Orange chicken originates from Hunan, China, although it is also often served in Chinese-American fast-food restaurants.
The orange chicken recipe is first fried and then sautéed in a sweet soy sauce and flavored with chopped dried orange peel. In the same way, it is accompanied with vegetables such as baby carrots or bok choy, which is a variety of Chinese cabbage.
In the western region, fresh orange juice or peel, sugar, broccoli or steamed broccoli, and chili, also known as ají or guindilla, which is a hot pepper, are used.
Preparation: 10 min, 60 min (marinated) | Cooking: 40 min | Total: 100min
Serving: 4 servings| Difficulty: laborious
Nutritional information for Orange Chicken
Each approximately 100-gram serving based on a 2,000-calorie diet contains:
- Energy 333 calories
- Fat 20.31 grams
- Carbohydrates 16, 44 grams
- Protein 20.3 grams
Necessary utensils:
- Knife, pot, pan, marinade tray
Easy and simple orange chicken recipe
Ingredients
To cook the orange chicken, you need the following:
- 4 chicken legs or thighs
- 2 finely chopped onions
- ½ liter of orange juice
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 spoon of sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil
- 4 potatoes, diced
- 4 carrots, diced
- 250 grams of steamed broccoli
- finely chopped parsley
- Cooked rice
Step by step to prepare and cook orange chicken
Step 1
For the sauce, mix the orange juice with the soy sauce, minced garlic, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and cornstarch.
Step 2
Marinate the chicken with the previous mixture for one hour.
Step 3
In a frying pan, fry finely chopped onion and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
When the onion is transparent, add the chicken and after 10 minutes the sauce, potatoes, broccoli, and carrots.
Step 5
Cook until needed over low heat, turning the chicken pieces.
Step 6
Before turning off sprinkle with parsley.
Step 7
Serve and accompany with rice.
Gastronomic tip
If you want a simpler and faster preparation, prepare orange chicken only with breast, oil, wheat flour, salt, and eggs, as well as soy sauce, sugar, sesame, and orange juice for the sauce.
Nutritional tip
Orange is a fruit rich in vitamin C, folic acid, minerals, and flavonoids that help prevent constipation and anemia.