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Chef Who Invented General Tso’s Chicken Dies at 98
New York Post ^ | December 2, 2016 | Yaron Steinbuch

Posted on 12/02/2016 11:25:36 PM PST by nickcarraway

Chef Peng Chang-kuei, who cooked up the recipe for General Tso’s Chicken, a perennial favorite Chinese dish in the US, has died of pneumonia at age 98.

The chef, who also founded the Hunan-style chain Peng’s Garden Hunan Restaurant, invented the sweet and slightly spicy, deep-fried staple that became a favorite in American-style Chinese eateries across the country.

The dish — believed to be named after Tso Tsung-tang, a Qing dynasty general – was introduced to the US by way of the Big Apple in the early 1970s as an example of Hunan cooking.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Food; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: sugar
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1 posted on 12/02/2016 11:25:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

i’m struck

this is BAD news


2 posted on 12/02/2016 11:27:38 PM PST by thesligoduffyflynns (TRUMP 2016)
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To: nickcarraway

A Colonel invented ours.

I know...I know....Tso what?


3 posted on 12/02/2016 11:32:42 PM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf.)
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To: Sivad

If the chef invented it then why is it named after General Tso?


4 posted on 12/02/2016 11:35:57 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: nickcarraway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLkTuWdKrqY

My condolences to a great chef’s family, though 98.... not bad. It is an American dish. It was invented here. Damned tasty too.

There is a video out there of Mainland Chinese trying the dish. It is a hoot.


5 posted on 12/02/2016 11:36:29 PM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools. Go Trump!)
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To: nickcarraway

I taught myself to make general tso’s chicken at home. It’s a pretty involved process but sooo much better than the slop they serve at most buffet’s these days which tastes like it came oyt of a 5 gallon bucket.
Also, the battered and deep fried chicken that you use for General Tso’s is excellent as it is. It doesn’t even need the sauce. It makes a great wing coating as well. And of course, you can coat the wings in the sauce easily which is also fun.


6 posted on 12/02/2016 11:36:36 PM PST by RC one (The 2nd Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances)
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To: MtnClimber

Wonder if the General knows the chef used his chicken?


7 posted on 12/02/2016 11:41:10 PM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf.)
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To: nickcarraway
General Tso’s Chicken, a perennial favorite Chinese dish in the US

What? Never heard of it. Now the guy who invented Ramen, he really did something.

8 posted on 12/02/2016 11:45:10 PM PST by LibWhacker
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To: nickcarraway

RIP


9 posted on 12/03/2016 1:10:18 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade
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To: thesligoduffyflynns

Did you know Orange Flavor Chicken is Gen Tso’s Chicken with orange peel (or so a Chef told me)? Both are favorites of mine along with Broccoli or String beans in garlic sauce.

Everything must be super doper hot!!


10 posted on 12/03/2016 1:18:30 AM PST by billyboy15
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To: LibWhacker

If you like Szechuan Chinese and you like spicy you ought to give it a try.


11 posted on 12/03/2016 1:19:46 AM PST by billyboy15
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To: billyboy15

“...super doper hot”

Should be “super duper hot” Little Freudian slip, heh, heh, heh.


12 posted on 12/03/2016 1:22:40 AM PST by billyboy15
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To: RC one

I love General Tso’s, but I hate the time and mess required to make it. (I don’t fry much anymore). Also, I’ve noticed most places here use chicken breast now, and I like the original version made with thigh meat...oh so tender, but hard to find.


13 posted on 12/03/2016 1:45:40 AM PST by blackbetty59
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
It is an American dish. It was invented here.

Right, you can't find it in China. And apparently Chinese chefs in America hate being asked to prepare it. Most consider the dish an insult to their cuisine.

14 posted on 12/03/2016 2:20:43 AM PST by jalisco555
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To: blackbetty59
yes, you absolutely have to use thighs for it to taste right. I have recently created a new Chinese style recipe that uses chicken thighs, cremini, mushrooms, shitake mushrooms, and diced jalapenos. It's real good. The sauce is (approximately) a large spoonful of each of the following Lee Kum Kee products: Chiu Chow Chili oil, chili garlic sauce, mushroom flavored sauce, and Hoisin sauce plus a TBS of lemon juice and some zest, minced garlic and minced ginger root (a single clove and a similar amount of the ginger), a large spoonful of teriyaki sauce, a splash of rice wine vinegar, a shot of brandy or so, some jalapeno seeds, fresh ground black pepper, 1/4 cup of corn starch, and a 1/4 cup of sugar and 2-3 TBS of grapeseed oil and a small spoonful of better than bouillon chicken base. The hot juices from the chicken are added in at the end of the process once the chicken has been cooked. The chopped chicken thighs are marinated in a portion of the sauce before the cornstarch and sugar are added. I fill the pan up with as many mushrooms as it will hold and cook them down in grape seed oil or olive oil adding the diced jalapenos about 1/2 way through or so. When they're done, I set them off to the side in a mixing bowl and cook the chicken in the same pan and juices and then when it's done, I decant the hot chicken/mushroom juices into the sauce mixture. then I combine the cooked mushrooms with the chicken in the same large frying pan and mix them up a bit. then I whisk the juices into the sauce until it's all thoroughly combined and then pour it into the pan and cook it at medium heat until the sauce thickens up stirring constantly to keep everything coated.

I like it because it is different than General Tso's and possibly better and yet doesn't require deep frying. It's best with white rice IMO and I prefer to make it hot enough to put a bead of sweat on the forehead. LOL .

I just had a bowl. OK, two.

15 posted on 12/03/2016 2:27:30 AM PST by RC one (The 2nd Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances)
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To: RC one

Oh, goodness! That sounds delicious. I may have to give that one a try. Thank you for the recipe!


16 posted on 12/03/2016 2:36:13 AM PST by blackbetty59
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To: nickcarraway

Interesting that the inventor of the Big Mac just died at 98, too. Guess it must be healthy food.


17 posted on 12/03/2016 3:58:39 AM PST by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: blackbetty59

You’re welcome. I forgot to mention that it’s also good with slivered almonds tossed in with the mushrooms when you add the chopped jalapenos.


18 posted on 12/03/2016 4:06:45 AM PST by RC one (The 2nd Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances)
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To: billyboy15
Looked it up. It's a seasoning mix? Is this it?

Is there a better brand?

I'll give it a try. I love hot and spicy!

19 posted on 12/03/2016 5:18:33 AM PST by LibWhacker
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To: nickcarraway

“slightly spicy”.

“Uh, honey? That dish has four red peppers next to it on the menu.”

“Oh, that is just a rating, like four stars. It just means they are really proud of it.”


20 posted on 12/03/2016 5:34:25 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Friday, January 20, 2017. Reparations end.)
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