Sure, here’s a simple recipe for homemade orange chicken:
Ingredients:
For the chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil)
For the sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For garnish:
- Green onions, chopped (optional)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix together cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken pieces into beaten eggs, then coat them in the cornstarch mixture.
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- In a separate saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the simmering sauce mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add the cooked chicken pieces to the saucepan. Toss the chicken in the sauce until evenly coated. Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the orange chicken from heat and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
- Serve the orange chicken hot with steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy your homemade orange chicken!
Feel free to adjust the ingredients according to your taste preferences, such as adding more or less sugar for sweetness, or adjusting the amount of ginger and garlic for flavor.
