Chinese Spicy Orange Chicken
My kids constantly urge me to take them to get Chinese food. They love orange chicken, but I'm not sure what's in it, especially if it comes from a drive-through.
I wanted to make a homemade version using only natural components. It still has the same great flavour that they enjoy. It's absolutely a win-win situation in our household.
It is winter in Arizona, which means that the citrus is ready for picking. I'm surrounded by neighbours who have an abundance of fresh oranges and lemons hanging from their trees.
This is the ideal time of year to prepare orange and lemon dishes, particularly this Chinese Orange Chicken.
This Chinese Orange Chicken is created using boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are sliced into bite-sized pieces, dredged, and fried till golden and crispy.
The orange sauce is delicious! It is a sweet orange sauce that contains orange juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, red chilli flakes, and orange zest. It's both sweet and spicy, with plenty of flavour.
Start with boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs. Cut into bite-size pieces. Dredge the chicken in whisked eggs and cornstarch/flour mixture until nice and coated. Get these chicken pieces ready for the oil.
To make your homemade orange sauce, place orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and red chili flakes in a small pot and cook over medium-high heat. Add cornstarch and water and cook until thickened. Stir in orange zest.