Panda Express Orange Chicken is a popular American Chinese dish known for its sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor. Making it at home can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here’s how you can create this dish:
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying
For the Orange Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
Preparing the Chicken:
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, whisk together the egg, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and stir to coat.
- Dredge Chicken: In another bowl, mix cornstarch and flour. Dip each piece of egg-coated chicken into the flour mixture, ensuring a complete coat.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry the chicken pieces in batches until they are golden brown and fully cooked, about 3-5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Making the Orange Sauce:
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté briefly until fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: Add orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, brown sugar, soy sauce, and white vinegar to the pan. Bring to a simmer.
- Add Cornstarch Slurry: Mix the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Slowly stir this into the sauce, and continue cooking until the sauce thickens.
- Finish with Orange Zest: Once the sauce is thickened, add the orange zest and mix well.
Combining:
- Toss Chicken with Sauce: Place the fried chicken pieces in a large bowl. Pour the orange sauce over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
Serving:
Serve your homemade Panda Express Orange Chicken hot, garnished with sesame seeds or green onions if desired. It pairs well with steamed rice or noodles.
Tips:
- Consistency of the Sauce: Adjust the amount of cornstarch slurry to get your preferred sauce thickness.
- Balancing Flavors: Taste the sauce as you cook and adjust the sugar, vinegar, or soy sauce to balance the sweet, tangy, and salty flavors.
- Frying Chicken: Ensure the oil is at the right temperature for frying to get a crispy coating without absorbing too much oil.
Enjoy your homemade version of Panda Express’s famous Orange Chicken with its delightful mix of flavors!
