Tender, crispy chicken smothered in a deliciously fresh, sweet and tangy orange sauce, This Chinese Orange Chicken recipe rivals your favorite takeout!
This Chinese Orange Chicken is tender, chewy, crispy, citrusy, sweet, tangy and spicy all in one!
What is Orange Chicken?
Orange Chicken is a super popular Chinese fast food dish of Hunan origin that features chopped, battered, and fried chicken pieces coated in a sweet orange-flavored, caramelized chili sauce. The version that most people are familiar with in the U.S. is the version attributed to Panda Express that is more of a variation of General Tso’s Chicken. This Orange Chicken recipe is a little truer to authentic origins in that it isn’t as goopy as many Chinese-American restaurant versions. So while this isn’t a direct Panda Express copycat recipe, if you like the version at Panda Express you’re going to be over the moon with this version! Deliciously tasty with an accompanying kick, this is sure to become your go-to whenever you’re craving Chinese Orange Chicken!
Chinese Orange Chicken Recipe
Let’s get started! Chop up the chicken in 1/2 inch pieces. We’re now going to proceed with a Chinese stir-frying method known as “velveting” to achieve a nice coating for the chicken. To velvet the chicken, combine the egg white, cornstarch, sherry, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Stir to combine. Add the chicken to a sealable bag and pour the velveting marinade over it. Swish to combine. Refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the chicken pieces from the bag, shaking off the excess liquid, and give them another roll in some cornstarch (this will make the coating thicker). Heat some oil in high in a wok, deep fryer, or heavy skillet. Carefully lower the chicken into the oil and fry on both sides until a crispy golden brown. Set the chicken on paper towels to soak up the some of the grease.
Break up the red chiles into pieces and discard the seeds. Be very careful here to avoid touching the seeds (using gloves is recommended). Once you touch the seeds with your fingers they can really burn – avoid all contact with your face and eyes. Combine all the sauce ingredients.
Heat about a teaspoon of oil on medium-high heat to a wok or large saucepan and saute the ginger and garlic for 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the green onions. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken and green onions and simmer for another 5 minutes to ensure the chicken is fully cooked and the coating has absorbed the flavor of the sauce.
Serve immediately (to retain the ideal texture) with steamed rice. Garnish with fresh orange slices (optional). Enjoy!
Can I Make Vegetarian Orange Chicken?
Yes! For our vegetarian and vegan readers, you can make Tofu Orange Chicken! Here is how to prepare the tofu and then proceed with the rest of the recipe as written. Crispy Battered Tofu Cubes
1 lb extra firm tofu, cut into cubes ½ cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup sparkling/seltzer water oil, for frying
Preparation
Asian food lovers, don’t forget to check out this recipe for the Best Homemade Teriyaki Sauce!
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For more great Chinese dishes be sure to try our:
Orange Beef Sesame Chicken Beef and Broccoli Hot and Sour Soup General Tso’s Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Mongolian Beef Sweet and Sour Chicken Wonton Soup Shanghai Noodles Mongolian Chicken Honey Sesame Chicken Shanghai Burgers Chicken Chow Mein Chicken Teriyaki Noodles Szechuan Chicken and Cashew Noodles
First published Feb 7, 2013 Read more about me…
