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Low Carb General Tso: A Spicy Part of the Diet

Who doesn’t like fried chicken? It’s an age-honored dish that has fans from among the very young, the very old, and nearly everyone else in between. Fried chicken is generally permissible for controlled-carbohydrate dieters, they just need to avoid the usual coating or batter made from either flour or bread crumbs. However, to “spice up” the diet a bit, it’s a good idea to introduce variations to dishes every so often. One possible addition to the weight reducer’s meals would be low carb General Tso chicken.

Traditionally, the recipe calls for boneless chicken breast marinated in a spicy mixture of vinegar, wine, and a variety of herbs and spices. The problem is that the sauce calls for a small amount of cornstarch and sugar, which are loaded with carbohydrates. To make a low carb General Tso chicken recipe, you can reduce the amount of cornstarch used and substitute an artificial sweetener like Splenda for the sugar. You would still get the same texture and flavor, but with a lesser amount of carbs in the dish.

In fact, on the web site of Linda Genaw, an ardent low carb dieter herself, a recipe for General Tso chicken is given. She gives the following nutritional information for each serving: 154 calories, 19 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat, trace dietary fiber, and only 2 grams of net carbs. Now that’s an ideal low carb, low fat, and medium-high protein dish!

Chicken is one of the best low-fat sources of dietary protein, which is an essential part of our diet. Protein plays a big role in building and retaining muscle mass and in preventing musculoskeletal diseases. A diet that is rich in protein also protects against disorders like osteoporosis. In addition to protein, chicken contains other nutrients that are good for the body: niacin (for cancer prevention), selenium (to boost the immune system), vitamin B6 (for metabolic efficiency), and many others. Also, chicken is very versatile and can be included in a variety of dishes, such as General Tso’s chicken.

Whoever this General Tso is (reputedly a 19th-century Chinese statesman, scholar, and soldier), if he knew about it, would probably be honored that there’s a popular dish named in his honor. Perhaps he would be puzzled at the idea of a low carb General Tso chicken recipe, but millions of controlled-carb dieters all over the world sure do appreciate it.