Description
A bright and sweet orange chicken dish made with fresh orange juice and lightly fried chicken. Perfect for a weeknight meal or serving guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Place the cornstarch and beaten eggs in separate bowls. Dip each piece of chicken into the cornstarch, then into the beaten eggs, ensuring they are well coated.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the cooked chicken and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a separate saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Once the sauce is simmering, add the cornstarch-water mixture to thicken the sauce. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken pieces to the sauce, tossing them until they are evenly coated.
- Serve the orange chicken over steamed rice, garnished with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
Dry the chicken well before coating for the best results. Fry in small batches to keep the oil hot and the chicken crisp.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 150mg