Tangcu Li Ji (pronounced tahng-tsu lee jee) is a tasty dish of sweet, honey-glazed chicken strips, often topped with sesame seeds.

Both filling and delicious, Tangcu Li Ji is very Western friendly, closely resembling something you might order at Panda Express or any number of Chinese buffets in North America or Europe.

The chicken is cut into thick strips, then lightly breaded and pan-fried in a sticky, caramel-like sweet sauce (tangcu literally means sugar sauce and can also be applied to fish and tofu, although those combinations are far more rare).

Some Westerners will claim that Tangcu Li Ji is quite literally sweet and sour chicken, but if pressed to make a quick reference point, I think it's more similar to General Tso's Chicken, albeit sweeter.

Due to its sugary flavor, it's easy to lump Tangcu Li Ji into the Shanghainese style of cuisine, but the dish is widely available around China, although not necessarily at every restaurant.

Tangcu Li Ji is a great addition to a larger meal, bringing balance to a table that will most often feature garlic, spicy and salty flavors. So give it a try and enjoy.

"Always hungry, never full . . . "

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