Skip Takeout! Quick Home Recipes for General Tso Chicken, Lo Mein, and Egg Rolls

A Delicious and Affordable Chinese Feast at Home

If you're craving some Chinese takeout but find the cost of dining out or ordering in a bit too high, there's a simple and satisfying solution: make your own Chinese meal at home. With just a few ingredients and some basic cooking skills, you can recreate dishes like General Tso chicken and lo mein that are both delicious and budget-friendly.

General Tso chicken is a classic dish known for its crispy, seared chicken pieces coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. Lo mein, on the other hand, is a flavorful noodle dish that typically includes vegetables, meat, and a savory sauce. Together, these two dishes create a complete and satisfying meal that will satisfy your cravings without breaking the bank.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To prepare this meal at home, you'll need the following ingredients:

For the General Tso Chicken:

• 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Oil, for frying
• 1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup of water
• 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• 2 green onions, sliced
• Sesame seeds, for garnish

For the Lo Mein:

• 8 ounces of dried egg noodles
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1/2 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons of seafood sauce
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• 2 green onions, sliced

For the Pork and Vegetable Egg Rolls:

• 1/4 pound of ground pork
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 teaspoons of oil
• 2 cups of shredded cabbage
• 1/4 cup of shredded carrots
• 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 10 egg roll wrappers
• Oil, for frying
• Prepared sauce, for dipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making the General Tso Chicken:

1. In a large ziplock bag, toss the chicken with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until fully coated. Shake off any excess.
2. Heat about an inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches, turning once, until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
4. In the same skillet, add a little oil and sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the sauce and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes.
5. Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Preparing the Lo Mein:

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil and season shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook until pink and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add more oil and sauté broccoli and carrots until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, seafood sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until well combined.
5. Return the skillet to medium heat, add the sauce, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
6. Add the noodles, shrimp, and vegetables to the skillet and toss to combine. Garnish with green onions.

Making the Pork and Vegetable Egg Rolls:

1. In a skillet, cook the pork over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain excess fat and set aside.
2. In another skillet, heat oil and sauté cabbage and carrots until wilted, about 10 minutes. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and salt, and mix well. Let cool slightly.
3. Lay an egg roll wrapper on a flat surface, corner pointing toward you. Place 2 tablespoons of the pork mixture and 2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture in the lower third of the wrapper. Fold the bottom corner over the filling, then fold the sides inward and roll tightly. Seal with a bit of water.
4. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and fillings.
5. Heat oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat. Fry the egg rolls in batches, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve with the prepared sauce.

Enjoy Your Homemade Chinese Feast

With these easy steps, you can enjoy a restaurant-quality Chinese meal right in your own kitchen. From the crispy General Tso chicken to the hearty lo mein and the savory egg rolls, this meal offers a perfect balance of flavor, texture, and convenience. Plus, it’s a great way to save money while still enjoying your favorite dishes.