General Tso's Chicken

Marlene Koch is my current favorite cookbook author.  I have several of her books ("Eat What You Love" and "Eat More of What You Love".)  She takes traditional and restaurant favorites and "healths them up!"  Lowers calories, fat, sodium, etc.  For example, this General Tso's chicken:  an order packs a wallop with the average restaurant order loaded with as many as 1,200 calories and over 3,000 mg of sodium.  Marlene's?  300 calories and 510 mg of sodium.  And believe me, there is no loss of taste here.  Delicious.

I served this over jasmine rice with a size of potstickers.

GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN (4 servings)

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
4 tsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp granulated no-calorie sweetener (or 4 packets)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp ketchup
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup sliced onion
3 cups broccoli small florets
1/4 cup AP flour
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp canola oil

To make the sauce, in a medium-sized bowl thoroughly whisk together the first nine ingredients (chicken broth through red pepper flakes).  Add onion and set aside.

Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl.  Add 2 Tbsp of water, cover, and microwave for 2 minutes.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix flour, and black pepper.  Roll chicken into beaten egg, letting excess egg drip off, and coat the chicken with the seasoned flour.

Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick wok or skillet over medium high heat.  Add half of the chicken and cook 4-5 minutes, or until well browned and cooked through.  Transfer chicken to a bowl and cover.  Heat remaining oil and repeat.

Whisk the sauce, pour it into the wok, and stir until it thickens and clears.  Add the chicken and broccoli, toss well, and cook 1-2 minutes or until heated through.

NOTE:  When I made this, I ended up freezing half of it.  I took it out the other day to thaw and had it today, July 9th, for lunch.  It is still delicious!  The presentation isn't quite as nice (the broccoli isn't the bright green as when it's fresh), but with just the girls looking on, I didn't mind!