Craving Chinese food, but not all the extra fat and oils found in most takeout dishes? The typical Chinese takeout meal consists of over 1,000 calories and around 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Fortunately, you can trim a lot of the bad stuff and keep the good – as in, the delicious flavors of Orange Chicken.
Ingredients:
Chicken:
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 eggs, whisked
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1/3 cup flour
• Oil for frying
Orange chicken sauce:
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice or white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• Zest from 1 orange
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions:
1. To make orange sauce, begin by adding orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and red chili flakes to a medium pot. Heat for 3 minutes.
2. In a small bowl, whisk 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to form a paste. Add to orange sauce and whisk together. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. Once the sauce is thickened, remove from heat and add orange zest.
3. To make chicken, place flour and cornstarch in a shallow dish or pie plate. Add a pinch of salt and stir. Whisk eggs in a shallow dish. Dip chicken pieces in the egg mixture and then flour mixture.
4. Heat 2 -3 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Using a thermometer, watch for it to reach 350 degrees.
5. Working in batches, cook several chicken pieces at a time. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, turning often until golden brown. Place chicken on a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat.
6. `Toss chicken with orange sauce and serve.
On the hunt for a new favorite recipe to add to your list of staples? The team at The District Flats Apartments in Lenexa, Kansas encourages you to try your hand at this delicious option.