Sesame Chicken vs General Tso is a debate that has been raging for quite some time now. In this article, I attempt to resolve this argument by examining the pluses and minuses of each dish. What is the difference? You’ll just have to read on!
What is Sesame Chicken?
Sesame chicken is a dish of deep-fried chicken pieces or a meal containing them that is served in an eggy sauce with sesame seeds and chives. The name may also refer to the sauce, which contains beaten eggs, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, and often ginger.
It is commonly found in Chinese restaurants in America and served on the menu as a main dish. At its most basic, Chinese restaurants across America use the same recipe: chicken breasts and thighs are breaded with sesame seed to make crispy and then cooked in an egg-drenched hot sauce.
What is General Tso Chicken?
General Tso is a type of Chinese stir-fry dish, usually made with chicken. It is named after the martial artist and general Zuo Zongtang it is a sweet and spicy deep-fried chicken dish commonly found in North American Chinese restaurants.
General Tso Chicken is made by frying chicken breast and thighs in a sweet and sour soy sauce. The sauce contains soy sauce, chicken oil, sugar, chili bean paste, garlic, and ginger. Often the chicken breast or thighs are stir-fried with some red bell peppers as well. It is Served with Broccoli
Sesame Chicken vs General Tso
Sesame chicken tastes a little bit more salty than general tso and is usually served with sesame seeds. General Tso is Sweeter and Buttery than Sesame Chicken because the sauce contains more sugar than sesame oil.
General Tso is better served with Broccoli than Sesame Chicken. General Tso Sauce is more reddish in color than Sesame Chicken sauce. Sesame chicken is served crispy while general tso chicken is served less crispy. General Tso has more vegetables than sesame chicken.
What are the Similarities between Sesame Chicken and General Tso
Sesame Chicken and General Tso are both fried chickens, but Deep-fried Chicken is better than Stir-fried. Both are considered typical American Chinese cuisine. General Tso is sweeter and butterier compared to Sesame Chicken. General Tso contains more vegetables than sesame chicken, which explains why sesame chicken tastes saltier than general tso.
Sesame Chicken and General Nutrition Facts
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Source:
https://www.nutritionix.com/food/general-tso-chicken
https://www.nutritionix.com/food/sesame-chicken
Origin And History Of Sesame Chicken
The original recipe for sesame was first created in the 1980s in Guangdong province in Southern China. The recipe then became widely popular in china and the united states and other countries. It was named sesame chicken because it has a sesame flavor and the color is similar to the one of the chicken.
Origin And History Of General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso was also first created in the 19th century, This Dish is named after Hunanese general Zuo Zongtang, who reigned from 1812 to 1885. General Tso chicken is named after a Hunanese military leader. Although most of Hunan’s dishes are spicy, General Tso’s chicken was created by Peng Chang-Kuei in New York City in 1964. His technique for cooking became popular throughout America soon after general Tso’s chicken was introduced.
How to Make General Tso Chicken at Home
How to Make Sesame Chicken at Home
Other Popular Chinese Chicken Dishes
Orange chicken:
Orange chicken is another popular Chinese chicken dish that is made using skinless and boneless chicken breasts. The chicken must be marinated in a special mixture of orange juice and other ingredients, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. The dish is then coated with corn starch and deep-fried until golden brown.
Empress Chicken:
Empress chicken is made of a combination of egg whites, cornstarch, and rice wine. This egg white mixture makes the chicken tender and moist. It is usually fried until the egg white mixture turns golden brown. Empress chicken is usually served with hot oil or gravy, which contains oyster sauce, ginger, green onions, and sesame oil.
Hunan Chicken:
Hunan chicken is one of the most American-Chinese stir fry dishes. Its main ingredient is chicken. It also contains onions, dried chili peppers, garlic, green pepper, snow peas, and broccoli,. This dish can be enjoyed with rice or noodles.
Common Questions (FAQ)
Is sesame chicken fattening?
Well, Mainly it is a chicken dish with a little bit of sesame in it. It contains only chicken and is not fattening because the sesame oil used to fry the dish does not add extra calories.
What is sesame chicken sauce made of?
Sesame Chicken Sauce is mostly made of soy sauce, which contains no saturated fat nor saturated carbohydrates, but it does have a lot of sodium. Sesame oil is the main ingredient in the sauce as well as chili bean paste, which can be high in calories and fat.
Is sesame chicken healthier than General Tso’s?
Yes, Sesame Chicken is much healthier than General Tso. Sesame chicken contains sesame oil that has less fat compared to general tso’s. Sesame oil has no saturated fat so sesame chicken is a healthy choice. General Tso’s Sauce contains a lot of sodium content and therefore it is not a good choice if you are watching your weight and health.
What Does General Tso’s Chicken Taste Like
When it comes to General Tso’s taste, it has a slightly sweet taste and is a bit hot.
What Does General Sesame Chicken Taste Like?
Sesame chicken tastes sweeter when compared to general tso.
Conclusion on General Tso vs Sesame Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken has been a common dish in many Chinese restaurants. It is a deep-fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce. Although it is considered more Americanized, it is always delivered to your table hot and fresh. Most of the time you can also get broccoli as an additional option. Sesame Chicken on the other hand can be found in almost any Chinese restaurant across America as well. It is usually made crispy with sesame seeds and served with an eggy sweet and sour sauce.