Orange Chicken with Broccoli

Why order take out Chinese when you can make it at home? Our favorite dishes from our local Chinese take out consists of some type of meat (may or may not be chicken) and a vegetable. When I came across this recipe, I cooked it twice in one week and ate the leftovers for lunch! Needless to say I haven't ordered it again since making it myself. It comes out tasting healthier, you actually know what goes into it and your not left asking yourself what are those mysterious brown wormy looking things.

You will need a large saute pan, a sauce pan for the broccoli, and a medium pot for the rice.

Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Yields: 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/2 Cups Chicken Stock
• 1 Cup Rice
• 1 Bunch Green Onions
• 1 1/2 LB Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Cut in Chunks)
• Salt and Pepper
• 3 TBSP EVOO
• 1 TBS Dried Ginger
• 3 Cloves of Garlic
• 1/2 Medium Onion
• 1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Orange Marmalade
• 1 TSP Red Pepper Flakes
• 1/4 Cup Flour

PREPARATION:

Bring a Medium pot with 2 cups chicken stock up to a boil, add rice, cover and simmer for 18 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for 10 minutes without peeking, fluff with a fork and mix in green onions.

Par Boil/ Steam the broccoli in a separate pot until it starts to soften but still has a crunch to it, remove and reserve (approx 3-5 minutes).

While the rice and broccoli are cooking, sprinkle the ginger, salt and pepper on the chicken chunks and dust with flour to assist with the browning process. Heat up half of the EVOO and toss the chicken around until a brown crust forms, remove from pan and reserve.  Add the rest of the oil and heat over med heat, add the diced onion, minced garlic and stir till fragrant.  Add the soy sauce, orange marmalade, the red pepper flakes, and the remaining Chicken Stock and stir until all is mixed and the sauce starts to reduce. Toss in Chicken and Broccoli until the sauce coats everything and sauce thickens (approx 5 minutes)


TO SERVE:

Scoop some rice onto a plate and cover with Chicken and Broccoli. Garnish with additional green onions, ENJOY!

Pictures to Come...

SOME HELPFUL TIPS:

• Its good to marinade the chicken chunks prior to cooking with soy sauce, some marmalade, salt and pepper, and ginger.
• Make it with an Hot and Sour soup, egg rolls, and eat with chop sticks for the real take out feeling.