If you’re intimidated by Chinese cooking, you’re not alone! Even though I was born in and grew up in China, I couldn’t do a proper stir fry for years, and sometimes I still screw things up at home. Getting familiar with a new cuisine and learning to cook with a wok can be very challenging. That’s why I’ve been focusing on easier approaches when it comes to cooking Chinese takeout. I’ve developed many recipes that don’t use a wok, but still give you that restaurant-style taste. Examples include Cashew Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Crispy Sesame Chicken, and Beef Chow Fun. Today I want to share how to make orange chicken in your Instant Pot. There are several reasons why you’d want to use an Instant Pot to make this dish.
Why Instant Pot orange chicken?
1. Much healthier results
Chinese restaurants use a few cups oil to fry the chicken. I’ve developed a home cooked stovetop version that requires less oil, about 1/3 cup. But this recipe further reduces the oil to 2 tablespoons. Plus, while this recipe requires way less oil, the flavor remains great.
2. Easy cooking process
You simply need to brown the chicken in the Instant pot, mix it with the sauce, then set the timer. The process is so much easier and you can leave most of the work to your Instant Pot.
3. Restaurant-style sauce made easy
The secret to making the most fragrant sauce is to use plenty of fresh aromatics and fold some orange zest into the dish at the end. The ginger, garlic, and wine add tons of flavor to the sauce. Different from most recipes, I add the rice vinegar with the orange zest at the end of the cooking. Pressure cooking tends to weaken the tangy taste of vinegar. Adding it at the end of the cooking will make your sauce brighter and richer. That’s it! The cooking is super easy. In the end you will be able to create restaurant-style tender, juicy chicken with a scrumptious sauce. Only it’s healthier! Serve it on top of steamed rice as a main, and enjoy 🙂
More Instant Pot recipes
Instant Pot Beef Curry Stew Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Lettuce Wrap Asian Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Asian Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with.
