Orange chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that consists of chopped, battered and fried chicken pieces coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce. It was invented in the late 1980s in Hawaii and has since become a staple menu item at many North American Chinese restaurants. But what if you want something similar to orange chicken that offers a bit more variety? Luckily, there are several dishes that provide a comparable flavor profile and texture to this beloved recipe.
In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to acknowledge what orange chicken is before exploring alternatives. Providing a brief description helps readers understand the context of the article if they are not already familiar with orange chicken. The introduction sets up the purpose of the article – to present options that are similar to orange chicken for those who want to branch out and try something new.
What is the orange flavor and texture like?
So what exactly makes orange chicken “orange chicken”? Here are the key elements that create its characteristic flavor and texture:
Orange sauce – The sauce is thick, sticky, and bright orange/red in color. It’s sweet from orange juice concentrate or orange marmalade, but balanced by rice vinegar for a tangy flavor. The sauce also often contains soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers.
Batter coating – The chicken is tossed in a light batter before frying. The batter creates a crispy outside layer on the juicy, tender chicken.
Chicken pieces – Chicken breast or thigh meat is cut into bite-size pieces before cooking. This gives the dish substantial chicken chunks in every bite.
Sweet and sour flavor – The predominant flavor is a balance of sweet and sour. The sweet comes from orange juice/marmalade in the sauce, while the sour comes from vinegar.
Sticky texture – The sauce coats each piece of fried chicken and clings to it, creating a sticky, saucy texture.
So in summary, orange chicken features crispy fried chicken, doused in a sweet orange sauce, with a distinct sticky texture and balanced sweet and sour taste. Any dish that matches some or all of these elements can make a good orange chicken alternative.
Chicken Dishes Similar to Orange Chicken
Here are some chicken dishes that can fulfill your orange chicken craving by offering a similar flavor and texture:
Sesame Chicken
Like orange chicken, sesame chicken consists of fried chicken pieces in a thick, sweet sauce. Though the sauce doesn’t contain orange, it has a similar sticky texture and sweet taste from honey or sugar. Sesame chicken sauce also contains soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. The sesame flavor gives this dish a distinct nutty taste. You can find sesame chicken on many North American Chinese takeout/delivery menus.
General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s chicken features fried chicken chunks coated in a sweet, spicy sauce. It contains many of the same sauce ingredients as orange chicken: soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, chili peppers. The sauce also often contains hoisin sauce for sweetness. While it doesn’t have orange flavor, it matches the batter-fried chicken and bold, sticky sauce consistency of orange chicken.
Pineapple Chicken
True to its name, this dish contains juicy chicken pieces coated in a pineapple sauce. The sauce is made from pineapple juice or chunks, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. The pineapple provides natural sweetness. You can also find versions with added honey or brown sugar. Thesauce is thick and sticky with a sweet and tangy flavor similar to orange chicken.
Cashew Chicken
Cashew chicken has tender chicken pieces fried and then stir-fried with a salty-sweet sauce containing cashews. The sauce ingredients typically include soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, dried chilies, and sugar. The cashews add crunch and subtle nutty flavor. The saucy stir-fry technique gives it a similar texture to orange chicken.
Chicken with Plum or Apricot Sauce
This sauce is made by simmering dried plums or apricots, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and sugar. The dried fruit provides natural sweetness similar to orange marmalade in orange chicken sauce. The cooked down fruit also gives the sauce body. This fruity, savory sauce works well tossed with crispy fried chicken.
Non-Chicken Dishes with Similar Flavors
You can also find dishes made with ingredients other than chicken that mimic the key flavors of orange chicken:
Orange Beef
This closely mirrors the sweet orange sauce and crispy fried component of orange chicken, but uses cubes of beef instead of chicken. Choose a tender cut like flank steak and velvet the beef (coat with cornstarch and egg whites) before frying for added tenderness.
Orange Cauliflower
For a vegan take, you can coat bite-size florets of cauliflower in an orange ginger batter and bake or fry them. Toss the crispy orange cauliflower pieces in the typical orange sauce. The baked version is a bit healthier than the fried original.
Orange Tofu
Marinated and baked tofu cubes or frozen pressed tofu can stand in for chicken pieces. Coat the fried or baked tofu in orange sauce for a vegetarian riff on orange chicken with the same sauce flavors. Use your favorite tofu baking method to achieve a crispy texture.
Orange Tempeh
Seasoned, fried tempeh makes a hearty, nutty replacement for the chicken in this dish. Tempeh has an excellent ability to absorb flavors. Choose a sweeter marinade featuring orange juice, then fry tempeh strips or cubes before dousing in the orange sauce.
Crispy Orange Seitan
Seitan, also known as wheat gluten, develops a satisfyingly chewy texture when cooked. You can recreate the crispy fried chicken element using store-bought or homemade seitan. Fry thin slices or chopped cubes that have been tossed in an orange infused batter. Then coat the seitan in the classic orange sauce.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
A quick shortcut is to buy bottled sweet and sour sauce from an Asian grocery store. Toss the sauce with any protein or veggie. Popular choices are fried shrimp, tofu, or mixed vegetables. The trademark vibrant reddish-orange color and balance of sweet and sour flavors remains true to the original.
Conclusion
Orange chicken is beloved for its crispy fried chicken, sweet citrus sauce, and dynamic flavor balance. Luckily many dishes can satisfy a craving for this popular menu item. Alternative chicken plates like sesame, pineapple, or plum chicken replicate the texture and taste. Dishes made with beef, tofu, cauliflower or other ingredients also mimic the classic orange flavor pairing. With a variety of options across cultures and diets, you can enjoy the essence of orange chicken in many creative ways.
When exploring new cooking territory, remember the key traits that define orange chicken’s appeal: a batter-fried component, sticky sweet and tangy sauce, bright orange color, and balanced sweet and sour taste. Finding ways to incorporate those elements with different techniques and ingredients can yield some delightful new discoveries. So branch out and explore the diverse food world beyond orange chicken. Your tastebuds will thank you!
| Dish | Key Flavor Notes | Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame Chicken | Sweet, nutty | Crispy fried |
| General Tso’s Chicken | Sweet, spicy | Crispy fried |
| Pineapple Chicken | Sweet, tangy | Crispy fried |
| Cashew Chicken | Salty, sweet | Tender stir-fried |
| Plum Chicken | Sweet, tangy | Crispy fried |
| Orange Beef | Sweet, tangy | Crispy fried |
| Orange Cauliflower | Sweet, tangy | Crispy baked or fried |
| Orange Tofu | Sweet, tangy | Crispy baked |
This table summarizes some of the key orange chicken alternative dishes covered in the article. It provides an overview of the predominant flavors and textures of each recipe. Visually comparing these traits makes it easy to find an option that closely aligns with the taste and mouthfeel you love about orange chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sauce is used in orange chicken?
Orange chicken sauce is made with ingredients like orange juice or marmalade, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, chili peppers, and cornstarch. The sauce has a balancing sweet yet tangy flavor.
Is orange chicken spicy?
Most orange chicken recipes are mildly spicy from ginger and chili peppers, but not overly hot and spicy. Some versions add more chili paste or hot sauce for extra kick.
What goes well with orange chicken?
Rice is the most common accompaniment, since the sweet sauce pairs nicely with fluffy white or fried rice. Steamed vegetables like broccoli or bok choy also balance the dish.
Can you make orange chicken gluten free?
Yes, use gluten-free soy sauce, a gluten-free batter (like rice or chickpea flour), and fry in oil instead of batter to keep the dish gluten-free. Verify any sauces or hoisin are gluten-free.
Is orange chicken keto friendly?
Full sugar orange chicken sauce is high in carbs. For a keto version, replace orange marmalade with monk fruit sweetener and use almond flour in the batter. Skip the rice or enjoy cauliflower rice on the side.
References
[1] Spice up the Kitchen. “Orange Chicken.” https://spiceupthekitchen.com/orange-chicken/
[2] Cafe Delites. “BEST Orange Chicken (Better than Panda Express!).” https://cafedelites.com/best-orange-chicken-better-than-panda-express/
[3] Cookie and Kate. “Baked Orange Cauliflower (Vegan).” https://cookieandkate.com/baked-orange-cauliflower-recipe/
[4] The Woks of Life. “Pineapple Chicken Recipe.” https://thewoksoflife.com/pineapple-chicken/