Orange Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • vegetable oil (or peanut oil), to coat bottom of pan

  • 4 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

  • 1 1/4 - 1 1/3 cups freshly-squeezed orange juice (about 3 Valencia oranges)

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 2 teaspoon dry sherry (or rice wine)

  • 1/2 teaspoon peanut oil (or sesame oil)

  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar

  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon minced orange zest

  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or chili flakes)

  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper powder

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 1 tablespoon honey

Mix the flour, cornstarch, and baking soda together and dip the chicken pieces into the mix to coat them. Heat a frying pan and add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Place chicken pieces into the frying pan and cook until golden and crispy. Flip pieces over, place the lid on the pan, and allow to steam until chicken is cooked and fork-tender.

Mix the orange juice, soy sauce, dry sherry, peanut oil, and rice vinegar together in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together the minced ginger and garlic, along with the orange zest, crushed red pepper, and white pepper powder. Gently sauté in a pan with a small amount of oil until aromatic. Add the cornstarch and then slowly add the orange juice mixture, stirring to prevent lumps. Add the honey and bring to a boil, cooking until it has thickened.

Pour sauce onto the cooked chicken. Serve warm.