The tangy and sweet flavored orange chicken is a popular Chinese dish. A person with a fondness for Chinese cuisine must have tried it. The thing that brings the sweet and sour flavor is the vibrant orange sauce not the chicken. Also, the crispy chicken will leave you amazed.
Its popularity is not limited to China but has expanded to Western countries as well. This article is dedicated to the orange chicken recipe. So, read on and learn how to make orange chicken at home.
A delicious orange chicken is made from a combination of some crucial ingredients. Those ingredients are listed down below. Take a look and assemble all the ingredients in the right amount.
For Chicken Marination
Boneless and Skinless Chicken: Orange chicken is mainly made from boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs. So, grab 2 pounds of chicken.
Eggs: They hold the seasonings to the meat and also give a certain shape. 1 raw egg should be enough for marination.
Cornstarch: This makes the chicken slightly crispy or chewy. Allocate 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. It will be needed before frying the chicken pieces.
Flour: Since flour is used to dry the chicken so that seasonings stick to the meat. Consider adding 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
Salt and Pepper: ¼ teaspoon of salt and black pepper is enough to balance flavors and bring slight hotness to the chicken.
Olive Oil: Use olive oil or any vegetable oil that you have at home. Set aside 2-3 tablespoons of oil for frying the chicken after marination.
For Sauce
Orange Juice: This liquid substance is the main player of the sauce to bring the orange flavor to the chicken. You will need around 2-3 oranges to extract juices. Grate the skin of a half orange for zest.
Soy Sauce: In the case of soy sauce, ¼ cup should be enough to bring flavor to the chicken.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice pierces the chicken pieces as a result allows the spices to infuse into the meat. Use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for that.
Minced Garlic: Take 2-4 cloves of garlic and mince well. It adds a slight sweetness and garlicky flavor to the sauce.
Granulated Sugar: Since orange chicken is normally made sweet. As this balances the overall flavor. So, add 4-6 tablespoons of sugar or honey. You can reduce or increase the amount based on your liking.
Ginger Paste: Ginger is known for its warm and slightly spicy flavor. Include 1 teaspoon of ginger paste.
Red Pepper Flakes: For added spicy flavor, ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes. This is optional. You can skip this if you don’t like it.
Tools Needed
Frying Pan
Mixing Bowls
Measuring Spoons and Cups
Knife and Cutting Board
Whisk
Saucepan
Paper Towels
How To Make Orange Chicken
Once the listing of ingredients is done, it is time to move towards the making process. So, let’s learn an easy orange chicken recipe.
1. Prepare the Chicken
Open up the packaged chicken and rinse with water. It will wash away any impurities or dirt on the chicken. Using paper towels pat dry the chicken. Place it on the cutting board and cut into bite-size pieces. Chop the pieces in even sizes. It will be easier when eating and also ensures even cooking.
In a large bowl, add salt, pepper and eggs. Whisk these ingredients well. Now add chicken pieces into the mixture. Use tongs to toss the chicken until coated nicely.
For faster and even coating, use your hands and apply the mixture. Leave the meat to sit in that bowl for about 30 minutes at room temperature. If you have enough time, then marinate for 1-2 hours.
Once the marination time passes, add cornstarch and flour to a bowl. Mix well these two ingredients and move towards spreading it all over the chicken pieces in a marinated bowl.
Use your hands to toss around the pieces. This way you will be able to coat all chicken pieces evenly. Also, ensure each piece is coated in such a manner that one doesn't get stuck to the other (separates easily).
Heat the oil in a frying pan. By the time the oil gets heated, set a dish lined with a paper towel near the stove. This will be needed to put down the fried chicken pieces.
Gradually add chicken pieces to the pan and fry them. Switch the sides of the chicken when the bottom one becomes golden. This whole frying process will take around 5-6 minutes. This time may vary based on the thickness of the chicken pieces.
Usually, we tend to add all the pieces to finish it quickly. No, don’t do this. It will only overcrowd the pan and lead to uneven cooking of chicken. So, if needed separate whole chicken filets in 2 or 3 batches and fry separately.
Once the first batch becomes ready, remove it and place it on a dish lined with a paper towel. Then proceed to the next batch.
It is time to prepare the sauce- a game-changer of flavors. This tastes sweet and sour. The same flavor is transferred to the chicken when both are combined.
How To Make Orange Chicken Sauce
Since it’s a detailed step so let’s get into the orange chicken sauce recipe step by step:
First, bring a bowl and add soy sauce, sugar, lemon juice, orange zest, orange juice, and red pepper flakes. Mix these ingredients nicely.
Second, heat the saucepan. Add olive oil or any vegetable oil and let it heat. In case you don’t have a saucepan, clean and use the frying pan that you used for frying chicken.
Third, include minced garlic in the heated oil. When garlic starts to become slightly golden, add ginger paste. Stir for a bit. Don’t let the ingredients stick to the pan.
Then, pour the prepared sauce into the saucepan. Stir the mixture initially to allow a good blend of ingredients.
Cook the sauce for about 3-4 minutes on medium heat and bring to a boil. When the sauce becomes thicker than its initial texture, know that the sauce is ready. Remember to stir frequently.
To make the sauce sultry, add some teaspoons of cornstarch to the sauce and stir well. Do this only when your sauce does not become as thick as it should be. Otherwise, there is no need to add cornstarch to the sauce.
When the sauce is ready, add fried chicken pieces into the saucepan. Cook the chicken and orange sauce for about 1-2 minutes. By this time, chicken pieces blend well into the sauce.
Don’t forget to toss the pieces with tongs. Turn off the heat when the sauce is nicely absorbed by the chicken.
7. Serve and Enjoy
Take out chicken from the saucepan and serve it on a plate. Before you eat it with other side dishes, leave it to cool for 1-2 minutes.
Sprinkle some chopped cilantro leaves for garnishing. It will bring a refreshing aromatic fragrance to the chicken. Now, enjoy the orange chicken with rice or tortillas or any dish of choice.
Storing leftover orange chicken is easy. You just need to ensure the chicken is all cool down. Then add them all in an airtight container. Put the container in the fridge (choose the coolest place in it). This way the chicken lasts for up to 4-5 days.
And don’t forget to maintain a cool temperature. Slight changes in temperature lead to spoilage.
You can eat the stored orange chicken after reheating it in a pan. While reheating, sprinkle some water for the moisture. This will prevent overdrying or burning of the meat.
What To Serve With Orange Chicken
Besides rice, you can pair orange chicken with given side dishes. Take a look:
Chow Mein: It is the most commonly consumed and popular dish. The veg chow mein goes well with sweet and sour orange chicken. The preparation of veg chow mein is less than 20 minutes. So try this combo and make your empty stomach happy.
Cucumber Salad: Cucumber is a refreshing and green vegetable. When it is combined with orange chicken, it allows you to enjoy the natural green flavor. Also, it helps with digestion because cucumber is filled with antioxidant properties.
Noodles: The orange chicken tastes good with noodles: cold or hot. You just need to boil a bowl of noodles and add some orange chicken pieces. Enjoy this flavorful combo for lunch or dinner.
Vegetable Soup: Having vegetable soup alone is boring and tasteless. But you can make it interesting by adding some orange chicken. Not only you but your kids will also love this combo. So try this trick, if you want the kids to have vegetable soup.
