by Sheila Rae Watson

Created on: November 04, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

You don't have to wait, create an oriental-restaurant style meal tonight, at home! Now you can enjoy delicious Orange Chicken without having to go out or pay a delivery charge!

This recipe for Crispy Sechuan Orange Chicken, is a modern upbeat recipe version of regular orange chicken; offering a slightly hot, thick and tangy sauce enveloping tender, crispy chicken strips.

-Crispy Sechuan Orange Chicken

Ingredients:

Sauce:

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup chicken broth or stock

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp. Sake, rice wine

3 tsp. cornstarch

Flavor:

2 tbsp. fresh minced ginger

2 tbsp. fresh orange peel, matchstick sliced

1 tbsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. hot chili flakes

Breading:

1 lb chicken breast nuggets, cut in thin strips

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. canola oil

3 cups canola oil, for frying

Instructions:

Mix sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Add eggs in a medium sized bowl and beat slightly with a fork. Place flour for dredging on a small plate.

Season chicken with salt, toss to cover all. Dip into beaten eggs, dredge in flour and repeat. Allow to sit for 10 minutes on a sheet pan, allowing breading to adhere to meat.

Pour 3 cups canola oil into wok or deep fryer. Bring oil to 360oF. Add chicken strips to wok, fry 5-7 minutes until crisp and golden brown. Remove from oil, set aside momentarily, keep hot.

Add 2 tsp. oil to clean wok or small skillet, bring over high heat. When oil is very hot, add flavor ingredients, stir-fry about 30 seconds. Add sauce mixture, stir until thickened and bubbling. Add chicken to sauce, stir gently to cover all chicken. Remove from heat.

To serve:

This dish goes well poured over a serving of steamed Jasmine or sticky Japonica rice. The rice is a nice pallet on which to feature your delicately cooked, sweet and spicy orange chicken!

You can buy pre-made cream cheese wantons to accompany this most favored dish; simply deep fry just before serving!

Crispy Sechuan Orange Chicken is great splashed with a touch of soy sauce and eaten with chop-sticks! A sweet and spicy oriental style entree that is fun to make, and can't be beat for eye appeal or taste.

Try it and see if you don't agree!

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