Orange Chicken

Indulge in a burst of citrusy flavors with this Zesty Orange Chicken Delight. This scrumptious dish features tender chicken pieces coated in a crispy batter and enveloped in a sweet and tangy orange sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this recipe is easy to prepare yet delightfully satisfying.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:
🍗 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
🥚 3 eggs, whisked
🌽 1/4 cup corn starch
🌾 1/4 cup flour
🧂 1/2 teaspoon salt
🌶️ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
🛢️ Oil for frying

For the Sauce:
🍊 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
🍊 1 tablespoon orange zest
🥢 3 tablespoons soy sauce
🥄 1 teaspoon sesame oil
🍚 1/4 cup rice vinegar
🍬 1/3 cup sugar
🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
🥄 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
🌶️ 1/2 tablespoon chili flakes
🌽 1 tablespoon corn starch
💦 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1- Prepare the Chicken:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken pieces with whisked eggs, corn starch, flour, salt, and black pepper.
Mix well to ensure the chicken is well-coated. Set aside to marinate for a few minutes.

2- Prepare the Sauce:

In another bowl, combine the orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, chili flakes, corn starch, and water.
Stir until everything is well-mixed and the sugar is dissolved.

3- Fry the Chicken:

Heat oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the chicken pieces in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry each batch for about 5 minutes or until the chicken turns golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels.

4- Cook the Sauce:

In a separate large pan, pour the prepared sauce mixture.
Cook over high heat, stirring continuously until it comes to a boil and starts to thicken.

5- Combine Chicken and Sauce:

Once the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat and add the fried chicken pieces.
Toss well to coat each piece with the sauce.

6- Serve:

Garnish with sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately over a bed of white rice.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: Approximately 450 per serving
Proteins: 30g per serving
Fats: 15g per serving
Carbohydrates: 45g per serving
Equipment: Mixing bowls, large pan for frying, saucepan for sauce