I’ve come a long way since the days of living in the city and ordering in delivery. I used to be scared of touching raw meats, but I got over that hurdle and found my place in the kitchen. Recently, it was my turn to host dinner for my in-laws. My mother in law never fails to impress us with her Sunday dinners. From a spread of appetizers to gourmet fresh unique meals, we always leave satisfied.
I wanted to make an easy dish that wouldn’t be time consuming considering I’m pregnant with a toddler, tasty, and simple. The last time we all ordered in Chinese delivery, it was a huge disappointment, so I decided to attempt a healthy version on Sesame Orange chicken.
It was so easy to make and flavorful I had to share. It took less time to make than waiting for takeout, and it was quite tasty!
Ingredients
2 medium chicken breasts, cut into small cubes (about 1 inch by 1 inch)
3 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon all purpose flour (substitute 1 tablespoon cornstarch for gluten-free option)
a pinch each of sea salt and pepper (optional)
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
sesame seeds and/or thinly sliced green onions for garnish
Instructions
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Add the chicken breast cubes to a medium bowl along with the cornstarch and flour (and salt and pepper, if using). Stir to coat. Set aside.
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and while it’s heating whisk together the orange juice, marmalade, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and cornstarch until well combined. Set aside.
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Once the skillet has heated, add the oils and then the chicken coated in the cornstarch and flour.
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Brown the chicken in the skillet until each side is crispy and golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
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Pour the orange juice mixture over the chicken in the hot skillet and toss the chicken in the sauce until it thickens.
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Serve over rice with a side of steamed veggies.
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Garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds (if desired).
Recipe Notes
Feel free to use more cornstarch in place of the all purpose flour if you stick to a gluten-free diet. The added flour helps the chicken get extra crispy, but it’s not necessary.
