Nordic Table

Craving orange chicken but want a lighter, healthier version you can enjoy any day of the week? This homemade orange chicken is crispy, sticky, and full of fresh citrus flavor—made with lean chicken, less oil, and naturally sweetened orange sauce. Comfort food vibes, with a healthy twist.

Ingredients:

Serves: 2–3

Chicken

• 400–450 g chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• 1 tbsp neutral oil (for pan-frying)

Orange sauce

• Zest of 1 orange
• 120 ml fresh orange juice (½ cup)
• 1½ tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (slurry)
• Optional heat: chili flakes or fresh red chili (like in the photo 🌶️)

To serve

• Cooked jasmine or basmati rice (or cauliflower rice for low-carb)
• Spring onion & fresh cilantro
• Extra chili slices (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prep the chicken
   In a bowl, whisk egg with salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Add chicken and toss to coat. Sprinkle over cornstarch and mix until evenly coated.
2. Cook the chicken
   Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
   Cook chicken pieces in batches until golden and cooked through (about 3–4 min per side). Remove and set aside.Air-fryer option:
   Spray lightly with oil and air-fry at 200°C for 12–14 min, turning once.
3. Make the orange sauce
   In the same pan (lower heat), add orange juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and chili. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
4. Thicken
   Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until glossy and slightly thick.
5. Combine
   Add chicken back to the pan and toss until evenly coated and sticky.
6. Serve
   Spoon over rice, top with spring onion, cilantro, and chili slices.

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Nutrition (approx. per serving, without rice)

• Calories: ~380 kcal
• Protein: ~38 g
• Fat: ~9 g
• Carbs: ~30 g

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Easy swaps & upgrades

• Extra crunch: Add 1 tbsp crushed cornflakes or panko to the coating
• Lower sugar: Skip honey and rely on orange + zest
• Veg boost: Toss in broccoli or sugar snap peas at the end
• Meal-prep friendly: Keeps 3 days in the fridge, reheats well