The Difference Between Tangerine Chicken And Orange Chicken: It’s Not What You Think!
Tangerine chicken and orange chicken are often confused with one another.
Tangerine chicken is a recipe from Southern California, which includes mandarin oranges in the sauce, while orange chicken is Cantonese-style deep-fried battered food.
In this blog post we’ll compare the two dishes to see how they differ and which one is better for your diet.
What is special about tangerine chicken?
Ever heard of tangerine chicken? It’s a type of Chinese dish that consists of fried pieces of chicken.
The most important ingredient in this recipe is the tangerines, which are used to make the dish tangy and flavorful.
There are many ways to prepare tangerine chicken, but this particular recipe calls for boiling the meat first before frying it with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sugar and cooking wine.
What is special about orange chicken?
Orange chicken is a dish that has roots in both China and the United States.
It is most closely related to Beijing’s “orange beef” which was created in the 1950s, but it also shares some similarities with American-style fried chicken.
The name comes from its use of orange marmalade as a sweetener and condiment, which gives it an orange color when cooked.
Traditionally, orange chicken is deep-fried before being coated in batter and bread crumbs or cornstarch for frying again; this double-frying technique produces a crunchy exterior while keeping the inside moist.
Is tangerine chicken the same as orange chicken?
Tangerine chicken and orange chicken are both dishes that use chicken as their main ingredient, but that’s where the similarities end.
Tangerine chicken is a traditional Chinese dish, created in the 1980s by a chef named David Chan at his restaurant in Hong Kong.
It was called “orange” chicken because of the color of the sauce, but it doesn’t actually contain any oranges or orange juice.
Instead, it’s made with tangerines and lots of spices like ginger and garlic.
Orange chicken is also a Chinese dish, but it was created in America—in New York City by Chef Peng Chang-Kuei to be exact! It uses real oranges (or sometimes grapefruits) to create its unique sweet-and-sour sauce.
There you have it: tangerine vs orange chicken!
What are the differences between tangerine chicken and orange chicken?
Tangerine chicken and orange chicken are very similar dishes, but they have a few differences.
This table below will show you how they differ.
| Tangerine chicken | Orange chicken | |
| Texture | Tangerine chicken’s texture is chewier than orange chicken because it contains more sugar and less flour | Orange chicken has a crunchier texture because it’s fried in oil |
| Sauce | Tangerine has a more water-based, thin, less sweet but still tangy sauce | Orange chicken is coated with an egg-based, thick, sweet and tangy sauce |
| Nutritional value | Tangerine chicken has more protein, less sodium, and fewer calories than orange chicken | Orange chicken contains more calories than tangerine chicken does because it’s fried |
| Cooking time | Tangerines take about 20 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit | Oranges require only 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Serving | Tangerine chicken is served with white rice | Orange chicken is served with fried rice |
| Price | The price of tangerine chicken can range from $5 to $10 per plate | The price of orange chicken ranges from $4 to $6 per plate |
What are the similarities between tangerine chicken and orange chicken?
Tangerine chicken is a dish that has been gaining popularity over the years.
It’s often confused with orange chicken, which also has a similar taste and texture.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the similarities between these two dishes so you can decide which one to order!
1. They both have a citrus flavor
Tangerine chicken and orange chicken both have a citrus flavor, but tangerine has an even more unique taste.
2. Both tangerine chicken and orange chicken are made with a sauce that is tangy, sweet, and spicy
The sauce that is used for both tangerine chicken and orange chicken has a great taste because it’s tangy, sweet, and spicy
3. They can be served as a main course or an appetizer
When offering tangerine chicken or orange chicken to customers, it can be served as a main course or an appetizer
4. They both have a mild flavor that doesn’t overpower other foods you eat with it
The mild flavor of our tangerine chicken and orange chicken means you can eat it with a variety of tasty meals without worrying about overpowering the other foods.
Which one is better?
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Well, if you are looking for a dish that’s more on the sweet side than tangy then go with orange.
If you’re all about zesty flavors in your food then stick with tangerine! Either way it doesn’t matter because both dishes offer great flavor combinations.
Have fun making these delicious dishes at home today!
