Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Stir-Fried Orange Chicken and Broccoli with Cashews

Categories: Poultry

Ingredients

• Chicken for Stir-Fry:
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1 cup water
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed of excess fat, and prepared according to illustrations below
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest from one orange
• Stir-Fry:
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 2 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)peanut oil or vegetable oil
• 1 cup roasted unsalted cashews , toasted in dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown, about 6 minutes
• 1 1/2 pounds broccoli , florets cut into bite-size pieces (about 1 1/2-inches tall and 1-inch wide), stems trimmed,peeled, and cut on bias into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 4 medium scallions , sliced 1/4-inch thick on bias

Directions

1. Combine soy sauce, sherry, and water in medium bowl; add chicken and stir to break up clumps. Cover with plastic wrapand refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 hour.

2. Mix sesame oil, cornstarch, flour, and orange zest in medium bowl until smooth. Drain chicken in strainer; press out excessliquid. Toss chicken in cornstarch/flour mixture until evenly coated.

3. Whisk chicken broth, orange juice, vinegar, soy, hoisin, cornstarch, sugar, and pepper flakes in small bowl; set aside.Combine ginger, garlic, and 1 tablespoon peanut oil in small bowl; set aside.

4. Heat 2 teaspoons peanut oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until smoking; add half of chicken to skillet in flat,even layer. Cook, without stirring, but gently separating pieces, until golden brown on first side, about 1 minute; turn chickenpieces and cook until lightly browned on second side, about 30 seconds. Transfer chicken to clean bowl. Repeat withadditional 2 teaspoons peanut oil and remaining chicken.

5. Add 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet; heat until just smoking. Add broccoli and cook 30 seconds; add 1/4 cup water,cover pan, and lower heat to medium-low. Cook broccoli until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes, then transfer broccoli to papertowel-lined plate. Add garlic/ginger mixture to skillet, increase heat to medium-high and cook, mashing mixture with spoon,until fragrant, sticky, and golden brown, 30 to 45 seconds, Return chicken to skillet and toss to combine. Whisk sauce torecombine, then add to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and evenly distributed, about 1 minute. Off heat, add broccoi and cashews and stir to combine. Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with scallions, and serve.

6. STEP-BY-STEP: Preparing Chicken for a Stir-Fry – 1. Separate tenderloin from breast. Starting at thick end, cut into 1/4-inch slices. Stop slicing when you reach the tapered triangle end. 2. With flat side of knife, press each slice to an even 1/4-inch thickness and then cut slices into 1-inch squares. 3. Use same technique for tenderloin, flattening it with side of knife and then cutting into 1-inch pieces.

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