Orange Chicken

Surgeon General's Warning: This is not a healthy meal. If you are looking for a healthy meal do not read on. Avert your eyes of all yummyness involved in the making of this blog post and come back to this blog another time.

If you love Panda Express' Orange Chicken then you will be amazed with this recipe. It is so good that I can no longer eat Orange Chicken from Panda without being thoroughly disappointed. It is not a hard recipe but is time consuming so plan on at least an hour. Trust me when I say it is well worth the wait though!

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken cut in approx. 2 inch pieces
1 egg
white pepper
oil
1/2 c. plus 1 tlbs. cornstarch
1/4 c.. flour
1 tlbs. minced ginger root (or powdered ginger)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 dash crushed hot red chilies
1/4 c;. chopped green onion
1 tlbs. rice wine (I use white vinegar if I don't have rice wine)
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. sesame oil

*Orange Chicken Sauce
1 1/2 tlbs. soy sauce
1 1/2 tlbs. water
1/4 c. plus 1 tlbs. sugar
1/4 c. plus 1 tlbs. white vinegar


Cut Chicken into 2 inch pieces and place in large bowl. Stir in egg, salt, pepper, and 1 tlbs. oil. Mix well. Stir cornstarch and flour together. Add to chicken pieces stirring to coat.

Cut up, meaure out, and mix up remaining ingredients, prepare orange sauce, and put all aside.

Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Add chicken pieces in small batches at a time and fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. (do not overcook or chicken will be tough. I cook my chicken 4 minutes and no more) Remove chicken from oil with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Clean wok and heat back up. Add 1 tlbs oil, ginger and garlic and fry for a few seconds. Add and stir crushed chilies and green onion. Stir. Add rice wine and stir. Add orange sauce and bring to boil. Add cooked chicken back into wok. Stir chicken until well coated. Stir water into remaining 1 tlbs cornstarch until smooth. Add to chicken and stir until sauce is thickened. Add 1 tlbs. oil and sesame oil.

I serve with stir fried veggies and rice. This particular meal we didn't have veggies so we served with pot stickers instead.