Chinese and Taiwanese dishes are an important part of the culture of their respective countries. Both kinds of dishes represent their traditions, history, culture, and their ancestors through their sense of style and taste.
These dishes are unique and different in taste from one another. Each dish has its own history and importance. Governor’s chicken and General Tso are two famous dishes, each with unique tastes and cooking styles.
Despite both being flavorful favorites, many food lovers often get confused when comparing these two mouthwatering dishes.
We’ll be taking you through a comprehensive comparison of Governor’s Chicken Vs. General Tso so that you always know which you’re in the mood for.
Governor’s Chicken Vs. General Tso Comparison
| Governor’s Chicken | General Tso’s Chicken | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Taiwan - 1800s | Northern China - 1800s |
| Main Ingredients | Sugar, Pepper, Salt, Powdered Garlic, Ground Ginger, Onion Powder, Dried Red Chili, Szechuan Peppercorns, Vinegar, White Wine, Soy Sauce, Chili Powder, Eggs, Sesame Oil | Soy Sauce, Rice Wine, Rice Wine Vinegar, Sugar, Cornstarch, Garlic, Ginger, Dried Red Chili, Cubed Chicken Dark Meat, Egg |
| Flavor | Sweet And Tangy With Subdued Mild Spiciness | Spicy, Savory And Tangy |
| Cooking Process | Cubed White Meat Coated With With Egg & Wine Then Breaded And Fried Before Being Cooked Into Sweet Spicy Marinade | Dark Meat Like Thighs Cubed And Coated In Cornstarch And Sweet Sauce Then Fried Crispy In Sesame Oil Before Combining With Stir-Fried Garlic, Ginger & Dried Red Chili Pepper |
| Serving Suggestion | Hot Or Cold - Cashew Nuts, Spring Onions, Fried Rice, Accompanying Sauce | Hot Only - Broccoli, Mint, Sauce, Salad |
Governor’s Chicken Vs General Tso
Governor’s Chicken
The Southern favorite, Governor’s Chicken, is a recipe that’s been around since the very beginning of the integration of Asian cuisine into American culture.
This dish involves delectable pieces of white meat deep fried until juicy, tender, and crispy are a favorite in the US.
Sweet, spicy, and offering an explosion of flavor, there’s a good reason why the Taiwanese classic spread across the world.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Governor’s Chicken so popular.
Origin
Governor’s Chicken is a Taiwanese dish that originated during the late 1800s to 1900s. It rose to popularity in the Southern states of the US during the mid-1800s.
In 1842, the Virginia governor at the time, John Tyler, issued an executive order that made it mandatory for all citizens to eat a minimum of one chicken dinner each week
The deep-fried dish with overwhelming popularity at the time in the region took its name from the Governor’s order, therefore becoming known as ‘Governor’s Chicken’ ever since.
Main Ingredient
While there are slight variations to the basic recipe, Governor’s Chicken is sweet, relying on sugar as a core ingredient even though it also features a variety of prominent spices. It includes pepper, salt, garlic, ginger, and onion, all in powder form.
Furthermore, there are dried red chilies, Chinese (Szechuan) peppercorn, vinegar, white wine, soy sauce, chili powder, and beaten eggs mixed together to create a marinade for the chicken.
After marination, the bits of chicken are fried at high heat in sesame oil which also imparts subtle flavor.
Flavor
Expect a subdued spiciness with tangy sweetness featuring strongly among a blend of seasonings that lift and extend the taste of chili and peppercorns.
Unlike General Tso’s Chicken which has a flavor built around soy sauce, Governor’s Chicken bases its taste on sweetness.
Cooking Process
Chicken white meat from the breasts or legs is cubed into bite-sized pieces and then drenched in egg and wine before being breaded in cornflour and allowed to rest for an extended period.
The breaded chicken is deep-fried in sesame oil until tender and then added to a pot with vinegar, soya sauce, sugar, wine, cornflour, and a combination of fried chilis, Szechuan peppercorns, ginger, garlic, and chili powder.
After being allowed to cook briefly, the chicken and thickened sauce are combined with freshly chopped fresh onions and cashew nuts just before serving.
Serving Suggestion
It is mainly served when hot along with some nuts such as cashew nuts and some spring onions on top of it for dressing purposes.
But many people also like to eat Governer’s chicken when it’s cold. It is also served with fried rice, a source, and some side dishes in many places.
General Tso
Unlike the Governor’s chicken which uses chunks of white meat only, General Tso’s Chicken is a dish based on dark meat.
Let’s take a closer look at the must-try meal known as Governor’s Chicken.
Origin
General Tso’s Chicken is a Chinese dish that originated during the same timeline as the Governor’s chicken which places its first consumption and rise to widespread popularity during the late 1800s to 1900s.
The recipe arose as a favorite in Northern China. Most scholars believe the recipe was named after the Qing dynasty Chinese statesman Zuo Zongtang which is alternatively spelled as Tso Tsung-Tang – a man who was often referred to as General Tso when spoken of as a military leader.
While this is the most widely accepted origin story, some debate that it is not found in Zongtang’s regional vicinity and that he could not have known of it.
Instead, many believe that the dish arose out of Hunan cuisine and that the name is a reference derived from ‘Zongtang,’ the term which means ancestral meeting hall in Chinese.
Whether it is named after where it was eaten or if General Tso’s Chicken was named after an actual general and the food he preferred is unknown.
There’s even a claim that the recipe was named after a restaurant founded in New York by TT Wang, who brought it over from China.
Main Ingredient
There are far fewer ingredients in General Tso’s chicken than are found in Governor’s Chicken.
While there are various variations available, the basic recipe involves a sauce made from soy sauce, rice wine, rice wine vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, and dried red chili pepper.
Pieces of cubed chicken dark meat are breaded in egg and cornstarch before being combined with sauce.
While not essential, broccoli is traditionally served aside from the main meal.
Flavor
Deep-fried and coated in a sauce similar to Governor’s dish, General Tso’s offers much of the same consistency but instead has a sauce with a delectable combination of savory and sweet.
The taste of ginger, soy sauce, and chili features prominently, with only a slightly sweet undertone remaining. Expect a moderately hot dish that leans more towards savory than sweet.
Cooking Process
Chicken thighs are cubed and coated in cornstarch and then coated in a sweet, sourish savory sauce.
After allowing the sauce to infuse for a few minutes, the chicken is then fried until crispy in sesame oil.
Once browned, the chicken is set aside, and the garlic and other ingredients are stir-fried.
Once the garlic begins to release an aroma, the browned chicken and the remaining sauce is returned to the pan and then simmered while constantly stirring until thickened.
Serving Suggestion
General Tso is only served When it is hot along with some fried vegetables such as broccoli and sometimes a few mints leave to uplift the taste even more and a source.
It is also consumed with fried rice and a few side dishes such as the kimchi.
Concise Comparison, Governor’s Chicken Vs. General Tso
The main differences between Governor’s Chicken and General Tso’s chicken are as follows:
- Governor’s Chicken is a Taiwanese dish, whereas General Tso’s Chicken originates in northern China.
- Governor’s Chicken is less greasy as compared to General Tso.
- Governor’s Chicken relies on sugar for its core flavor, whereas General Tso’s chicken bases its flavors around soy sauce.
- Governor’s Chicken is sweeter, whereas General Tso’s chicken is spicier with a more savory flavor.
- General Tso’s Chicken is less crispy with less crunch and less tenderness due to the dark meat being used as opposed to white meat only of Governor’s Chicken.
- Governor’s Chicken is a dish that can be enjoyed hot or cold, but General Tso’s Chicken is only ever served hot.
- Governor’s Chicken is served with cashew nuts and a sauce, whereas General Tso’s chicken is served with fried broccoli.
Governor’s Chicken Vs. General Tso, Conclusion
We hope that you find this article helpful. The bottom line is that both Governor’s Chicken Vs. General Tso has different forms of marinating, cooking techniques, and ingredients, making their taste completely different.
Both the dishes come with a different sense of representation and style. They are each unique and represent their culture and history very well, honoring their origin and ancestors.