Sunday, August 1, 2010

Orange Chicken Revisited

Here is another recipe I'm revisiting because the original photos are HORRIBLE, and this dish is worthy of being on my blog twice.


QUESTION: Whenever you are in the process of making a dish, do you think about what you are going to write about on your blog for the same dish? I do. For instance, I wanted to mention that using cornstarch in place of flour makes the chicken pieces look too white while flour browns the chicken more. So, you should combine the two when coating the chicken. Also, I wanted to mention how I didn't have green onions, so I used white onions (then I found some green onions in the refrigerator after the photo session!). 
Anyway, I think the fact that I made this dish again tells you how good it is. Aside from the regular onions, I followed this recipe exactly. I also made some jasmine rice in the used rice cooker my mom just gave me. For the first time, I had to call my mom on how to operate a kitchen-related appliance :D. Now I know why people love their rice cookers! I no longer have to wait for the water to boil. That is so nice. 
I accompanied the orange chicken and rice with cold, green tea sans the ice. [Did you know that I don't like ice, but my mom is crazy about ice (she buys a big bag of ice every week! I have no idea what she does with that much ice.)? That is another contrast between my mom and me. Ice interrupts the flow of my drink (like nuts in soft desserts), and when the ice melts, it waters my drink.] Okay, enough of my quirks. Here is the recipe:
This piece is about to go into my mouth. . .riiiiiight. . .NOW.

Orange Chicken
from Blog Chef

Chicken-
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-1/2” cubes) (I used 1.25 lbs)
 
1/2 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 - 1 cup cornstarch
1 egg (beaten)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Oil (for frying; I used vegetable or canola oil, but peanut oil is the best for frying)

Orange Sauce-
1 ½ cups water
2 Tbsp orange juice (I used the juice of 1/2 of a large orange)
¼ cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 ½ Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp orange zest (grated)
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp ginger root (minced)
½ tsp garlic (minced)
2 Tbsp green onion (chopped) (I used 1/4th of a regular, white onion)
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp water


Step 1: Combine flour and cornstarch. Place chicken in the egg mixture along with salt and pepper, and shake the pieces in the flour mixture to coat. 
Deep fry chicken in batches at 375 degrees in a deep fryer (or use a wok) until completely cooked and light brown (around 5 minutes per batch).
Step 2: Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine water, lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Blend well over medium heat for 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.
Step 3: Combine 3 Tbsp of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture into sauce until it thickens. Pour sauce over breaded chicken, and if desired add red pepper flakes and garnish with green onions.
Want a piece? That's all I'm willing to share.

32 comments:

  1. arrivo in tempo per pranzo???? che buono!!!:-)))) baci!

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  2. Que delicia, esto me lo copio para pendientes, que saborcito tan rico tiene que tener a naranja.

    Saludos y buen domingo.

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  3. Love your dish and the styling - simple and authentic! I hate ice in my drinks too ... it dilutes everything! Great post, Mem. :)

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    1. I love Orange Chicken Revisited. Looking yummi, I am completely amazed that you managed to make these so low in points! Yum. trainer work from home

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  4. Yummy, that looks truly irresistible. I'd so like to have it right now, the combination of the flavors seems to be just heavenly. Bravo, Memoria!

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  5. Much better photos - I agree, worth the repeat - I must try this recipe! I also think about what I will write when I cook the dish if I will blog about it! It falls into that 90% thinking 10% writting rule I follow! Ice is evil! Except in WATER~!!!!! Which I love ice cold!!!! Enjoy the peek into your quirky thoughts and the differences between you and your mom!

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  6. So this is the dish you were cooking up yesterday when I was talking to you on the phone!!! Now that the secret is out--girl, this orange chicken looks tangy and tantalizing! I am going to to have to try this recipe soon and I am glad the "used" rice cooker helped you out. Nice trip down memory lane about our differences and similarities, and I still say that it is these peculiarities that keep our relationship interesting and challenging, but always lovely and growing! However, I really can't explain about the obsession with ice. . .

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  7. Que delicia!!! la salsa de naranja parece muy rica.
    Muy sabroso y el pollo frito es una tentación.
    Besitos

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  8. Orange chicken is one of my favorites but it'sso hit and miss for me and I don't especially like soggy chicken. This looks fantastic though and it makes me want to make this asap. I'm hungry!

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  9. Even though it's not so good for me, I love orange chicken.

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  10. This dish looks amazing! Seriously, it looks like somethign you could get from a restaurant but I bet it tastes 100 times better. Photos are gorgeous!

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  11. Yum, this looks & sounds delicious. Thanks.

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  12. That dish looks so irresistible! What delicious flavors!

    cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. This dish looks fantastic! I don't think your original photos look bad at all! But I know how you feel about older post photos. I see mine and just cringe....oh, well, we had to begin somewhere! Your blog is fab!

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  14. Orange Chicken is my husband's favorite. I need to try this recipe. I have never ever made orange chicken at home even though I made numerous chinese chicken dishes. This looks great.

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  15. I love this version of what we find at our local Chinese restaurants. Isn't it amazing how far we have come with our photography and writing since we first began blogging.

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  16. YUM!
    I never made this, thanks for the idea Memoria :)

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  17. What a small world!!! We made this recipe from Blog Chef too! Believe me, my pics will never appear on our blog! This was one of the first recipes I photographed -- what a mess!!! (Maybe one day we can compare pics - privately!) It is a very delicious dish. For me, it is in the category of fun Friday nite food! Also, thanx for your kind comments on the peach pics! Ur Dad bought me some photography lights for my b-day, and it has helped a ton to have enough light to take pics any time of day... (it can be hard to cook everything during the time of morning light!!!) I think we will submit them... And I actually bought my Fredericksburg peaches at a market here in Austin... The Fredereicksburg town website has a "peach alert" section so you can check on harvesting, etc. There are several orchards on the way into town. We stop at the one next to the little white house that serves peach cobbler with peach ice cream! I cannot remember the name, but they have a big sign with cobbler and ice cream on it!

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  18. Memoria, your orange chicken looks delicious, and love the tip of mixing corn starch with flour :-)

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  19. I missed it the first time so I'm glad you posted this again. I'm printing this out to try next week - I love orange chicken and yours looks so good!

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    1. Mi piace questa ricetta biscotto. Mi piace che lo rende per una folla e mi sento. Questo aspetto delizioso! Www.Denimio.Com

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  20. your orange chicken looks delicious! thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe!

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  21. I love Chinese food- this orange chicken looks delicious!

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  22. I've been looking for a really good orange chicken recipe. I guess I'll have to give this one a try!

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  23. Memoria,
    I can not say enough about your fabulous photos and how amazing this dish looks.

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  24. Bravo! Beautiful photos!! Looks delicious!

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  25. Looks wonderful...this is my youngest sons favorite dish :)

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  26. This is my daughter's fave dish! Thanks for sharing the recipe and the tip on flour and corn starch. lovely photos as always.

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  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  28. I just love all your darling post, I just may have to steal you Bonbon recipe someday soon it looks great.

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  29. I love this recipe. i love making it for a crowd and I feel the "resting" period is key. Yours look delicious! Buy Argan Oil

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