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Cooking with Coconut Oil – Semi Homemade Orange Chicken

April 23, 2013 by Lindsey G. 10 Comments

Orange Chicken with Coconut Oil

Semi Homemade is my favorite way to do anything. Honestly, I guess this recipe is more homemade than not – since I totally do the dish the way I want, but instead of trying to perfect my own perfect orange sauce… I take a short cut.

A SECRET short cut that you’re going to love {if you can find it in a grocer near you}! Actually, there are 2 secrets to this recipe and I’m sharing them with you!

I’ve been using my Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for oil pulling, but I decided to try one of it’s other most popular uses – cooking with coconut oil!

I haven’t tried any baking with it yet, although I hear it’s incredible to bake with. I’ve simply been susbstituing my normal uses of olive oil with the coconut oil and have been very pleased with the results.

Although I can’t claim any health benefits for the virgin coconut oil, others have so I feel good about that part of the switch. I also am really loving the extra flavor.] Just a hint of coconut in my foods.] Although, I’m sure you get used to it after awhile, now it’s a nice surprise!

Semi-Homemade Orange Chicken with Fried Rice

orangechickenveggies

You’ll need:

  • 2-3 Chicken Breasts or a pack of Chicken Fryer Tenders
  • Chicken Breader {or flour – whatever you use for breading}
  • Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for sauteeing
  • My *secret* ingredient of spices – see below!] {I’m keeping it a secret as long as possible!}
  • Extra Veggies! I like to toss in zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and broccoli!
  • Rice
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Soy Sauce
Cooking With Coconut Oil

For sauteeing, you use the Coconut Oil just like you would any other oil you’re cooking with. It is in a solid form, but it melts very quickly in your pan.

Cooking With Coconut Oil

Once it’s melted, warm, and spreading through the pan – I add the ingredients.

Orange Chicken

After cutting your chicken into strips, cubes {however you like it} you can either put it straight in a pan OR bread it. I like to use a chicken breader just to give the dish a little extra umphf!

The first thing that I noticed when using the coconut oil to cook the chicken is that it stays so pretty and white. It also smells SO DELICIOUS in your kitchen!

orangechickenrice

While your chicken is sauteeing {which only takes a few minutes}, get your rice ready. There are so many types of rice, but since I like things fast and easy, I prepare Minute Rice and then put it on a plate to cool and dry.] Making fried rice is so much easier if your rice is cool and dry, otherwise it likes to stick together.

Fried Rice

My cast iron pot turns out to be the best pot to use to make fried rice. While it’s heating up, I put in a couple of tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon of chopped garlic.] When it’s hot and ready, I add the rice.] I top off the rice with some salt, pepper, and soy sauce.

Some people add an egg and fry it alongside the rice – I like it without.

I like easy dishes and easy cleanup so I do everything in one pan.] You can either take your chicken out of your pan, once it’s cooked and add veggies or just add you veggies right into your pan with your chicken. Both ways work.

Orange Chicken

Once your veggies are the consistency that you want, you add the secret ingredient!

orangechickensauce

This stuff is delish! It’s the perfect mix of spices and makes preparing chinese dishes at home easy. I haven’t seen it at our local Walmart, but get it at our local grocery store.

Mix the Panda Brand Sauce for Orange Chicken in with your chicken and veggies and get it nice and warm.

Then serve atop your fried rice!

Orange Chicken with Coconut Oil

What’s your favorite Asian-inspired dish to serve at home?

Orange Chicken with Coconut Oil

Semi Homemade Orange Chicken

Ingredients

  • 2-3 Chicken Breasts or a pack of Chicken Fryer Tenders
  • Chicken Breading {or flour - whatever you use for breading}
  • Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil
  • Panda Brand: Sauce for Orange Chicken
  • Extra Veggies - I like to toss in zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and broccoli!
  • Fried Rice:
  • Rice
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Soy Sauce

Instructions

  1. Melt 1 tbsp of coconut oil over Med-High. Bread your chicken or put it straight into your pan without breading. Once your chicken is browned, add in veggies to saute. When your chicken and vegetables are cooked through, stir in the Orange Chicken sauce and warm. Serve over fried rice!
  2. Fried Rice:
  3. I love to use my cast iron dutch oven for making fried rice. While my pan is heating up, I put in a couple of tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon of chopped garlic. When it’s hot and ready, I add the rice. I top off the rice with some salt, pepper, and soy sauce and stir until the rice is good and "fried". Feel free to fry an egg on the side for a more traditional fried rice taste.
© Lindsey Blogs at SEBG
Cuisine: Main Dish / Category: Recipes

Filed Under: Recipes

Comments

  1. Amber Ludwig says

    April 19, 2015 at 9:21 am

    Oddly enough we use coconut oil for everything… except cooking lol!! I dont know why!! This recipe sounds amazing tho!! So I should probably start 😉

    Reply
  2. Darcy says

    May 1, 2013 at 12:27 am

    I haven't tried cooking with coconut oil yet – I use it for other things though! I like semi-homemade too… I need to try this.

    Reply
  3. Krista Davis says

    April 25, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    I love cooking with coconut oil. This recipe looks delicious, I wonder how I can make it completely from scratch since I'm trying to make almost everything by hand?

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      May 3, 2013 at 8:44 am

      I’m sure you can search orange chicken sauce/marinade on Google/Pinterest.  I sometimes don’t have a ton of ingredients for sauces like this, so I find it easier to buy the packets.

      Reply
  4. Kelly Stilwell says

    April 24, 2013 at 9:21 am

    I cannot wait to try this!! It looks so yummy! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Ellen Christian says

    April 24, 2013 at 7:10 am

    This sounds really good. I have a jar of coconut oil in the cupboard that I have honestly not been sure what to do with.  I'll have to give it a try.

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      April 25, 2013 at 8:30 am

      I’ve been scouring the internet for ways to use mine too, Ellen!  😉

      Reply

Trackbacks

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  2. Fall into Green: Tropical Traditions Gift Card #FallGreen - US says:
    September 30, 2013 at 8:06 am

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