips.
-
Cantonese – Chicken soaked in ice water post-cooking to tighten skin. Served with oyster sauce or ponzu dip.
-
Hunan – Bones sometimes crushed before poaching to release marrow. Served with chili oil.
So while the basic poaching technique remains the same, regional ingredients and condiments add diversity to plain chicken in different parts of China.
Health Benefits of White-Cut Chicken
Besides being delicious, white-cut chicken is one of the healthiest ways to enjoy poultry:
-
High in lean protein – Essential for building muscle, bone strength, and feeling full.
-
Low in fat and calories – Poaching removes excess fat.
-
Rich in vitamins & minerals – Packed with immunity-boosting zinc, energizing iron, and vitamin B.
-
Contains collagen – The long simmering breaks down connective tissue into gut-healthy collagen.
-
Easy to digest – Gentle cooking makes the proteins and nutrients easier to absorb.
-
Versatile ingredient – Shredded chicken can be added to salads, soups, congee, stir-fries, and more!
So savoring white-cut chicken nourishes your body as much as it satisfies your appetite and nostalgia for the old world flavors.
How to Make Plain Poached Chicken at Home
Here’s a simple recipe to poach your own juicy white-cut chicken:
Ingredients:
- 1 small whole chicken (2-3 lbs)
- Water to submerge chicken
- 2 tsp salt
- Optional aromatics: ginger, scallion, goji berries
Instructions:
- Rinse the chicken thoroughly under water. Remove any giblets.
- Place the whole chicken in a stockpot and cover with cold water by 2 inches.
- Add salt and any optional aromatics you desire.
- Heat the pot over medium-high heat until the water reaches a gentle simmer. Lower heat to maintain a simmer.
- Poach the chicken gently for 45-60 minutes until the meat near the leg joint reaches 165°F.
- Transfer chicken to a platter to cool slightly. Serve warm or chilled.
For the best flavor, use the freshest and highest quality chicken available. Free-range and organic chickens have the most flavor. You can also save the broth for future cooking. Enjoy the wholesome taste of home-poached white-cut chicken!
So the next time you see “bai qie ji” on a Chinese menu or are hankering for some nostalgic flavors, you’ll know exactly what simple yet scrumptious dish is being referred to. This hearty boiled chicken is the ultimate comforting meal that lets the pure, delicate flavors of the fresh poultry shine.
How to Make General Tso’s Sauce:
It’s very easy to make the sauce for General Tso’s chicken. All you need is rice vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, sugar, and corn starch to thicken it up. Simply add the ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
How to Prepare General Tso’s Chicken
Don’t be intimidated about making your own General Tso’s Chicken! It’s so easy, you’ll never call it in again. Follow these easy steps to nail it every time:
- Cut chicken into 1-inch size cubes. Toss the chicken with corn starch.
- Cook your chicken until all sides are golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the pan.
- Saute garlic, ginger and pepper flakes in the pan.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the chicken.
- Toss the chicken, making sure to evenly coat each piece. Serve hot to hungry people!.
SESAME CHICKEN Just like Chinese Takeout#shorts
FAQ
What is the Chinese chicken called?
Many people love the dish Kung Pao Chicken, which is traditionally made with Sichuan peppercorns, Chinese black vinegar, rice wine, and dried red chilies.
What is the name of the Chinese chicken?
The Silkie, also known as the Silky or Chinese silk chicken, is a Chinese breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is soft to the touch, like silk or fur. Other unusual qualities include black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and pentadactyly (five toes on each foot) – most chickens have only four.
What are some types of Chinese chicken?
So without further ado, here are 42 crazy good Chinese chicken recipes to make you exit the take-out apps once and for all!Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken. Chicken Lo Mein With Ginger Mushrooms. General Tso’s Chicken. Trini Chinese Chicken. Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken. Honey Garlic Chicken.
What is fried chicken called in Chinese?
The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating. What is Chinese chicken called? General Tso’s chicken (Chinese: 左宗棠雞, pronounced [tswò]), also called General Tao’s chicken or General Tsao’s chicken is a sweet and spicy deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants.
What is Chinese poached chicken?
Authentic Chinese Poached Chicken (白切鸡 – bai qie ji), or “white cut chicken,” is a special dish. It is both deceptively simple and delicious, served with minced ginger, scallions, oil, and salt. Make sure your chicken is at room temperature (trying to poach a cold chicken right out of the refrigerator will result in uneven cooking or undercooking).
Why is Bak Chit Gai called white cut chicken?
Why is it called White Cut Chicken? The dish’s Chinese name, 晽切閡 (bak chit gai in Cantonese or bai qie ji in Mandarin), means “white cut chicken.” It’s named as such because it’s poached in water and results in what is technically a very plain dish, like a pure, blank piece of paper.
Are Chinese chicken dishes spicy?
Yes, Chinese chicken dishes can be spicy. In fact, many Chinese cuisines, such as Szechuan and Hunan, are known for their fiery and numbing spice profiles. However, not all Chinese chicken dishes are spicy, and spice levels can be adjusted based on personal preference.
Are Chicken balls Chinese?
In Western Chinese cuisine Chicken balls (Chinese: 鸡球; pinyin: jī qiú) are a type of modern Chinese food served in Canada, Ireland, United States, and the United Kingdom as a staple of Chinese take-out. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating. What is Chinese chicken called?.
How do Chinese cook chicken?
Chinese chefs employ several cooking techniques to prepare delightful chicken dishes. These techniques include stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, braising, roasting, and even boiling, depending on the specific dish’s requirements and flavors desired. Are Chinese chicken dishes healthy?.