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Orange Chicken

Mains

Ingredients

  • 450g skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • ¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral tasting oil (if air frying, sub with 2 tablespoon of oil)
Orange Chicken Sauce:
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, pulp strained (about 4-5 medium sized oranges)
  • 2 tbsp white vinegar or rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp regular soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger powder, or freshly grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch or potato starch
  • ½ tsp red chilli flakes, optional
  • ⅛ tsp white pepper
Garnish
  • ½ green onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp orange zest, grated

Method

  1. In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients. Mix well and set aside.
  2. Dice chicken thighs into bite size pieces, about 1.5" pieces (about 6-8 pieces per thigh, depending on size). Do not pat chicken thighs dry, some moisture is needed so the starch can adhere to the chicken.
  3. Transfer the chicken pieces into a large bowl, followed by the starch. Mix to coat each piece evenly with tongs.
  4. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Carefully lower coated chicken into the oil and quickly spread apart. Allow the chicken pieces to sear and form a golden crust, about 5-6 minutes on each side and avoid stir-frying them. Flip chicken over and cook on the other side until golden brown. (To air fry the chicken, see below).
  5. Remove and transfer fried chicken onto a wire rack resting on a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towels to drain off excess oil. Pour out any excess oil from pan.
  6. In the same pan set over medium high heat, add all the sauce ingredients. Stirring consistently until the sauce bubbles and thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
  7. Toss the fried chicken until the pieces are coated in sauce. Garnish with orange zest, and green onions.
  8. Serve with white rice and steamed broccoli.

[!NOTE] To air fry the chicken, lightly spray air fryer basket with vegetable oil or any neutral oil. Lay coated chicken into air fryer basket in a single layer giving each piece enough space. Lightly spray oil over coated chicken.  You may need to air fry in small batches if needed depending on the size of your air fryer. Air fry at 205°C for 12-14 minutes until golden crispy brown.

Tip

The orange sauce works well with other proteins, particularly crispy tofu