Orange Chicken (Restaurant Style)

By Booper-2

I have been playing with this recipe for ages. I think this comes pretty close to the orange chicken that I enjoy at my favorite chinese restaurant. Served over steamed rice or fried rice makes it a one-dish meal. I sprinkle chopped green onions on mine. Yum.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation

Step 1

1 Pour into saucepan water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce; and set over medium-high heat. Stir in orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, red pepper, and chopped onion. In a small bowl Mix 3 Tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of cold water mix well and add it to your sauce. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and let cool 10 to 15 minutes. 2 Place chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag. When contents of saucepan have cooled, pour 1 cup of sauce into bag. Reserve remaining sauce. Seal bag, and refrigerate at least 2 hours. 3 In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Add marinated chicken pieces, and shake to coat. 4 Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken in skillet, and brown on both sides. Remove to paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil. 5 Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water, and stir into sauce. Reduce heat to medium low; stir in chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 6 Serve over Fried Rice or steamed white Rice. 7 Enjoy!