This orange chicken recipe is a delicious option from the poultry category, with a perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors. The chicken is first pan-seared to crispy outside and soft inside, and then topped with a sweet and tangy sauce made from orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated fresh ginger , garlic and orange zest.
Ingredients for Orange Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- Orange slices and cilantro sprigs to decorate (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and orange juice until well combined. Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and orange zest and mix well.
- Pour the mixture over the chicken and place in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- In a small saucepan, heat the water and add the toasted sesame seeds. Stir for 2 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve the chicken hot and sprinkled with sesame seeds and decorated with orange slices and cilantro sprigs (optional).
It is then placed in the oven to finish cooking and absorb the flavors of the sauce. At the end, some flavor and crunch are added with toasted sesame seeds.
The result is a tender, juicy and flavorful chicken that can be served with rice, vegetables, noodles or any other accompaniment of your choice.
Enjoy!
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Image credit: freepik
