If you're craving Chinese takeout but want a healthier option, look no further than this recipe for 1 serving of Crispy Orange Chicken! This dish packs a tasty punch at 290 calories per serving, making it a guilt-free meal option.

Not only is this dish low in calories, but it also offers some nutritional benefits. With 28 grams of protein, this chicken dish can provide a substantial amount of lean protein to help with muscle growth and repair.

In this article, we'll dive into the recipe and cooking process, serving size and nutritional information, ingredients list, preparation and cooking time, presentation and serving suggestions, variations and modifications, health benefits, flavor and texture, and the history and origin of the dish.

Recipe and Cooking Process

To make this Crispy Orange Chicken, you'll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cornstarch, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, ground black pepper, soy sauce, orange juice, and orange zest. Begin by cutting the chicken breasts into 1 inch cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornstarch, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Coat the chicken cubes in the mixture until fully coated. Place the coated chicken pieces in a frying pan coated with cooking spray and cook over medium-high heat until crispy and fully cooked, around 8-10 minutes. In a separate pan, mix the soy sauce, orange juice, and orange zest over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Once the chicken is done, pour the sauce over the chicken and stir until fully coated. Serve hot and enjoy!

Serving Size and Nutritional Information

This recipe yields one serving of Crispy Orange Chicken. Each serving contains 290 calories, 28 grams of protein, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of fat. This dish is also a good source of vitamin C, providing over 100% of your daily recommended intake. Additionally, it contains some iron, potassium, and calcium.

Ingredients List

To make 1 serving of Crispy Orange Chicken, you'll need the following ingredients: - 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast - 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Preparation Time

The preparation time for this dish is around 10-15 minutes, depending on how quickly you can cube the chicken and mix the coating ingredients together. Please note that this time does not include any marinating time, so if you choose to marinate the chicken before cooking, you'll need to factor that into your preparation time.

Cooking Time

The cooking time for this dish is around 10-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your chicken to be. Make sure to watch the chicken closely while cooking to prevent burning, and use a meat thermometer to ensure it is cooked fully to 165°F.

Presentation and Serving Suggestions

To make this dish look as good as it tastes, serve it over a bed of rice and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. If you want to add some extra veggies to your meal, try pairing it with steamed broccoli, snow peas, or bell peppers. This dish is also great for meal prep, as it can be made in bulk and stored in the fridge or freezer for later use.

Variations and Modifications

If you want to mix things up with this recipe, try some of these variations: - Swap out the orange juice for pineapple juice and the orange zest for grated ginger for a tropical twist - Add some chopped pineapple, red bell pepper, and onion to the dish for added flavor and texture

Health Benefits

This Crispy Orange Chicken recipe offers some nutritional benefits, such as being low in calories and high in protein. Chicken is also a good source of B vitamins, which can help with energy production and brain function. Additionally, the orange juice used in the recipe provides a good source of vitamin C, which is important for immune health and skin health.

Flavor and Texture

The flavor of this dish is sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy, thanks to the combination of orange juice, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. The chicken itself has a crispy texture thanks to the cornstarch coating. If you want to adjust the flavor or texture to your liking, try adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes or cornstarch used in the recipe.

History and Origin

Crispy Orange Chicken is a popular dish at Chinese-American restaurants and is believed to have originated in the United States in the 1980s. The dish typically consists of breaded and fried chicken pieces that are then coated in a tangy orange sauce. While the origin of the dish may be debated, there's no denying that it has become a beloved staple in Chinese-American cuisine.