Best Orange Chicken

The best orange chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that features crispy chicken pieces coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce. The chicken is typically deep-fried until crispy and then tossed in the flavorful sauce. The sauce is made with ingredients like orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and garlic.

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus extra oil for frying)
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons water

For the sauce:

• Ketchup
• Sugar
• Soy sauce
• Water
• Cornstarch
• 3 fresh oranges (you can also use orange juice if desired)
• Zest from one small orange

Additional:

• Rice for serving

Instructions:

1. Cut the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a shallow bowl, mix together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, vegetable oil, baking powder, and water. Add the chicken pieces to the egg mixture and coat them well.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or skillet for frying. The oil should be about 1 inch deep. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the coated chicken pieces and fry them until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oil and let it drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
5. In a saucepan, combine ketchup, sugar, soy sauce, water, and cornstarch. Mix until the cornstarch is dissolved and there are no lumps.
6. Zest the small orange and squeeze the juice from all three fresh oranges. Add the orange zest and juice to the saucepan. If using orange juice instead of fresh oranges, add it now.
7. Cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens and becomes glossy. Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed.
8. Once the sauce has thickened, add the fried chicken pieces to the saucepan. Gently toss the chicken in the sauce until it is well coated.
9. Serve the orange chicken over rice and garnish with additional orange zest if desired.

Enjoy your delicious homemade orange chicken!