General Tso’s Chicken invented

Description

General Tso's Chicken is named after 19th-century General Zuo Zongtang, a prominent Hunanese figure noted for his military campaigns, especially in reclaiming Xinjiang. Though the Hunanese are known for honoring historical military leaders through cuisine, no records link General Zuo to this dish in traditional Hunanese culinary texts.The dish was likely crafted in modern times, inspired by the general’s legacy rather than being directly tied to him or his diet.

Introduced, 1973

Peng Chang-kuei, a Hunan chef, introduced General Tso's Chicken at his New York restaurant "Uncle Peng's Hunan Yuan," establishing it as a signature dish despite its common ingredients. His version was celebrated for its bold, spicy, and sizzling-hot flavors.

However, when he brought the dish to Hunan in the 1990s, locals found it too sweet, and his restaurant there soon closed. General Tso's Chicken nonetheless became a staple of Chinese-American cuisine in the U.S.

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