Spicy Schezwan Chicken Fry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Szechuan chicken sauce made of? ›

The dish typically features juicy chicken pieces tossed in a glaze made with sweet chili sauce, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. It's a perfect blend of heat, tanginess, and umami flavors that make it an absolute knockout dish.

Although the sauces are similar, General Tso's does not call for Szechuan peppercorns either though I see no reason why you couldn't add them anyway. Another difference is that General Tso's chicken is marinated in a light batter and deep fried. Szechuan chicken is only dusted with flour and shallow fried.

It is an extremely popular cuisine choice in China, with lots of people venturing to this region just to enjoy the spicy heat of the food. It is spicy and mouth numbing, and the numbing occurs through the use of Sichuan pepper, which comes from the prickly ash tree.

Hunan chicken contains stir-fried vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini. Szechuan chicken has no veggies other than seasonings such as garlic, ginger and occasionally some green onion.

This curious effect was thanks to one of the most integral ingredients in this province's distinctive cuisine: the tiny-but-mighty Sichuan peppercorn, a spice indigenous to China. The seasoning's English label is a misnomer, as the “peppercorns” are actually husks of dried berries from a type of prickly ash shrub.

It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavour of Sichuan pepper.

If you prefer a more intense and straightforward spiciness, the chili-driven Hunan dishes are for you. Szechuan peppercorn does have some spice, but it's milder and has the unique component of its numbing and tingling effects. Another distinguishing factor is the complimentary flavors.

Our experts say… General Tso's chicken is about the most dangerous Chinese dish on the menu—dark meat battered and deep-fried, then cooked with vegetables in a sweet, spicy sauce. Szechuan chicken, made with leaner, white meat and sautéed with vegetables, is a far better choice.

General Tso's is sweeter with a milder spice, featuring deep-fried battered chicken. Kung Pao is spicier with stir-fried chicken, vegetables, and peanuts.

Is Szechuan Chicken The Same As General Tso? While these two dishes may share a few similarities, they are not the same. To begin, Szechuan chicken contains Sichuan peppercorns and is spicier. Whereas, General Tso's chicken is sweeter but is also typically deep-fried instead of pan-fried.

What is in Szechuan seasoning? ›

Ingredients: Szechuan Peppercorns, Coriander, Brown Sugar, Sesame Seeds Natural Toasted, Ginger, Korean Chili Flakes, Garlic Roasted, Kosher Salt, Star Anise, Vinegar Powder, Chili, Citric Acid.

Numbing and Hot Flavor

It's no surprise that Sichuan cuisine has hot dishes. Numbing and hot flavor, mala wei, embraces the hot chilis and peppers that Sichuan is most famous for, but it goes beyond the burn. With numbing and hot flavors, you'll enjoy a combination of spice with salt, sour, and sweetness.

Steamed fish or seafood with ginger, scallions and soy sauce. Steamed fish and veggies are packed with fiber and protein. One of the healthiest places you can choose an entree on a Chinese restaurant menu from is the seafood section, according to Amy Yiu, RD, a registered dietitian with Health Stand Nutrition.

Many people know the spicy red hot flavors of Sichuan cuisine but in Hunan Province, the food is even hotter. Hunan food( Xiang cuisine (湘菜) - tastes less numbing but hot, sour, and salty. Their style of cooking includes sautéing, stir-frying, steaming, and smoking.

Szechuan chicken has a unique spicy-savory-sweet flavor that distinguishes it from other types of spicy dishes, such as Hunan chicken or kung pao chicken. One of the best things about this dish is how much you can customize it to fit your tastes: make it super spicy, or tone down the spice and up the sweetness.

McDonald's iconic Szechuan Sauce has a savory and slightly sweet taste profile with hints of soy, garlic, ginger and mild vinegar notes to round out your dipping sauce experience.

While these two dishes may share a few similarities, they are not the same. To begin, Szechuan chicken contains Sichuan peppercorns and is spicier. Whereas, General Tso's chicken is sweeter but is also typically deep-fried instead of pan-fried.