By Rob Corliss
February 17, 2021

Mash-ups are nothing new…but powerhouse flavor combinations always feel fresh and relevant. The influence of Latin American and Eastern Mediterranean cuisines has been well chronicled. And the comfort-centric positioning of kung pao, orange chicken and General Tso’s is well-established. Now, consider melding the craveable flavors of those cuisines and look to the opportunities they present.

This modern mash-up introduces more safe adventure into our current comfort-centric food world. Forward-thinking chefs are always envisioning new possibilities to tantalize consumers’ taste buds with crave-inducing builds that feel effortless. Here are ideas to set your operation’s recipe development in motion.

LATIN AMERICAN

General Tso’s-Inspired

• Carne Tso Asada: Ancho lime marinated skirt steak, grilled and glazed with General Tso’s sauce, then sliced and served with warm tortillas, fresh avocado slices and hoisin black beans
• Tso’s Picadillo: Ground hamburger/diced potatoes/tomato/bell pepper/onion/beef broth simmered in general Tso’s sauce, served with jasmine rice

Kung Pao-Inspired

• Kung Pao Quesadilla: Flour tortilla stuffed with small-chopped kung pao chicken and vegetables and Jack cheese, served with creamy peanut dipping sauce
• Kung Pao Plantains: Soft-fried plantains tossed in peanut powder, served with warm kung pao sauce

Orange Chicken-Inspired

• Orange Shrimp Taco: White corn tortillas topped with jalapeño-red cabbage slaw and breaded/fried shrimp tossed in orange chicken glaze
• Orange Elote: Freshly grilled corn on the cobb segments basted with orange glaze (no chicken), then flavored with Cotija cheese crumbles and smoked chile-salt

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

General Tso’s Inspired

• Tso’s Hummus: Traditional hummus swirled with a touch General Tso’s sauce (no chicken); served with warm pita wedges and pan-fried scallion pancakes
• Tso’s 1,000,000 Yuan Bacon: Thick strips of smoked bacon are glazed/candied with a harissa-General Tso’s sauce (no chicken) and baked to deliciousness, served in three-strip appetizer size

Kung Pao-Inspired

• Kung Pao Lamb Chops: Roasted lamb chops glazed with kung pao sauce, topped with crushed peanuts and pomegranate powder
• Kung Pao Halloumi: Thick slice of grilled halloumi topped with kung pao beef (small chopped beef and vegetables) and crushed peanuts

Orange Chicken-Inspired

• Za’atar Orange Carrots: Tri-color whole-roasted carrots topped with a touch of orange chicken (sautéed ground chicken) and feta crumbles, sprinkled with za’atar spice
• Orange Chicken Cous Cous: Fragrant golden raisin/preserved lemon/toasted almond couscous topped with classic orange chicken and sliced scallions

FEATURED RECIPE

Smithfield Culinary

Orange Pepper Pulled Pork Sliders
Celebrate the craveable flavors of the classic orange sauce, making a bright-hot version and featuring it on these Orange Pepper Pulled Pork Sliders. A crisp and colorful Greens Slaw adds crunch.

GET THE RECIPE FOR ORANGE PEPPER PULLED PORK SLIDERS