Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Asian Orange Chicken


I found this keeper recipe on Allrecipes and as my grandmother would say, "I'll tell you what, this as some good!" If you like Orange Chicken at your local Chinese restaurant, chances are you'll really like this too. This recipe is so adaptable and flexible that most changes will work perfectly. Add vegetables (such as peppers and onions, though broccoli would have been a terrific addition), increase the heat by adding dried chili peppers instead of dried red pepper flakes), substitute pineapple juice for some of the water (I've used chicken broth in the past). Add chopsticks and enjoy!

Asian Orange Chicken

Sauce

1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar (I used white wine vinegar)
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root (I used powdered ginger)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Vegetables, if desired, such as pepper, onions, broccoli, baby corn

Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, , cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup all-purpose flour (I used cornstarch)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Combine the first nine sauce ingredients into a medium-sized sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Let it gently boil for a couple of minutes and then remove from heat. Allow to cool 10 to 15 minutes.

Once the sauce has cooled, pour 1 cup (reserving remainder of marinade in separate container) over cut up chicken and allow to marinate for at least two hours. Turn chicken a couple of times while it's marinating.

In a separate bowl (or plastic, resealable bag), combine the flour, salt and pepper. Drain marinade from chicken and discard. Dredge or shake the chicken pieces in flour mixture.

In a hot pan, add the oil oil and stir fry the chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove cooked chicken to a plate and keep warm. Wipe out pan, add a little more oil and quickly stir fry any vegetables that you are using.

Add back the chicken to the vegetables and pour in reserved sauce. Make a slurry of the cornstarch and water and add to the mixture. If sauce is too thin for your tastes, make a little more slurry; if it's too thick, add a little more water. Allow to gently simmer a couple of minutes, stirring, to ensure that the cornstarch has reached its full thickening potential and that it's cooked.

Either serve Asian Orange Chicken on the side, or serve over rice. This is good either way. One cup of sauce is not a lot, you may want to increase the sauce ingredients (still using only 1 cup for the marinade).

47 comments:

  1. My daughter loves orange chicken so I'm bookmarking this to make for her!

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  2. Another winner Katy! Love that you added the zest. Great flavors! My husband would love this!

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  3. This looks so good! I love recipes like this where you can change ingredients a bit each time and come out with something yummy.

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  4. The Orange Chicken looks so Yummy and mouthwatering Katy ! Will definitely try this version. I am sure it was very good with rice ...

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  5. I like citrus-flavoured dishes, either chicken, or seafood. The refreshing sourness boost the appetite.

    Angie's Recipes

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  6. I'm loving this, Katy...my husband and I love Asian style food! This is a keeper and we'll be trying it- thanks!

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  7. I have never added orange to chicken looks great I must try it sometime, thanks for posting

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  8. Your recipes always look so delicious, Katy! We love recipes like this!!!

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  9. We love orange chicken. I'll have to give this a try!

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  10. Oh Katy, I can' wait to try this!
    I love Orange Chicken...actually I love everything citrus!! It looks very inviting. ~Linda

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  11. I've had this recipe to try for a while... now with your testimonial, I have no excuse!

    Missed you these last few days, Kathye

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  12. My kids adore the Trader Joes frozen orange chicken kit and I keep wondering if I should attempt to make my own sometime. Your recipe looks like just the one to try!

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  13. Great recipe and photo, Katy! Sounds delicious! Some really great ingredients here :)

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  14. I'm going to have to try this. My hubby is an Orange Peel Chicken freak!

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  15. I just love Orange Chicken!! This looks like a delicious winner of a recipe!!

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  16. this is fabulous, my favorite part is when the rice soaks up all that flavor, yummy!

    by the way, we tried the german pancake with bacon, oooooh, so good! thanks for the great idea!

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  17. Oh YUM!! this is going on my must make list. I really miss chinese food. Thanks so much for posting this!!

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  18. I absolutely love this dish Katy!! And I love all your substitution suggestions. I think this sounds downright terrific!

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  19. Sounds delicious!
    I love orange chicken, I'm going to try this!

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  20. My older son is obsessed with Orange Chicken! If I ask "where do you want to go eat" he always says "Panda Express for Orange Chicken". I've never tried making it, but I've never had a recipe before! I am going to surprise my son and give your recipe a try!!!

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  21. That looks really delicious, Katy! I like the combination and the gravy too.

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  22. YUM! I made an orange chicken recipe in my slow cooker a while back...it was good, but this looks better! This is SOME good!

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  23. Now this is a gorgeous and wonderful sounding chicken dish. I just have to try this!

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  24. Looks delicious Katy! So does that German Pancake. I'm hungry right now!

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  25. love the pepper flakes....scrumptious picture too! missed ya....glad to be back...and thanks for your recipe tip for edamame! I am so right there.....

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  26. This is a brand new recipe for me. I'm looking forward to trying it.

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  27. The sweet and salty aspect SO appeals to me! Plus it looks beautiful. Another great job, Katy!

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  28. I am absolutely craving these flavors now, Katy!!! It looks and sounds super good :D

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  29. So I can bake, but cooking, not always my thing :) If you came over and made this for me I would be oh so happy!! Yummy!

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  30. Oooh looks too good! I love lemon chicken but not sure I've had orange chicken but now I must. I really can taste those flavors. Mmmm.

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  31. Oh wow.....love the aromatic and flavourful recipe...looks yummy....

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  32. Never heard of this dish b4..sounds great with orange flavor..yummmm

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  33. This looks great. I am putting it on my menu for next week! Thanks for posting it.

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  34. This is nice because it's not fried like typical chinese orange chicken. Don't get me wrong, I lurve fried foods, but this is much better on the waistline :)

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  35. My friend from Nova Scotia always says "some good". Too funny. It does look great! Or should I say "some good".

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  36. I am loving this recipe. All so fresh and I am a sucker for citrus-flavored anything. Huungry now and it's 8:30 a.m. Chicken for breakfast?

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  37. I love chinese food! This chicken sounds really good!

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  38. This looks amazing! Yes, of course go ahead and post the Snickerdoodle bars!! ENJOY THEM! They're a nice treat.

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  39. My kids love Asian food Katy, this looks wonderful!!!

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  40. Great recipe! We love orange chicken yet I have never made it. Only have had it in Chinese restaurants. Thanks for this recipe! (The German pancakes look good too.)

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  41. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  42. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for googling blueberries for me. I hope to take a stab at them soon!! I love your blog and I agree with you..it's something about what our grandmas made that make me all warm and fuzzy inside. :)
    Jaime

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  43. Looks absolutely delicious!!!
    u have a wonderful collection recipes Katy!

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  44. The orange chicken look fantastic! I actually did something similar before, with grapefruit and other vegetables to make a braised rice, oh, just love its pleasant sourness.

    Angie's Recipes

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