Low on the Guilt, High on the Great Asian Flavor
I had mine with some jasmine rice, as recommended. I thought that the soft, sweet herbal accents of the rice complemented the sweet and zesty flavors of the chicken rather nicely.
Of course, I suspect that most any of the usual “beds” will work with this, or you could even go with a crunchy, slightly tangy salad on the side (Recipe Station recommended something with cranberries and almonds). Enjoy!
Ingredients
Marinade:
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce (I used Kikkoman)
1/4 teaspoon sesame seed oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup cornstarch
Sauce:
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (I used Swanson)
5 teaspoons Splenda granular
4 teaspoons sugar-free OR regular honey OR Agave (I used agave instead of honey, the Agave in the Raw brand.)
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (I used LouAna)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Pinch red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cornstarch & kosher salt
Sliced green onions (garnish)
Sesame seeds (garnish)
Instructions:
Marinade: Combine orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Add chicken tenders and stir to coat. Allow to marinate at least for 25-30 minutes.
Sauce: In a small saucepan combine orange juice, orange zest, chicken broth, Splenda, honey, soy sauce, oil, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil; lower heat to a simmer and cook until liquid is reduced by 1/4. Season with salt to taste. Stir the 2 teaspoons cornstarch with a small amount of cold water and add to the sauce. Bring back to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until thickened. Set aside, but keep warm.
In a ziplock bag add the 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Drain the chicken and toss with the cornstarch, shaking off excess. In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high. Add chicken and cook until golden and meat is cooked through. Gently toss cooked chicken with the sauce and serve.
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Quick tip: Add more red pepper flakes if you like spicy food!
Thanks to Recipe Station for this deliciously healthy orange chicken recipe.