My mom is a huge fan of Chinese food.
90% of the time, she ALWAYS orders Almond Chicken.
So, I decided to try and swayyyy her opinion by making Orange Chicken.
It's a delicious recipe... with my own twist!
What you'll need:
2-3 chicken breasts (cut into pieces)
1/2 cup of orange juice
Zest and juice from one orange
1 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 a yellow onion (grated)
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp black pepper
Cornstarch
2 eggs
Vegetable oil or Canola oil
1 cup green onions (diced)
2 celery stalks (diced)
2 carrots (diced)
1 cup pineapple (diced)
Sesame seeds (for garnish)
*Feeds four people - takes about 1 1/2 hours to make.
FIRST UP...
Dice the chicken breasts, and place in a container with a lid.
NEXT...
In a medium-sized sauce pan, you'll want to combine:
1/2 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup soy sauce and the zest/juice of ONE orange.
Turn the heat on "low."
ALSO ADD...
1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp black pepper and diced garlic (to the same pan.)
Grate 1/2 an onion... and add to the pan.
Stir together.
THEN...
Remove 2 cups of the sauce and add to the diced chicken.
Put the chicken in the fridge for 30-45 minutes.
While the chicken marinades...
finish the rest of the sauce.
In a glass...
Mix 3 Tablespoons of corn starch with 3 Tablespoons of cold water.
Add to the sauce.
Mix.
Bring sauce to a BOIL.
Then, let it simmer on low.
(Make sure the sauce is THICK - like a syrup. If not, add more corn starch.)
THEN...
Dice 2 carrots and 2 stalks of celery.
Add the veggies to the sauce.
MEANWHILE...
Add about 5 cups of Vegetable oil to a large pan.
(You want the oil to be 1-2 inches deep.)
Heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees.
Take your chicken out of the fridge.
Get two bowls.
In one bowl... beat 2 eggs together.
In the other bowl... fill it with 1 cup of corn starch.
Take each piece of chicken and dip it in the egg mixture... then in the corn starch.
Place in the oil.
Cook the chicken for 7-8 minutes.
Once the chicken is done...
Add 1 cup of diced pineapple to the sauce.
Pour the sauce over the chicken... and mix together in a serving bowl.
In the meantime...
Cook a pot of rice.
(Follow directions on the box.)
This usually takes about 10 minutes.
FINALLY...
Dice some green onions for garnish.
You can also use Sesame Seeds.
Now you're ready to serve!
Spoon some rice into the bottom of a bowl.
Add a generous portion of Orange Chicken.
Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.
It's a great dish - filled with citrus flavors.
I love the added "crunch" from the veggies... and the "sweetness" from the pineapple.
More importantly...
My mom LOVES it!
Yes, it takes a little extra time to make... but it's worth it.
Delicious take-out food... at home.
Enjoy!
