Description
Savor Panda Express orange chicken’s zesty magic right from your kitchen, bringing Chinese-American takeout dreams to life. Crispy chicken pieces glazed in tangy-sweet sauce promise a restaurant-quality feast you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Coating and Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 piece fresh ginger
Cooking:
- 2 cups vegetable oil
Instructions
- Slice chicken into uniform, bite-sized cubes for consistent cooking and easy eating.
- Prepare two separate shallow dishes: one with beaten eggs and another with seasoned flour mixture containing salt and pepper.
- Dip each chicken piece first into the egg wash, ensuring complete coverage, then roll in the seasoned flour to create a crispy exterior.
- Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet, heating to 350°F for optimal frying temperature.
- Carefully place flour-coated chicken pieces into hot oil, frying until exterior turns golden brown and crispy, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Transfer fried chicken onto paper towels to absorb excess oil and maintain crispiness.
- In a separate saucepan, combine orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced ginger, crushed garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil over medium heat.
- Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with water, then gradually whisk into the sauce to achieve a thick, glossy consistency.
- Continue cooking sauce until it becomes bubbly and reaches a smooth, coating texture.
- Gently fold fried chicken pieces into the prepared orange sauce, ensuring each piece is evenly and thoroughly coated.
Notes
- Perfectly cut chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Use a cornstarch and flour blend for extra crispy coating that stays crunchy even after adding sauce.
- Consider using low-sodium soy sauce to control salt levels and accommodate dietary restrictions more effectively.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond or rice flour and use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg