Lucas Delgado
Sesame Chicken and General Tso's Chicken are both Chinese dishes that are commonly found in Chinese restaurants and takeaways. They are both made from deep-fried chicken coated in a dark, thick sauce. However, the two dishes differ in terms of taste, texture, and ingredients. Sesame Chicken is known for its sweet and nutty flavour, while General Tso's Chicken is typically spicier with a tangier sauce. Sesame Chicken is usually served with sesame seeds, while General Tso's Chicken is often accompanied by broccoli and carrots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | General Tso's chicken is typically spicy and tangy. Sesame chicken is sweeter and less spicy with nutty undertones. |
| Sauce | General Tso's sauce is redder and sweeter than the brown sauce served with sesame chicken. |
| Ingredients | General Tso's sauce is made with chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. Sesame chicken is made with soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and toasted sesame seeds. |
| Calories | Sesame chicken provides 293 calories per 100g serving, while General Tso's chicken provides 295 calories in an equal serving. |
| Protein | Sesame chicken is around 1.5g richer in protein per 100g serving than General Tso's chicken. |
| Fat | General Tso's chicken is higher in fat by about 2g per 100g serving, containing 16.36g, while sesame chicken has 14.25g of fat. |
| Cholesterol | Sesame chicken has 59mg of cholesterol, while General Tso's chicken has slightly less, with 53mg. |
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What You'll Learn
Nutritional content
General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie dishes. A 100-gram serving of either dish provides around 15% of the recommended daily calorie intake. Sesame chicken provides 293 calories per 100g serving, while General Tso's chicken provides 295 calories per 100g serving. On average, an order of sesame chicken provides 1603 calories, while an order of General Tso's chicken contains 1580 calories.
General Tso's chicken has more fat, with 16.36g per 100g serving, compared to sesame chicken's 14.25g. Sesame chicken, on the other hand, is slightly richer in protein, with 1.5g more per 100g serving than General Tso's. Both dishes provide high-quality protein, and a single order of either dish covers the daily value of all essential amino acids. General Tso's chicken, however, contains more essential amino acids. Sesame chicken has a slightly higher cholesterol content, with 59mg compared to 53mg in General Tso's chicken.
Both dishes are fried foods, and the cooking technique can significantly impact their nutritional content and health impact. Fried meals tend to be higher in calories and trans fats, which can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The high trans fat content in fried foods can alter hormones that control hunger and fat storage, leading to increased consumption and potential obesity.
General Tso's chicken, with its spicy and tangy sauce, typically includes ingredients like chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar, water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. The dish is commonly stir-fried with vegetables, resulting in a sweet and spicy flavour profile. Sesame chicken, on the other hand, is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang' and offers a sweeter, nuttier alternative. It typically involves deep-frying chicken thighs coated in soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and ginger, creating a sweet, sour, and spicy glaze. The addition of toasted sesame seeds gives sesame chicken its distinctive nutty flavour.
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Taste
While both dishes are made with deep-fried chicken, General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken differ in taste due to their distinct sauces and ingredients.
General Tso's chicken, originating from Hunan cuisine, is known for its spicy and tangy sauce. It typically includes ingredients such as chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chili peppers, and garlic. This combination results in a sweet and spicy flavour, often stir-fried with vegetables like broccoli and carrots. The sauce of General Tso's chicken is usually redder in colour compared to the brown sauce of sesame chicken.
On the other hand, sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang' and offers a sweeter taste profile. It is characterised by its crispy fried chicken thighs coated in a glaze made from soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and ginger. The addition of toasted sesame seeds gives sesame chicken its distinctive nutty flavour.
While both dishes have similar macronutrient compositions due to their shared main ingredient of chicken, there are some nutritional differences. Sesame chicken provides slightly more calories per 100g serving at 293 calories, compared to 295 calories in General Tso's chicken. Additionally, sesame chicken contains approximately 1.5g more protein per 100g serving. When it comes to fat content, General Tso's chicken has higher levels, with about 2g more per 100g serving than sesame chicken. In terms of cholesterol, sesame chicken contains slightly more, with 59mg compared to 53mg in General Tso's chicken.
It is worth noting that the taste and nutritional profiles of these dishes may vary across different restaurants due to individual interpretations and cooking techniques.
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Ingredients
Both General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are made with deep-fried chicken as their base. However, the two dishes differ in terms of their sauces, ingredients, and overall flavour profiles.
General Tso's chicken, originating from Hunan cuisine, typically features a spicy and tangy sauce. The sauce is made with ingredients such as chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. This results in a sweet and spicy dish that is commonly stir-fried with vegetables like broccoli and carrots. The sauce of General Tso's chicken is usually redder in colour compared to the sauce used in sesame chicken.
On the other hand, sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang' and offers a sweeter alternative. The chicken is deep-fried and coated in a sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and ginger. This sauce provides a sweet, sour, and spicy glaze with nutty undertones from the toasted sesame seeds. The addition of sesame seeds is a distinguishing feature of sesame chicken and contributes to its unique taste and texture.
While there may be some variation in the specific ingredients and cooking methods used in different restaurants, the key difference between General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken lies in the sauces and flavour profiles. General Tso's chicken tends to be spicier, while sesame chicken is known for its sweetness and nutty flavour from the sesame seeds.
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Origin
While General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie, deep-fried dishes that are not authentic Chinese dishes, there are some differences between the two.
General Tso's chicken, originating from Hunan cuisine and Chef Peng Chang-kuei, features a spicy and tangy sauce made with ingredients such as chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. It is served with broccoli and carrots, and the sauce is usually red in colour. The dish is stir-fried and has a sweet and spicy flavour profile.
On the other hand, sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang' and offers a sweeter alternative. It is made by deep-frying chicken thighs coated in soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and ginger, resulting in a sweet, sour, and spicy glaze. The addition of toasted sesame seeds gives sesame chicken its nutty flavour and distinguishes it from General Tso's chicken. The sauce served with sesame chicken is typically brown.
Some people consider sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken to be essentially the same dish, with the only difference being the addition of sesame seeds in the former. However, others claim that there is a slight difference in colour and flavour between the two dishes. While General Tso's chicken is known for its spicy kick, sesame chicken is preferred by those who like their Chinese food on the sweeter side.
The interchangeable nature of these two dishes in many Chinese restaurants may be due to the lack of standardisation in their recipes, as they are not traditional Chinese dishes. This allows restaurants to offer similar-tasting dishes under different names, catering to a wider range of customers.
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Preparation
General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie, deep-fried chicken dishes that are not authentic Chinese dishes. They are similar in their macronutrient compositions, as chicken is the primary ingredient in both, and any nutritional differences are made up for by the coating. However, there are some differences in preparation that distinguish the two dishes.
General Tso's chicken, originating from Hunan cuisine, is prepared with a spicy and tangy sauce. The sauce is typically made with ingredients such as chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chili peppers, and garlic. This results in a sweet and spicy dish that is commonly stir-fried with vegetables like broccoli and carrots. The sauce of General Tso's chicken is usually more red in colour compared to sesame chicken.
On the other hand, sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang' and offers a sweeter alternative. To prepare the dish, chicken thighs are coated in a mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and ginger. This results in a sweet, sour, and spicy glaze with nutty undertones. The addition of toasted sesame seeds gives sesame chicken its distinctive nutty flavour. The colour of the sauce for sesame chicken tends to be brown.
While the two dishes share some similarities in their base ingredients and cooking methods, the key differences lie in the sauces and additional ingredients used. General Tso's chicken is known for its spicy and tangy flavour profile, while sesame chicken is sweeter and nuttier due to the use of sesame seeds. The visual distinction between the two dishes can also be made by looking at the colour of the sauce, with General Tso's having a redder sauce and sesame chicken having a brown sauce.
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Frequently asked questions
General Tso's chicken is spicy and tangy, while sesame chicken is sweeter. Sesame chicken is recommended for those who prefer their Chinese food on the sweeter side.
General Tso's chicken features a sauce made with ingredients like chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. It is served with broccoli and carrots. Sesame chicken is made with soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and of course, sesame seeds.
Both dishes are high-calorie foods, with a 100-gram serving providing around 15% of the recommended daily calorie intake. Sesame chicken provides slightly fewer calories, with 293 per 100g serving, compared to 295 for General Tso's. Sesame chicken is also richer in protein, while General Tso's has more essential amino acids and slightly more fat.
