Crispy Orange Chicken Delight
After countless attempts to perfect my orange chicken recipe, I've finally crafted this luscious dish that captures the vibrant flavors of a restaurant favorite. The crispy chicken is tossed in a sticky-sweet orange sauce that boasts a delightful balance of citrus and a hint of spice. Perfectly served over fragrant steamed rice or hearty fried rice, this meal is not only delicious but also makes a fantastic one-dish wonder for any occasion. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped green onions for a fresh, delightful finish. Dive into this culinary experience that will surely impress your family and friends!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
water
1 cup (none)
orange juice
1/2 cup (none)
lemon juice
1/4 cup (fresh squeezed)
rice vinegar
1/3 cup (none)
soy sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons (none)
grated orange zest
1 tablespoon (none)
brown sugar
1 cup (packed)
minced fresh gingerroot
1/2 teaspoon (none)
minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon (none)
chopped green onions
2 tablespoons (for garnish)
red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon (none)
cornstarch
3 tablespoons (for sauce) + 3 tablespoons (for coating) (divided use)
additional water for cornstarch slurry
4 tablespoons (divided use)
boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 lbs (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
all-purpose flour
1 cup (none)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (none)
pepper
1/4 teaspoon (none)
olive oil
3 tablespoons (for frying)
Instructions
1
In a medium saucepan, combine water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Set over medium-high heat and stir in the grated orange zest, brown sugar, minced ginger, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and chopped green onions.
2
In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry, then whisk this into the saucepan mixture. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
3
Place the chicken pieces in a resealable plastic bag. Once the sauce has cooled, pour 1 cup of it into the bag with the chicken. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the chicken to marinate.
4
In another resealable plastic bag, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces (discarding the marinade) and shake to thoroughly coat each piece of chicken.
5
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook until browned on both sides, about 5-7 minutes. Once browned, remove the chicken from the skillet and place it on paper towels to drain excess oil. Keep warm under aluminum foil.
6
Carefully wipe out the skillet and pour in the reserved sauce. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the additional cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water, then stir this into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the browned chicken pieces back into the sauce. Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chicken is heated through and coated in the thickened sauce.
7
Serve the crispy orange chicken over a bed of fried rice or steamed white rice, garnished with a sprinkle of chopped green onions.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Crispy Orange Chicken Delight?
Crispy Orange Chicken Delight is a restaurant-style dish featuring crispy chicken pieces tossed in a sticky-sweet orange sauce that balances citrus flavors with a hint of spice.
What cut of chicken is recommended for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts.
How should I prepare the chicken breasts?
The chicken breasts should be cut into 1/2 inch pieces.
What liquid ingredients are used for the orange sauce?
The sauce base is made from a combination of water, orange juice, fresh squeezed lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.
What provides the citrus flavor in the sauce?
The citrus flavor comes from a mix of 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of grated orange zest.
How is the sauce sweetened?
The sauce is sweetened using 1 cup of packed brown sugar.
Is this orange chicken recipe spicy?
The recipe includes 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, which provides a light hint of spice to balance the sweetness.
What aromatics are used in the orange sauce?
The sauce features 1/2 teaspoon of minced fresh gingerroot, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons of chopped green onions.
How do I thicken the orange sauce initially?
You create a slurry by mixing 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and whisking it into the boiling saucepan mixture.
How long should the sauce cool before using it as a marinade?
The sauce should be removed from the heat and allowed to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before marinating the chicken.
How much sauce is used to marinate the chicken?
Once cooled, you should pour 1 cup of the prepared sauce into a bag with the chicken pieces for marinating.
How long should the chicken marinate?
The chicken should be refrigerated and allowed to marinate for at least 2 hours.
Where should I store the chicken while it marinates?
Place the chicken and sauce in a resealable plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator.
What ingredients make up the chicken's dry coating?
The coating is a mixture of 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
How do I apply the flour coating to the chicken?
Add the marinated chicken pieces to a bag containing the flour mixture and shake until each piece is thoroughly coated.
Should I reuse the marinade from the bag?
No, you must discard the marinade that was in the bag with the raw chicken.
What type of oil is used for frying the chicken?
The recipe uses 3 tablespoons of olive oil to fry the chicken in a large skillet.
How long does the chicken take to brown in the skillet?
The chicken pieces should cook until browned on both sides, which takes approximately 5-7 minutes.
How should I remove excess oil from the cooked chicken?
After browning, remove the chicken from the skillet and place it on paper towels to drain.
How do I keep the fried chicken warm?
You can keep the chicken warm by covering it with aluminum foil while you prepare the final sauce.
What is the process for preparing the skillet for the final sauce?
Carefully wipe out the skillet used for frying before pouring in the reserved portion of the orange sauce.
How do I finish the sauce in the pan?
Bring the reserved sauce to a boil and stir in a second cornstarch slurry (additional cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water) to thicken it.
How do I incorporate the chicken back into the dish?
Once the sauce has thickened on medium-low heat, add the browned chicken pieces back into the skillet.
How long do I simmer the chicken in the sauce?
Allow the chicken to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through and well-coated.
What side dishes are recommended for serving?
The dish is best served over a bed of steamed white rice or hearty fried rice.
What should be used for garnish?
Garnish the finished orange chicken with a sprinkle of chopped green onions.
Is this a one-dish meal?
Yes, it is described as a fantastic one-dish wonder that is suitable for any occasion.
How much soy sauce is required?
The recipe requires 2 1/2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
Does the recipe require fresh ginger?
Yes, it specifically calls for 1/2 teaspoon of minced fresh gingerroot.
How much garlic is needed for the sauce?
The recipe uses 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic.