Lucas Delgado
General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both Chinese dishes that are commonly found on menus in North America. They are both made with deep-fried chicken and share similar nutritional profiles. However, there are some differences between the two dishes. General Tso's chicken is known for its sticky sweet and tangy glaze, which is achieved using ingredients like chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chili peppers, and garlic. It is often served with broccoli and carrots and tends to be spicier than sesame chicken. Sesame chicken, on the other hand, is characterized by its sweet and nutty flavor derived from sesame seeds and oils. It is typically saltier and less spicy than General Tso's chicken, with a glaze made from soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, and ginger.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | General Tso's chicken is sweet, tangy, and spicy. Sesame chicken is sweeter, saltier, and less spicy. |
| Sauce colour | General Tso's sauce is red, while sesame chicken's sauce is brown. |
| Ingredients | General Tso's chicken contains chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. Sesame chicken contains soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and sesame seeds. |
| Calories | A 100-gram serving of General Tso's chicken contains 295 calories, while the same serving of sesame chicken contains 293 calories. |
| Weight | An average order of General Tso's chicken weighs 535g, while an average order of sesame chicken weighs 547g. |
| Nutritional content | Both dishes have similar macronutrient compositions, but sesame chicken contains more nutrients (57%) than General Tso's (55%). Sesame chicken is also higher in vitamins B1, A, E, B3, B2, B6, and B12. |
| Origin | General Tso's chicken may have originated from Hunan cuisine or Taiwanese cuisine. Sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang'. |
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What You'll Learn
Nutritional content
General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie foods. A 100-gram serving of each dish meets around 15% of the recommended daily calorie intake. Sesame chicken provides 293 calories per 100g serving, while General Tso's chicken provides 295 calories for the same quantity. An average order of sesame chicken provides 1603 calories, while an average order of General Tso's chicken contains 1580 calories.
Both dishes are rich in different vitamins. They are excellent sources of B-complex vitamins, containing almost equal amounts. However, sesame chicken is slightly higher in vitamins B1, A, E, B3 (niacin), B2, B6, and vitamin B12. Sesame chicken also contains glucose and fructose, which are absent in General Tso's chicken.
The two dishes are similar in their mineral compositions. However, the cooking technique can be as important as the meal's contents when discussing diabetes risk. Compared to cooking meat at moderate temperatures, such as boiling, steaming, and stir-frying, cooking meat at high temperatures like deep-frying, grilling, and barbecuing increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. As a result of the increased calorie consumption, weight gain may occur. Additionally, trans fats in fried meals can alter hormones that control hunger and fat storage, contributing to weight gain.
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Taste and texture
General Tso's chicken, named after the 19th-century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang, is known for its sweet, tangy, and spicy flavour profile. The sauce is typically redder in colour and has a sticky consistency, coating the crispy fried chicken. The spice in General Tso's chicken comes from ingredients like hot chilli pepper flakes, powder, or fresh chillies, giving it a noticeable kick. The dish is commonly stir-fried with vegetables, such as broccoli and carrots. The combination of sweet and spicy flavours, along with the stir-fried vegetables, creates a unique taste and texture experience.
On the other hand, sesame chicken offers a sweeter and milder alternative. The sauce is typically a brown, sticky glaze made with honey, soy sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. The addition of sesame seeds gives the dish a nuttier flavour and a crunchy texture. While spices like garlic and ginger are used in sesame chicken, they are milder and serve as light undertones to the overall taste. The crispy coating on the chicken and the deep-frying method contribute to a pleasant crunch in each bite.
In terms of nutritional content, both dishes are high in calories. A 100-gram serving of each dish provides around 15% of the recommended daily calorie intake. However, the specific carbohydrates and vitamins present in each dish differ slightly. Sesame chicken, for example, contains glucose and fructose, while General Tso's chicken does not. Additionally, sesame chicken is higher in certain vitamins, including vitamins B1, A, E, and B3.
While the taste and texture profiles of General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken have distinct characteristics, it is worth noting that there may be variations in recipes across different restaurants and regions. The lack of standardisation in these dishes, which are not considered authentic Chinese cuisine, allows for creative interpretations by chefs.
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Ingredients
While General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie, deep-fried dishes with similar macronutrient compositions, they differ in their ingredients, textures, and tastes.
General Tso's Chicken:
General Tso's chicken is named after the 19th-century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang. It is a sweet, tangy, and spicy dish that is a staple in Chinese restaurants across North America. The key to this dish is its sticky glaze, which coats the fried chicken. The ingredients in a General Tso's chicken dish can vary, but there are a few core components. These include chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chili peppers, and garlic. The amount of spice can be adjusted according to preference, with fresh chilies or chili flakes/powder being used to add heat. This dish is often stir-fried with vegetables like broccoli and carrots, resulting in a red-colored sauce.
Sesame Chicken:
Sesame chicken, on the other hand, is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang'. It offers a sweeter and milder alternative to General Tso's chicken. Deep-fried chicken thighs or bite-sized chicken breast pieces are coated in a sticky, sweet glaze. The key ingredients in the sauce include sesame seeds, soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Chicken stock may be added for extra richness. The nuttier flavor from the toasted sesame seeds distinguishes sesame chicken and gives it a unique taste. The sauce is typically brown in color.
Both dishes feature crispy, deep-fried chicken, but General Tso's chicken tends to be spicier and served with vegetables, while sesame chicken is sweeter and milder, focusing on the flavor of the sesame seeds.
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Origin
The origins of General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are rooted in the immigration of Chinese people to the United States. Both dishes are said to have been influenced by Chinese culinary traditions, but they are not considered authentic Chinese dishes.
General Tso's chicken is named after Tso Zongtang, a 19th-century Chinese military leader, although there is no direct association between the dish and the historical figure. Some sources claim that the dish was brought to the U.S. in the 1970s by Chinese immigrants, while others attribute its creation to a Taiwanese chef who introduced it to New York during the same period. The dish is said to have originated from Hunan cuisine and Chef Peng Chang-kuei. It features a spicy, tangy sauce made with ingredients such as chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chili peppers, and garlic.
Sesame chicken, on the other hand, is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang', which also refers to a meeting hall. This dish is characterized by its sweet and nutty flavor, derived from toasted sesame seeds and other ingredients such as soy sauce, brown sugar or honey, rice vinegar, and ginger.
Both dishes are commonly found on the menus of Chinese restaurants throughout North America, and they share some similarities in their core ingredients and cooking methods. They both typically feature deep-fried crispy bites of chicken with a sticky, sweet glaze. However, General Tso's chicken is known for its additional heat from spices and chili peppers, while sesame chicken is milder and sweeter.
The nutritional profiles of the two dishes are also similar due to their shared main ingredient of chicken. However, slight differences exist, such as the presence of glucose and fructose in sesame chicken and the higher water content in General Tso's chicken.
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Preparation
General Tso's chicken and sesame chicken are both high-calorie, deep-fried dishes that are popular in Chinese restaurants across North America. They are made from the same base—coated, deep-fried chicken nuggets—but differ in their sauces and additional ingredients.
General Tso's chicken is named after the 19th-century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang, although its exact origins are unknown. It is thought to have been brought to the US in the 1970s by Chinese immigrants and closely resembles an authentic Sichuan dish called la zi ji. The key to this dish is its sticky, sweet, tangy, and spicy glaze. The ingredients include chicken broth, green onions, corn starch, brown sugar water, hoisin sauce, chilli peppers, and garlic. The amount and strength of chilli vary depending on individual preferences. It is usually served with broccoli and carrots and has a redder sauce compared to sesame chicken.
Sesame chicken is associated with the Chinese word 'Zongtang'. It is a sweeter alternative to General Tso's chicken, with a nuttier flavour derived from toasted sesame seeds. The chicken is coated in a sweet, sticky, tangy sauce made from honey, soy sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Chicken stock is sometimes added for extra richness. The spices in this dish are of a milder variety, with light undertones of garlic and ginger. The average order of sesame chicken is heavier, weighing 547g compared to 535g for General Tso's chicken.
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Frequently asked questions
General Tso's Chicken is a sweet, tangy, and spicy deep-fried dish that is a favourite on Chinese restaurant menus throughout North America. The dish is named after the 19th-century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang.
Sesame Chicken is a sweet, sticky, and rich dish that is another favourite in Chinese restaurants and takeaways throughout the US and Canada. The sauce is usually made as a sweet honey glaze, with a mixture of key ingredients that include sesame seeds, soy sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, and sesame oil.
The main difference between the two dishes is that General Tso's Chicken has a spicy kick, while Sesame Chicken is milder. The spice in General Tso's Chicken comes from ingredients like hot chilli pepper flakes or powder, or even fresh chillies. Sesame Chicken, on the other hand, has light undertones of garlic and ginger, with most of the flavour coming from the sweet honey sauce mixture.
