One of my favorite indulgences is orange chicken from Panda Express. I know how unhealthy it is so it almost kills the experience of eating it. As a result, I found a lighter (in calories and fat) and super easy way to make it at home on my own. I love it just the same and feel so much better knowing it's a healthier version of the original.
Ingredients:
Chicken breast tenders, one pack
Trader Joe's "General Tsao" sauce in a bottle, approx. 1/2 the bottle
Green onion, 3-4 stalks, diced (white and green parts)
Plain white flour (or corn starch), approx. 1 cup
Canola or vegetable oil, approx. 3-4 tablespoons
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Step 1:
In a large mixing bowl, dump a cup or more of flour
Step 2:
Cut up the chicken tenders using kitchen shears into small bite sized pieces. Dump them into the bowl with the flour (do not mix yet)
Step 3:
Top the cut up chicken in bowl with salt and pepper. Mix with the flour until each piece is completed coated in flour. Add additional salt and pepper if you desire.
Step 4:
Heat approximately 3-4 tablespoons of oil in a large wok or frying pan. Enough to coat the bottom of the pan with a shallow pool of oil. You know it's hot when you flick some water from your finger tips and it splatters a bit. When that happens, add the coated chicken pieces to the pan, slowly and carefully. Beware of splatter.
The oil soaks up fast so keep tossing with tongs and mix the chicken in the pan with the oil. If you need to, slowly add more oil, little by little, if needed. Adding too much, too fast, cools the pan and makes the crust on the chicken less crisp.
Step 5:
When the chicken pieces are browned, slowly add the sauce, little by little, in a circle around the outside of the pan. Toss to coat the chicken. Add more sauce if needed/desired. Add the chopped gr
een onion. Cook for a few minutes and either cover to serve later or serve immediately with your favorite stir fry vegetables and rice.
