Orange chicken is a Chinese dish that originated in America. Its main ingredients are oranges and lemons. The dish is often found in Chinese restaurants, but its health risks have been linked to eating it. Here’s a healthy version you can make at home instead of ordering it from a Chinese restaurant. The key is to be aware of the ingredients used in orange chicken.
Chinese restaurant dish
Orange chicken is one of the most popular Chinese restaurant dishes in North America. This dish begins with fried chicken tossed in a spicy orange sauce. Orange chicken has roots in China’s Hunan region, which was known for its bright flavors and bold colors. It pairs well with fluffy rice, Hot & Sour Soup, Egg Drop Soup, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Beef & Broccoli, and Vegetable Lo Mein.
Orange chicken was created by Andy Kao in 1987. A classically-trained French chef, Kao was the executive chef of the Panda Express chain of restaurants. He is now retired but is still active in the food industry. Born in Taiwan, Kao developed the dish while working in Hawaii for a popular Chinese fast food chain. Kao was inspired by Chinese chicken dishes from the Hunan region and General Tsao’s chicken.
Despite its popularity among Asian Americans, orange chicken is a controversial dish. A viral video shows young Chinese Americans mocking the dish as “white people’s Chinese food.” While orange chicken may not fit into the canon of “authentic” Chinese food, it’s a popular dish that captures the essence of the dish without deep frying or overly sweet sauce.
To make orange chicken at home, start by preparing the sauce. You will need an orange sauce and a large skillet. Then, make the batter by mixing cornstarch and flour. Once the batter is ready, add the chicken and toss it in the batter. When the batter is at 300 degrees, the chicken should begin to float.
For the most authentic orange chicken, you should use a double-frying method. The first fry will cook the chicken through, while the second fry will remove excess moisture from the meat. The second fry will result in a crispy crust, which will absorb the sauce once mixed with it. In addition, using an air fryer will help you retain the crunchiness of orange chicken.
When you are making orange chicken, you can use cornstarch to thicken the sauce, which can be done by mixing cornstarch with water. You can also add a slice of orange, which will make the sauce thicker. Continue cooking until the sauce is thick.
Vegan version of orange chicken
This vegan version of orange chicken is low in fat and calories. It’s also suitable for people with a variety of dietary requirements. You can serve it over any grain, such as brown rice, cauliflower rice, or vermicelli noodles. It can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
If you’re worried about the sodium content, you can always use low-sodium soy sauce. The nutrition content of this recipe is based on one-fourth of the original recipe. If you don’t have soy curds, you can substitute them with canned chickpeas.
This vegan version of orange chicken has all the flavor of take-out, but you can make it in your own home. Tofu and oyster mushrooms can be used instead of chicken for this dish. The orange sauce is very tasty and makes the dish look like take-out chicken. All you need is a few simple ingredients and a little patience to cook the dish.
There are several vegan orange chicken options available in supermarkets. You can also find them in Asian fusion restaurants. In fact, Panda Express, one of the biggest fast-food chains in the US, recently launched a vegan orange chicken. They collaborated with Beyond Meat to make the dish. It sold over 1,300 pounds on its first day of launch, and has since expanded its menu nationwide.
In addition to soy curds, you can also use plain blocks of tempeh. You can cut these into strips or bite-sized pieces to make vegan orange chicken and rice. The dish is gluten-free and whole-food plant-based. In addition to soy curds, you can also try preparing the vegan version of orange chicken and rice with soy curls.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can also use tempeh, which has a meat-like texture. To cook it without using cornstarch, just steam it for 10 minutes in a microwave or over a stovetop. You can also sauté the tempeh in oil until it becomes crisp. Alternatively, you can add chickpeas to the orange sauce instead of the tempeh.
Another alternative to orange chicken is orange cauliflower. This vegan version of the Chinese takeout classic is loaded with orange sauce and is a healthy way to sneak in more veggies into your diet. The tangy sauce makes it kid-friendly and the recipe only takes 30 minutes.
Healthy alternative to frying orange chicken
To make orange chicken healthier, you can use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the amount of brown sugar. While the flavor won’t be as rich or crispy as fried chicken, you can still enjoy a delicious meal without the fat. You can also freeze leftover orange chicken and reheat it in the oven or microwave later.
Orange chicken has a high calorie and fat content, which can lead to chronic inflammation in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. It also contains cholesterol, a waxy substance produced by the human body. Excess cholesterol can build up on artery walls and block blood flow.
To make a healthier orange chicken, you can use brown sugar instead of white vinegar or rice vinegar. You can also use a combination of orange juice and garlic to give your orange chicken an aromatic taste. When frying, you can use canola, avocado, or olive oil. You can also add green onions to add color and freshness to the dish.
The chicken can be served with rice or noodles. You can even serve it over a bed of cauliflower rice. Moreover, you can make your own sauce for this dish by combining a few ingredients in a pan. After you have finished preparing all these, all you need to do is cook the sauce on low heat. Alternatively, you can use the sauce as a substitute for chicken breast. You can even use ground chicken.
You can also use a slow cooker to cook orange chicken. Just keep in mind that the sauce may thicken faster than you want. If you need to have a thicker sauce, add a bit of water or broth to thin it out. Alternatively, you can also use a microwave to heat it up. Either way, this delicious dish is easy to make and can be served for lunch, dinner, or leftovers. The best part is, it can be prepared in just 30 minutes.
Another great way to serve orange chicken is by using orange juice instead of oil. It will make the sauce more tasty. This sauce can be used to cook chicken or vegetables. You can add green onions, sesame seeds, or even orange zest.
Health risks of eating orange chicken
While orange chicken may be delicious, there are many potential health risks associated with it. These include high sugar levels and the risk of diabetes and dental disease. Orange chicken also contains large amounts of citric acid, which can cause gastrointestinal upset and dehydration. This type of chicken is generally made from skinless chicken. It is not as tender as chicken breast, but it is cheaper.
The orange sauce is also very unhealthy, and the chicken is typically dark meat, which has more saturated fat than white meat. In addition to that, the chicken is often breaded and fried, which adds even more fat to the dish. While you may enjoy the taste, you’ll want to take a closer look at the ingredient list before ordering.
Orange chicken has a lot of fat and calories, and is usually deep fried. Deep-frying food means that it is often made with the dirtiest oils. The orange sauce in restaurants is often syrupy and contains commercial chemical flavorings, and the chicken may be caged. In addition, it’s likely fed GMO grains and given a poor diet.
In order to keep your dog healthy, you should only feed orange chicken to your pet if your veterinarian approves. Moreover, the amount should be limited to just one or two pieces per week. Unless your dog is used to eating citrus foods, it can cause GI upset and dehydration. A large amount of orange chicken can also be harmful for your dog’s digestive system because it contains high levels of sugar and sodium.
In addition to the orange color, orange chicken contains high levels of selenium, a mineral needed for thyroid health and immune function. While traditional orange chicken is not exactly healthy, there are ways to make it more nutritious and weight-loss friendly. One option is to add a vegetable oil to the chicken’s skin and cook it in the oven, which will increase its nutritional content.
However, the white pith of the orange is also high in fiber and can be bitter for chickens. In addition, different kinds of orange chicken are prepared differently. Some types are fried while others are steamed. Some even add curry to it.
