Whole30 Compliant Orange Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (or thighs), cubed into 1/2 – 1″ pieces
• 1/4 c. + 1 Tbsp. tapioca flour, divided
• 4 sesame oil, divided
• 1/2 salt
• 1/4 pepper
• 1 fresh orange juice from 4 large navel oranges
• Zest of 1 large orange
• 1/3 coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
• 4cloves garlic, minced
• 2Medjool dates, pitted, soaked in hot water 2 minutes
• 2 rice vinegar
• 1 white/yellow miso paste, optional
• 1/2 ground ginger
• 1/2 red chili flakes

For the Lettuce Wraps:

• 2heads butter or romaine lettuce leaves, rinsed and dried
• 2 cooked cauliflower rice (or white/brown rice)
• 1bunch scallions, sliced on the bias
• 1can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 shredded red cabbage
• 1/2 cucumber matchsticks
• 1/2 shredded carrots

Instructions

1. Cube the chicken into 1/2 – 1″ pieces.  Whisk together 1/4 c. tapioca flour/starch, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.  Add the chicken pieces; toss to coat. 
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tsp. sesame oil.  Wait until the skillet hot, then add the chicken.  Pan-sear, without touching, 3-4 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until chicken is done and golden brown on all sides.  
3. While the chicken cooks, make the sauce. 
4. In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine the orange juice, orange zest, coconut aminos, garlic, soaked Medjool dates, rice vinegar, miso paste, ginger, and chili flakes.  Puree until smooth and creamy.
5. Pour the sauce into the pan with the chicken and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 Tbsp. tapioca starch with 1 Tbsp. cold water.  Pour into the pan with the orange chicken.  Continue to simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, another 5-10 minutes.

Spoon the chicken and cauliflower rice into the butter lettuce leaves.  Top with scallions, water chestnuts, shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber, and more chili flakes. 

Recipe credit: https://well-fedsoul.com/whole30-orange-chicken-lettuce-wraps/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=617318510_23665980_547930

Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.