Sweet & Spicy Mandarin Orange Chicken.
📖 Recipe
Sweet & Spicy Mandarin Orange Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Breast
- 1.5 lb chicken brest, cut into bite sized pieces
- ⅔ cup cornstarch
- 2 egg whites, beaten
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ cup avocado oil, if pan frying*
Sweet & Spicy Orange Sauce
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 lg garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ cup orange juice*
- zest of 1 small mandarin orange, optional
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tbs honey
- 1 tbs cornstarch
- splash water
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- serve with: white or brown rice, green onions & some sesame seeds & favorite steamed broccoli or veggies
Instructions
- Prep Chicken & Sauce: Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and add to a large bowl. Toss with 2tbs soy sauce. Set aside.
- Make Sweet & Spicy Orange Sauce: In a small sauce pan, heat 2tsp sesame oil on medium low until warm. Add minced garlic & toss until fragrant and coated for about 30 seconds to a minute. Add other sauce ingredients: orange juice, zest if using, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar & honey. You will use tbs cornstarch at the end. Cook on medium low 15 minutes or so while cooking chicken. Stir often.
- Coat Chicken in Cornstarch: Heat large skillet with avocado oil. Drain chicken of soy sauce the best you can. Next, add egg whites to chicken and toss to coat. Drain again. I like to leave a little in there for the corn starch to stick & extra crispy bits. Add ⅓ cup of cornstarch and toss chicken to coat. It's going to be sticky. Toss again in another ⅓ cup cornstarch. Add a splash of water if it seems too dry or there is a lot of unmixed cornstarch.
- Make Chicken: Air Fryer instructions below. When oil is hot enough (chicken sizzles as soon as it hits the oil), add chicken pieces in one layer not touching. Cook 2-3 minutes on one side until nice and golden brown. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Drain on double lined paper towels.
- When chicken is finished cooking: mix 3tsp cornstarch with a splash of water. Add cornstarch mixture to sauce & Raise heat to medium-high & look for slow, fat bubbles after about 30seconds to 1minute. Toss chicken with mandarin orange sauce. Serve hot over sticky rice & lots of green onion with your favorite steamed veggies.
Home Cook's Notes
Air Fryer Instructions:
Preheat air fryer to 425° on step 3. Lay each piece of chicken in air fryer basket, do not stack on top and make sure to lay in one layer without them touching. Air Fry 3-5 minutes on one side and 3 minutes on other side or until golden and cooked through. You may need to work in 2 batches.
Home Cook's Notes:
2. Substitutes: chicken thighs work great.
3. Orange Juice: right now, it's January & citrus season. I like to use a 2lb bag of mandarin oranges when in season. But you can always use store bought orange juice.
4. Optional Zest: Sometimes I am in the mood for a touch of orange zest when I make this, and sometimes not. It's amazing if you want extra orange punch, but if you just want a hint of orange flavor go with just juice.
5. Rice: sometimes I make it from scratch, most of the time a 90second jasmine rice in the microwave works perfect!
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