Monday, May 10, 2010

MOM Chicken: Mandarin Orange Marmalade Chicken (gluten free, too)

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there. This dish is named for you. MOM Chicken! Mandarin Orange Marmalade Chicken, that is!

Sometimes, the best recipes are the simplest ones.  Especially when you discover them without too much forethought. Take today's recipe. With just a couple pantry staple ingredients, regular ol' chicken becomes something really special. Even better the entire meal was on the table in less than 30 minutes.  Works for moi!

Basically, and I mean that word literally, all this dish entails is sauteing chicken strips, adding a little marmalade and butter, and voilla .. you have chicken ala mandarin. Toss on a few crispy onion frizzles and you find yourself emitting little moans of culinary pleasure.

This was really good. I used this delightfully sweet mandarin orange marmalade. Please don't harp on me that it's imported.  I so very rarely treat myself to something, and this is what I choose to spend my dollars on. I enjoyed every sinful bite. Yes, I try to purchase local food to lessen my global footprint. No, I don't purchase everything local. I most definitely recycled the glass jar it came in, if that makes you feel better.  Anyway, this would work with any type of marmalade and be equally delicious.I've not shown amounts because I eyeballed everything. I threw this together so quickly, that I didn't pay attention to measurements. Sorry 'bout that. No worries, though, it's really easy to do.

Ingredients:

White Onion, halved, sliced thin (you dont' want to use a sweet onion here)
1 tablespoon Olive oil

Chicken breasts cut into thin strips
Seasoned salt
Olive oil
Worcestershire sauce
Butter pat
Marmalade
Butter pat (again)

Heat oil in a fry pan.  Add the onions, and fry them until crispy. You are going for texture as well as flavor here. Keep warm. In a large saute pan, heat oil over med high heat.
Season the chicken strips with seasoned salt or your favorite seasoning.  Add to the pan, and saute until golden.  Add a butter pat to the pan and spinkle with couple shakes Worcestershire sauce.

Meanwhile, heat the marmalade in microwave until melted.  You don't need very much, I used about 1/4 cup for 5 servings.  Once heated, stir in a butter pat, and pour over chicken in pan. It will bubble up deliciously. Be sure to stir up all the browned bits that are in the pan. The end result is a glaze/sauce that is out of this world good.  Simple, yes. Good, absolutely! Sprinkle with the crispy onions, and serve immediately.
Wasn't that easy? So simple, and sooooo good. We paired this with rice, spinach, and a fruit salad. It was superb. S.U.P.E.R.B.  You could fancy this up with green onions, ginger, and a splash of soy sauce, but I kept it simple.
I like simple. I like easy.  Most of all, I like good food! Bonus: It's gluten free, too!

Speaking of good things, Happy Mother's Day to all you magnificent mom's out there. Also, happy  Teachers Appreciation Month to all you terrific teachers out there, both the traditional and homeschool varieties.  Mom's and Teachers ... two of the most positive, loving, influential forces on the planet. For all you do, big and small, seen and unseen, I thank you for your dedication. You are  loved and appreciated!

14 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!!!!! It had to be with quick and delicious dishes like this.

Pam said...

What a great chicken recipe. Hope you had a great Mother's Day!

Manggy said...

I wasn't going to harp on you! Well, unless fawning over this dish that's right up my flavor alley harping. Happy mother's day!! :)

grace said...

i certainly wouldn't dream of berating you for splurging on some gorgeous marmalade! and what a terrific use for it--i'm always game for some sweet-savory action. :)

Cathy said...

Oh my, does this look good. This is my kind of meal, quick and flavor packed. Hope your Mother's Day was a happy one.

Mickle in NZ said...

Oh my - this IS good. I made it for my dinner tonight using sliced chicken thigh and some of my dear Dad's homemade lime marmalade.

Was so delicious I phoned my Folks to rave about it, and then emailed the recipe link to them, and to sister in the UK and to gluten-free friend up in Alberta.

A super scrummy Mother's day gem - many thanks, dear Paula,

Michelle and Zebbycat, xxx and snorey purrrrumbles

Marjie said...

This looks wonderful; I love the chicken/orange combo! I don't think too hard about my carbon footprint when it comes to food, because there are some things that just can't come from next door, and this marmalade would prove it! Mother's Day hugs to you!

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a great mother's day!

pam said...

This is my kind of dish! And I know, I try to buy local whenever I can, but you know, sometimes you can't, or you don't. It's like when I try to not buy anything from China, but darn them and their cute dishes.

DayPhoto said...

Oh, yummm. I was trying to figure something out for supper and here it is!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to you, also!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

It looks SOOOO good, I'll be filing this one. I like my own marmalade but French might be better, more exotic ant any rate.

Robynn's Ravings said...

Hey, you know what? I say buy local when you can but we are also one world and people in other countries need to eat and be supported, too!!! So you are thinking locally and acting globally. And is the fact that I'm gonna MAKE this recipe from someone in a whole nuther state gonna ban me from my crunchy associations? Well, I hope not but if it does, I'll just enjoy it while I look 'em in the eyeball and chew. :)

Julie said...

It looks very gouda!!

Jan said...

I once made chicken with a marmalade sauce, and it ended up like sticky toffee chicken. %-( Yours looks so much nicer.