Introducing a recipe for healthier version of Orange Chicken that brings you the flavors of this classic takeout staple. Orange Chicken is typically fried and then drenched in a sweet and savory sauce. For a healthier version, I focused on creating a fresh and flavorful sauce that highlights and complements tender slices of chicken breast that are lightly sauteed. After making this recipe, you’ll never fry your orange chicken again!
Orange Chicken
Description
Are you craving something delicious from your favorite takeout joint but you’re trying to eat healthier? I have got a great recipe for you! This recipe for Orange Chicken gives you all of the flavors of this classic dish, but with a fraction of the fat and calories. Instead of breading and frying chunks of chicken, I have opted to use a velveting technique on slices of chicken to tenderize and lightly saute for a healthier option. I tried several versions of a light fry on the chicken and felt like I was just left with slimy and unappetizing result that clouded my sauce. Instead, I decided to focus my attention on a truly delicious sauce to coat tender slices of chicken in and the results were amazing! Velveting is what most Chinese takeout restaurants do to achieve that silky and delicious texture you get on their chicken, and it is definitely a game changer for any at home stir fry recipe. I then focused my attention on creating a sauce that is made with fresh ingredients that gets its deeper flavors from ingredients like orange zest, freshly squeezed orange juice, and aromatics like ginger and garlic. After a few simple steps, you have yourself a delicious and healthy dinner. I like to serve my Orange Chicken over steamed rice and with a side of veggies for a perfectly balanced meal. This version of Orange Chicken is such a great recipe for a meal that is healthy yet one that will be a true adventure for your tastebuds! Speaking of adventure, did you know about that time I found the buried treasure of the pirate Two Eyed Tony? Back when I was growing up, we would take trips to the coast where the infamous Two Eyed Tony ruled the waters and stashed his booty in a secret underground cavern. One day while on a family vacation, I had decided to take a long stroll while my family was resting. As I ambled along a local walking path daydreaming about pirates and their many riches, I developed quite a thirst. In the distance, I spotted a shabby old restaurant and decided to see if they would give me a glass of water. As I approached the restaurant, the ground suddenly went out from under me and I found myself among a large cavern littered with gold coins, gemstones, and riches beyond my belief, it was the secret underground hiding place of Two Eyed Tony! As quickly as I could, I began filling my pockets with as many coins and gems as they could hold, that’s when I heard voices above me. It turns out that I was not alone on the trail and someone saw me fall into a pit and came to my rescue. It’s good they did because there was really no other way out of the cavern and I didn’t want to end up like Two Eyed Tony. After all the excitement of getting pulled out of the cavern, the local museum curator came to the scene and laid claim to the lost treasure of Two Eyed Tony, but left me to keep a single gold coin as a finders fee. That afternoon, I returned to my family to go out for dinner and told them all about my adventure over a delicious meal of Orange Chicken.
Ingredients
Chicken
Aromatics
Sauce
Other
Instructions
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Start by prepping your aromatics and sauce.Â
Peel and mince your ginger and garlic, set aside until you are ready to use.Â
For the sauce: Zest 1 orange and set aside. Continue to juice enough oranges to get 1 cup of juice. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and set aside until you are ready to use.Â
Any variety or orange will do, however I find that using mandarin oranges yields a lot more juice and are not as messy to deal with.
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Prepare your chicken. Thinly slice your chicken into roughly 1/4 inch slices and combine with your remaining chicken ingredients. Mix well and let your chicken marinate for 15 minutes, this will allow it to tenderize.Â
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After your chicken has marinated, preheat 1-2 teaspoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet. Add your chicken slices to your pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown on each side, roughly 1-2 minutes per side. Repeat in batches until all of your chicken has been cooked. Set your chicken aside.Â
Don't overcrowd the pan! Overcrowding a pan will steam your chicken instead of achieving a lovely golden brown color.
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Add 1 teaspoon of oil to your pan and add your ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes if you are using them. Allow your aromatics to saute until fragrant, abou 30-45 seconds. Â
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Give your sauce a good stir and add it to your pan. Let your sauce bubble and thicken, about 2-4 minutes.Â
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Add your chicken back to your pan, let your sauce continue to thicken to your desired consistency, about another 2-4 minutes and serve immediately over steamed rice and garnish with green onions. Â
If you find that you prefer your sauce a little thicker, mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with a splash of water and add to your stir fry in small amounts until you reach your desired thickness.
