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45 minutes Medium

Mandarin Orange Chicken with Stir-Fried Udon Noodles

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If you spent any amount of your childhood in mall food courts – especially in the 1990s or early 2000’s – then this dish should spark some nostalgia. If you’ve ever made a meal out of free food court samples, then you know especially know what I’m talking about. I don’t know about your hometown suburban mall, but mine consistently had at least 3 “asian” options. One was Chinese, one was Korean, and the other was Japanese. Well, technically, they were all American… just about as American as the Subway sandwiched (pun intended) in between them too.

The giveaway was that the Korean place had most of the same entrees as the Japanese place which also had much of the same entrees as the Chinese place. They all had orange chicken and would compete over free samples of it. It would be many years before I’d come to realize that, although absolutely delicious, crispy fried chicken coated in a sticky sweet orange-soy glaze wasn’t my introduction to authentic Chinese food. American-Chinese food, yes.

Regardless of your thought on American-Chinese food, it’s a prominent part of our country’s food culture. Sometimes a greasy plate, or carton, of fried noodles, crispy glazed chicken, or any other American-Chinese/ Asian-American food concoction is just what the happy doctor ordered.

With that in mind, I had to take a stab at a nostalgic mall food court meal: Mandarin Orange Chicken with Stir-Fried Udon Noodles. Udon noodles are common among Japanese cuisine, not Chinese cuisine. I took the liberty of fusing the two cuisines using mall food courts as inspiration. There’s nothing wrong with mixing ingredients from various cuisines as long as you respect the origin. Where the mall food court outposts cross a line is when they label something like Orange Chicken as “authentic” Chinese food. It’s not, but the problem is that a label like that can make it authentic. Nobody should go a lifetime thinking that Orange Chicken is authentic Chinese food, like a trip through the local Panda Express drive-thru is akin to someone’s lunch break in Beijing.

Mandarin Orange Chicken with Stir-Fried Udon Noodles is a fun fusion dish that combines crispy fried chicken with a sweet and tangy mandarin orange glaze, served alongside udon noodles stir-fried in a savory soy based sauce.

Pieces of boneless-skinless chicken breasts are coated in flour and cornstarch and deep fried to crispy golden perfection. It’s then coated in a mandarin orange glaze for succulent, sticky finish that will leave you wanting to lick up every last drop.

The glaze itself is a delectable concoction made with Mandarin orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, shallot, rice vinegar, and red chili flakes. The combination of these ingredients creates a scintillating balance of flavors that enhance the natural taste of the chicken.

Thick and chewy udon noodles provide a hearty base for the dish, absorbing the flavors of the stir-fry sauce and bringing a contrast of textures to the table. These popular Japanese noodles are cooked al dente and stir fried in a hot skillet with freshly minced garlic, chopped green onion, and a savory combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, and rice vinegar.

When plated, the Mandarin Orange Chicken is served alongside a generous portion of stir-fried udon noodles, drizzled with chili oil and garnished with chopped green onion. The result is an incredibly satisfying and comforting meal.

What’s the history of orange chicken?

It is widely believe that Panda Express, the popular American-Chinese fast food chain, invented orange chicken. They take credit for it, and per most accounts, their executive chef, Andy Kao, came up with the dish in 1987.

It was soon introduced to their menus and it quickly gained popularity among their customers. Orange chicken has become one of Panda Express’s most iconic and best-selling menu items. The success of orange chicken at Panda Express led to its widespread recognition and subsequent inclusion in the menus of many other Chinese-American restaurants across the United States.

What are udon noodles?

Udon noodles are a type of thick wheat noodle that originated in Japan. They have a distinct chewy and soft texture, which sets them apart from other types of noodles. Udon noodles are especially thicker and chewier compared to most Chinese noodle varieties.

Traditionally, udon noodles are hand-rolled and cut into thick strands, resulting in a cylindrical shape. They are typically shorter and thicker when compared to other noodles.

Due to their thick and hearty texture, udon noodles are excellent at absorbing flavors from sauces and broths. They have a neutral taste, allowing them to pair well with a wide range of ingredients and seasonings.

Mandarin Orange Chicken with Stir-Fried Udon Noodles

5.0 from 1 vote
Course: MainsCuisine: AsianDifficulty: Medium
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

Mandarin Orange Chicken with Stir-Fried Udon Noodles brings together elements of both comfort food and Asian-inspired cuisine, offering a burst of flavors and textures that make every bite a delight.

Ingredients

  • Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • 2 pounds boneless-skinless chicken breasts

  • 3 eggs, lightly whisked

  • 1/2 cup cornstarch

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 3 cups vegetable oil

  • 1 cup mandarin orange juice, freshly squeezed

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 minced shallot

  • 1 teaspoon ginger, freshly grated

  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

  • Stir-Fried Udon Noodles
  • 16 ounces udon noodles

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup + 1/4 cup green onion, freshly chopped

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil

  • 2 tablespoons chili oil

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Equipment

Directions

  • Mandarin Orange Chicken
  • In a small bowl or saucepan, whisk together the mandarin orange juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, minced shallot, grated ginger, and red chili flakes. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer while you prepare the remainder of the dish – at least 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before coating the chicken in Step 7.
  • Cut the chicken into 1/2″ – 1″ diameter pieces. Remove any excess pieces of fat.
  • In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of water.
  • Dredge the chicken pieces in the egg mixture. Allow them to get soaked completely before transferring to the shallow bowl containing the flour mixture. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or dutch oven to 350° or medium-high heat.
  • Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 7-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  • While still warm, toss the cooked chicken pieces and mandarin orange glaze together in a large bowl. Toss until the crispy chicken pieces are thoroughly coated in the glaze.

  • Stir-Fried Udon Noodles
  • Cook the udon noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain and set them aside.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once hot, add the minced garlic and chopped green onion. Cook for 30 seconds – 1 minute, until nice and fragrant. Stir continuously to prevent any pieces from browning.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, chili oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and ground black pepper.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet and deglaze the pan. Add the cooked udon pasta in an even layer. Give the skillet a gentle shake to distribute the noodles.
  • Don’t touch or toss the noodles for 3 minutes, allowing the bottom to form a crust. Remove the skillet from the heat and toss the noodles until evenly coated in sauce. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

    Serve the glazed mandarin orange chicken on top of the stir-fried udon noodles. Drizzle with additional chili oil, and garnish with freshly chopped green onion.

Notes

  • The longer the mandarin orange sauce simmers, the better it will taste. You don’t want it to caramelize, but if you keep the heat low, it should be fine simmer for up to an hour.

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