General Tso’s chicken has been known as a traditional Hunanese dish. It appears as a classic menu item at Chinese restaurants across the United States while being mostly unknown in China. The chicken is battered, fried, then coated with a spicy-sweet sauce. Peng Chang-Kuei, a Chinese chef, claims to have invented it in the 1950s, without sugar. But it is currently prepared with sugar to appeal to the American palate.
This article details the general Tso chicken calories and nutrition facts.
Why Is It Called General Tso chicken?
General Tso Chicken, as it is commonly prepared and eaten in the United States, is unheard of in China.
Chef C.K. Peng (or Peng Chang-Kuei) invented the dish in Taiwan in the 1950s. The same chef took the meal to New York City in the 1970s and presented it to Henry Kissinger, who was a fan.
There is a Chinese version. But the actual recipe is really nothing like it because it isn’t deep fried and doesn’t include a lot of sugar. So maybe our low-carb General Tso’s Chicken is more authentic after all!
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Calories In Tso Chicken With White Rice – 1 Cup
Serving Size: 1 cup (146ggrams)
Amount Per Serving:
- Calories with white rice: 268.6
- Saturated Fat 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g
- Cholesterol 41.3 mg
- Sodium 761.7 mg
- Potassium 73.7 mg
- Total Carbohydrate 30.4 g
- Dietary Fiber 0.4 g
- Sugars 6 g
- Protein 19.1 g
- Vitamin A 2.5 %
- Vitamin B-12 0 %
- Vitamin B-6 1.2 %
- Vitamin C 0.0 %
- Vitamin D 0.0 %
- Vitamin E 0.0 %
- Calcium 0.1 %
- Copper 0.9 %
- Folate 7 %
- Iron 9.9 %
- Magnesium 1.5 %
- Manganese 8.8 %
- Niacin 3 %
- Pantothenic Acid 1.9 %
- Phosphorus 1.7 %
- Riboflavin 2.0 %
- Selenium 5.1 %
- Thiamin 7.7 %
- Zinc 1.3 %
Calories In General Tso Chicken With No Rice
Serving Size: 1 cup (146ggrams)
- 150 calories
- Carbs: 16 g
- Dietary Fibe: 1 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated: 4 g
- Polyunsaturated: 5 g
- Monounsaturated: 6 g
- Trans: 0 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Sodium 906 mg
- Potassium 250 mg
- Cholesterol 65 mg
- Vitamin A 7 %
- Vitamin C 21 %
- Calcium 3 %
- Iron 8 %
Ingredients
The sauce in the unsweetened Taiwanese version normally includes soy sauce, flour, tomato paste, rice wine vinegar, and chili peppers. Sugar is also present in the American version. Dark meat from chicken thighs, garlic, soy sauce, flour, egg, ginger, and frying oil is commonly used to make battered chicken pieces. Vegetables are used in some variations of the dish.
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Health Implications
General Tso chicken is rich in vitamin A and vitamin K, as well as protein, fat, and calories. This makes it an unattractive dish for those trying to lose weight. These essential vitamins are found in reduced-fat foods such as leafy greens and orange vegetables. This dish is not recommended for those trying to limit their sodium intake because it exceeds daily recommendations. Lastly, It has a high sugar content of 62 grams per serving. This may lead to increased blood sugar and triglyceride levels. So, it is not advised for diabetics or those on a heart-healthy diet.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we discussed the General Tso chicken calories and nutrition facts. We found that General Tso Chicken was mostly carbohydrates and lipids, with very little protein.
So, consume this dish in moderation or on days when you can indulge in a cheat meal.
If you want to learn more about your favorite foods, be sure to read our other articles where we discuss what goes into them, how many calories they contain, and how you can eat them to stay healthy!
