There's much to love about Healthy Orange Chicken! The grated ginger, orange zest, and red pepper flakes all make it a beloved classic. This post will show you how to skip the unwanted calories and create your own version, at home!
1lbboneless and skinless chicken breastboneless and skinless
1teaspoonsea salt,to coat chicken
½teaspoonground black pepper,to coat chicken
3clovesgarlic,minced
½teaspoongrated fresh ginger
2green onions, thinly sliced (for topping)
For the Sauce:
½cupplus 2 tbsp. water,divided
½cupfreshly squeezed orange juice
¼cupfreshly squeezed lemon juice
⅓cuprice vinegar
2 ½tablespoonlow sodium soy sauce
1tablespoongrated orange zest
2tablespooncoconut sugar
¼teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
1tbsp arrowroot starch
Optional
1tablespoonsesame seeds for garnish
1cupbrown rice for serving
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, combine ½ cup water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, orange zest, coconut sugar, and red pepper flakes, and then set this aside while we prep the chicken.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Dice Chicken into 1-inch cubes, and season with salt and pepper.
Once the oil is hot, add the chicken in a single layer into the pan, and cook, without moving, for 2 minutes, and then stir and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Then, add minced garlic and minced ginger, and stir-fry until the garlic is fragrant, about a minute.
Now, add the orange sauce to the pan and allow to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes.
In a small mixing bowl, combine arrowroot starch and remaining 2 tbps of water until the starch is dissolved. Add this mixture to the pan, stirring to combine. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute.
Top chicken with sliced green onions, sesame seeds and serve with brown rice.
Notes
Nutritional info provided does not include brown rice. Including ½ cup steamed brown rice would increase calories by 108 calories, 2 g fiber, and 2.5 g protein.