Author Notes
Two of my favorite Chinese- American dishes for carry out (take out) are Almond Boneless Chicken and Orange Chicken. A few years ago I started making both at home when the carry out versions were becoming too bready and too soggy. The sauce for this Orange Chicken can be made early in the day and the chicken can be battered and fried closer to serving time with minimal prep when you're ready to eat. —inpatskitchen
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Ingredients
- For the sauce
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Finely grated zest of one large orange
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Juice of 2 large oranges
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2 cups
water
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2 teaspoons
finely grated ginger
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1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
-
1/3 cup
rice vinegar
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1/3 cup
soy sauce
-
1/4 teaspoon
crushed red papper flakes
-
1/2 teaspoon
salt
-
3
cloves crushed garlic
-
3 tablespoons
corn starch mixed with 4 to 5 tablespoons water to make a slurry
- For the chicken and putting it all together
-
3 to 4
boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
-
1 cup
white rice flour
-
1/2 cup
all purpose flour
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8 to 10 ounces
club soda
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1
egg
-
1/2 teaspoon
salt
-
1/4 teaspoon
black pepper (fine grind)
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1
small can sliced water chestnuts
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4 cups
lightly steamed broccoli ( or in a pinch use thawed frozen)
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2 teaspoons
toasted sesame oil
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Vegetable or peanut oil for pan frying
-
Hot cooked white rice
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Sliced green onion for garnish (optional)
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Shredded iceberg lettuce (optional)
Directions
- For the sauce
-
Combine all ingredients except the slurry in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add the slurry and continue to boil until the mixture thickens a bit. Set aside.
- For the chicken and putting it all together
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In a medium bowl, whisk the rice flour, AP flour salt and pepper together.
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In a small bowl beat the egg with about four ounces of the club soda and then whisk that into the flour mixture adding more club soda as you need to make a batter slightly thicker than thin.
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Heat the oil in a large frying pan, dip the chicken pieces into the batter, shaking off any excess and then fry them on both sides until lightly browned.
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Transfer the browned chicken pieces to a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a 425F oven for about ten minutes.
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Pour the reserved sauce into a wok or large frying pan, bring up to the boil and then gently stir in the sesame oil, broccoli, water chestnuts and browned chicken pieces.
-
Serve the chicken mixture over the rice and lettuce and garnish with the green onion.
I think I get my love for food and cooking from my mom, who was an amazing cook. She would start baking and freezing a month before Christmas in order to host our huge open house on Christmas afternoon. I watched and I learned...to this day I try not to procrastinate when it comes to entertaining.
My cooking style is pretty much all over the place, although I'm definitely partial to Greek and Italian cuisine. Oh yes, throw a little Cajun in there too!
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