Calamansi Chicken is a tasty take on a popular Chinese takeout. Crisp chicken pieces are drenched in a sweet and tangy citrus sauce for a delicious dish that's sure to be a family favorite.
Calamansi Chicken takes inspiration from the popular American-Chinese takeout, orange chicken, with a Filipino cuisine twist thanks to fresh calamansi juice instead of orange juice!
Bite-size chicken thighs are lightly battered, deep-fried until crisp and golden, and coated in a citrus calamansi sauce. The tasty dish makes an easy and delicious midweek meal served with steamed rice and a side of steamed veggies!
What is calamansi
Calamansi, or calamondin, is a small citrus fruit with bright orange flesh that tastes sour with a slight sweetness. The skin of the calamansi goes from green to orange during ripening and is likened to a cross between a lime and a mandarin with a citrus-floral aroma.
This citrus fruit is predominantly cultivated in the Philippines and, as such, has become a popular ingredient in Filipino cuisine.
Cooking tips
- Fresh calamansi juice is a crucial ingredient in this dish. Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor.
- Cut the chicken in uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Throw any remaining marinade away that has been in contact with the raw chicken for food safety reasons.
How to serve and store
- Serve this calamansi chicken as a main dish with steamed rice and vegetables. Make it a tasty Asian-themed combo meal with chow mein!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in a wide pan over low heat or microwave at 1 to 2-minute intervals until completely heated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the English name for calamansi?
The English name for Calamansi is Philippine lime, although it's also known as Philippine lemon.ย
Can calamansi tenderize meat?
Yes! Calamansi juice is high in acidity, making it ideal for tenderizing meat by breaking down the fibers and softening the meat. It also adds complexity to the flavor of the meat and the dish overall. ย
More Asian favorites
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- canola oil
- sesame seeds, toasted
- green onions, chopped
For the Calamansi Sauce
- ยฝ cup calamansi juice
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ยผ cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
- 1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and finely grated
- ยฝ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ยผ cup water
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine chicken, soy sauce, and Chinese cooking wine. Marinate in the refrigerator for about 20 to 30 minutes. Drain chicken, discarding liquid.
- In a bowl, combine egg whites and cornstarch. Whisk together until well-blended and frothy. Add chicken and mix to fully coat.
- In a thick-bottomed, deep pan over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken pieces and stir to prevent them from lumping together. Deep-fry for about 5 to 6 minutes or until golden.
- With a slotted spoon, remove from heat and drain on a wire rack.
- In a pan, heat about 1 tablespoon oil. Add garlic and ginger and cook until softened.
- In a bowl, combine calamansi juice, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine, sesame oil, brown sugar, and red chili flakes.
- Add the sauce mixture to the pan and cook, stirring regularly, until sugar is dissolved.
- In a bowl, combine cornstarch and water and stir until smooth. Slowly add to calamansi sauce, whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Continue to cook for about 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened.
- Add fried chicken pieces and toss to coat with the sauce fully.
- Place on a serving platter and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve hot.
Notes
- Fresh calamansi juice is a crucial ingredient in this dish. Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor.ย
- Cut the chicken in uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Throw any remaining marinade away that has been in contact with the raw chicken for food safety reasons.
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Marek says
Thank you so much for the recipe! When visiting the Philippines I fell in love with calamansi. They are almost impossible to find in Europe so now I planted my own two small calamansi trees on my terrace in Barcelona and they are quite plentiful right now so I'm doing this recipe often. Next I'll try calamansi cheesecake.
Dave says
Delicious recipe! Calamansi is hard to find in Virginia. With no calamansi in sight I mixed lemon, lime and a bit of sugar. After the chicken was cooked I stir fried a little onion, bell pepper and a diced zucchini. Added the veggies and the chicken and sauced. It came out very nicely.
ER Ouz says
I came across this recipe looking for Clamansi recipes, as my parents have a tree but we don't know what to do with all it's fruit...
One question though- if we're squeezing our own juice, should the fruit be ripe and orange or unripe and green?
Thank you
philomela arias says
delicious and yummy
Georgia Louise says
Iโve been craving for orange chicken for days now but wasnโt able to restock on oranges recently. Tonight I thought of using calamansi from our tree and luckily found this recipe. It works and itโs delicious!
Sandra Waltrip says
Hi, I see your recipe, which sounds awesome and Ibwant to try, but I have a Calamondin tree and all the recipes IVe seen call to add honey to the juice of the fruit. Does your store bought have honey in it?
Love C. says
Hi ms lalaine. Curently im residing in saudi and I cannot finde chinese wine here. What can I substitite for that. Thanks๐
Lalaine says
You can use chicken broth ๐
Shawn says
Where can I buy this calamansi juice from ?
Lalaine says
I buy it from the Asian supermarket, Seafood City, but you might be able to find it on Amazon.
Gregg says
While we have a couple of Seafood City stores here in Vegas, believe it or not, while it may not be in your local Walmart, if you are using Walmart.com on line "shipping" it is available (when in stock, usually Sun Tropics), usually 1 or two days depending on your location. Shipping is about $7 but if your total order is $35 and up, shipping is free! (as of fall, 2021). Walmart.com ships regular goods and non perishable food products. I LOVE calamansi (or many times locally grown calamondin, close cousin). I have a 20oz bottle in the fridge now and I will definitely will make this! Maraming Salamat sa recipe! Gregg
ethel says
hi there lalaine! I would love to try this one day. but can you substitute calamansi for lime? thanks
Lalaine says
Yes, you can use lime, lemon or orange ๐
ethel says
thank you.
Jer says
I cant get chinese wine today - would minrin, white wine vinegar or standard white wine be okay?
annie lapenia says
Hi Lalaine,
I can hardly wait for your cookbook. I have so far enjoyed all of your recipes that I have tried, especially chicken bistek, which is my son's new favorite. Keep up the good work and regards.
Lalaine says
Hello Annie
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate your feedback, inspires me to do a lot more cooking ๐
Mia says
Wow, that is a wonderful opportunity Ms. Lalaine! Congratulations!So proud of you! This is one mouth-watering dish I'd love to try.
Lalaine says
Thanks, Mia. It was really a very exciting experience, I learned a lot ๐
Ces says
I'd love to try this recipe but can i omit the chinese wine? I live in the province here in the Philippines and i guess it is not available in the grocery. What can you suggest as an alternative?
Lalaine says
Hi Ces
You can omit the Chinese wine if you don't have it. Actually, some versions of orange chicken don't have Chinese wine but I add it because it does give good flavor as well as tenderizes the meat.