The BEST Orange Chicken | Panda Express Orange Chicken At Home

chicken

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Tofu is lower in calories and suitable for vegetarians; chicken thighs are more affordable than breasts.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey is a natural sweetener; brown sugar is often cheaper and adds a different flavor.

Cut chicken thighs into strips about 1 inch thick and then cube them into 1 inch pieces.

Season chicken with 1 tbsp of salt and 1 tsp of white pepper, mixing well to ensure all pieces are coated.

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 cup of cornstarch, whisking together.

Add 1 egg to the flour and cornstarch mixture, then gradually add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water until you achieve a batter consistency.

Season the batter with 1/4 tsp salt and 2 tbsp sesame oil, whisking until smooth.

Coat each piece of chicken in the batter, ensuring they are well covered.

Heat about 4 cups of oil in a heavy-bottom pot to 350-375°F.

Fry the chicken pieces in batches for 3 to 5 minutes until they are light golden in color, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot.

Remove the fried chicken and place it on a wire rack to drain excess oil, noting that the coating will darken as it cools.

Increase the oil temperature to 400°F for the second fry.

Double fry the chicken until it reaches a nice golden color, then remove and drain on a wire rack.

To make the sauce, squeeze 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice into a heated deep pot and add 2 tbsp of oil used for frying the chicken.

Add 1 tbsp of diced garlic and 1 tsp of minced ginger to the pot, along with 1/2 tsp of chili flakes, and sauté briefly.

Stir in 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 2 tbsp of soy sauce, allowing the sugar to melt as the mixture simmers.

Add 2 tbsp of rice wine vinegar (or plain white vinegar) and stir to combine.

In a small bowl, mix 2 tsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water to create a slurry, then add this to the sauce to thicken it.

Once the sauce has thickened, stir in 1 tsp of sesame oil.

Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.

Serve the orange chicken immediately over a bed of hot steaming rice, garnished with sesame seeds and finely chopped green onion.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens