Orange Chicken
Only takes 20 minutes!
Serves 4
- Chicken Coating and Chicken
- ¾ cup (90g) plain (all purpose) flour
- 1 medium egg
- ¼ tsp garlic salt
- ⅓ cup + 1tbsp (90ml) cold water
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 8 chicken thigh fillets (skinless and boneless) - chopped into bite-size chunks
- 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil - for frying
- Orange Sauce
- Juice of 2 large oranges
- Zest of half an orange
- 6 tbsp caster sugar - or superfine sugar
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic - minced
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 3 tbsp cold water to form a slurry
- To Serve:
- Boiled rice
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- Start by making the batter for the chicken. In a large bowl, add the plain (all purpose) flour, egg, garlic salt, salt, pepper and water and mix together using a whisk until smooth.
- Place the chopped chicken thighs in a separate bowl and sprinkle on the cornflour (cornstarch). Toss together so the chicken is coated in the cornflour.
- Add the chicken to the batter, and mix together so the chicken is coated in the batter.
- Add the oil to a wok or large frying pan (skillet) and heat over a medium-high heat until hot.
- While the oil is heating, make the orange sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and rice vinegar. Put to one side.
- When the oil is hot, add the chicken to the oil. I find it's best to work in two or even three batches for the crispiest chicken. Add the chicken in a piece at a time, and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs, until golden brown and cooked throughout.
- Once cooked, place the chicken in a bowl lined with kitchen paper while you cook the second batch. You can add a little more oil in if needed, to ensure the chicken is surrounded by oil, but be sure to keep the temperature up so the oil is bubbling and hot.
- Carefully disposed of any leftover oil from the wok and turn down the heat to medium. Add the orange sauce to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
- If you want to thicken further, then slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water) whilst stirring.
- Add the chicken back to the wok and carefully toss together until the chicken is coated in the sauce. I find the best way to do this is to slide a spatula underneath the chicken, lift it up and turn it over - do this repeatedly until all the chicken is coated.
- Serve the chicken over boiled rice, topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.