Orange Sesame Chicken With Vegetables

I asked on Instagram what Asian dishes you would like for me to recreate? Orange sesame chicken was one of the top requests! Whenever I come across orange chicken, I’m immediately taken back to my college years. After church, we often went to the mall to eat as it was spacious enough to host a whole bunch of us and there was something for everyone. And let’s not forget, it was affordable for us poor students. Americanized Chinese fast food (ahem Panda Express) always hit the spot for me, and my plate was never without the breaded, deep fried chicken coated in that glorious sweet, sticky orange sauce. Unfortunately, take-out orange sesame chicken is loaded with sugar and sodium – two ingredients to watch out for when serving to babies. Enter this low sodium chicken recipe that you CAN enjoy with your baby and the rest of the family! I don’t have time to make separate meals just for the baby and something tells me you don’t either. Now, I’ll be upfront and tell you that this does NOT taste like the traditional orange chicken. It’s not fried and drenched in sauce. However, I tried my best to make it as flavorful as possible while cutting back significantly on the use of soy sauce and eliminating added sugar completely.

Ingredients

Chicken breast – This is my go-to since I always have some in the freezer. Thigh meat will actually be more flavorful and tender so go for it if that’s what you have on hand! And if you want to go vegetarian, try tofu! Just be sure to press it to remove as much liquid as possible. Vegetables – while I used bok choy and red bell pepper, you really can use whatever you wish or have on hand – carrots, broccoli, zucchini… Chicken broth – to add flavor and soften the chicken and the vegetables Sesame seeds – if your baby hasn’t been introduced to this yet, be sure to start with a very small amount (1/4 teaspoon or so) as it is one of the top most common allergens.

For the low sodium orange sauce:

Orange – Fresh really works best. After squeezing out all the juice, go ahead and eat the membranes as that’s where the fiber is at. My toddler actually loves sharing them with me. Coconut aminos – It has roughly half the sodium as compared to regular soy sauce so it’s a great substitute, IF there is no coconut allergy. If there is, then use low-sodium soy sauce. One tablespoon is for the entire dish and your baby will consume a very small portion at a time so it will be fine. Use it to make this teriyaki sauce as well! Apple cider vinegar – I prefer this over the rice vinegar as it helps balance the sweet and tart flavor in this orange sauce. But you can use rice vinegar if that’s what you have on hand. Ginger and garlic – make sure to use fresh ginger rather than ground Sesame oil

How to Cook this baby-friendly chicken dish

Traditionally, orange chicken is crispy, which is not a safe texture for babies. We want the chicken to be tender. To achieve this: 3. All that’s left is to add the sauce and cook, stirring, until thickened. If able, I highly recommend making this at least an hour before enjoying to allow for the orange notes to mellow out and the flavors to meld.

Serving Suggestions for Babies

Finely chop the chicken and vegetables. I like to use kitchen shears. Fold into scoopable foods, like cooked lentils, rice, mashed avocado, etc. At this point, you can serve as is with a spoon (aff link). Be sure to scoop up some of the sauce to provide moisture to the mixture. You can also shape into balls to make it easier for your baby to eat with their hands. Remember, less is more so don’t fill your baby’s plate with too much food. You can always serve more if your baby seems interested. I love to serve this dish with this mixed grains rice. It’s such a great way to introduce a variety of grains and legumes to your baby in one meal!

Storage Suggestions

Store in the fridge for 3-5 days. I recommend reheating in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water to help loosen the sauce. You can also freeze for up to 3 months. Here’s an in-depth post on how to store leftovers safely.