You’ll love this new take on sweet and sour chicken. You know how most restaurants deep-fry their chicken in a thick batter? Turns out you can still get tons of flavor without the heavy oil-laden breading. The chicken is lightly coated in corn starch which is probably my favorite trick for making takeout dishes at home. Just a very thin coating delivers a crispy exterior when sautéed in a tablespoon or two of oil. Plus, you can whip up the whole recipe in just 30 minutes!
How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken
Recipe Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Any chicken brand you prefer is fine. Corn starch – This ingredient is integral both to the coating of the chicken and for making a slurry for the sauce. Oil – I use vegetable oil but you can use whatever you have on hand. Red and green bell peppers – Find them in the produce aisle – pick out good ones or buy them pre-chopped. White or yellow onion – Either kind of onion works great in this sweet and sour chicken recipe. Sugar – White sugar is key to a good sweet and sour chicken sauce. Apple cider vinegar – A surprisingly integral part to the sweet and sour chicken sauce too. Use regular white vinegar if you don’t have apple cider. Soy sauce – For that salty depth of flavor, any soy brand you like is fine. I tend to use low-sodium soy sauce which has plenty of salt for my taste. Garlic powder and onion salt – any well-known brand of these spices is perfect in this sauce recipe. Ketchup – Another ingredient you may never have suspected. Don’t skip the ketchup, you need it in this sweet and sour sauce recipe. Water – Be sure to use cold water to dissolve your corn starch.
Step by Step Directions
Prepare the Sauce
Prepare the Chicken and Vegetables
Why This Recipe Works
So quick – Make the sauce, coat the chicken, put it together with chopped vegetables, that’s it! Done in 30 minutes or less. Delish! Better than takeout – Make this once and I think you’ll agree this sweet and sour recipe is better than the takeout version that’s cooked in tons of oil. You can get your takeout fix and not feel as guilty about it. Great leftovers – That is a big “if” you have any leftovers! There aren’t in my house. But I know this would heat up great the next day and the day after that! This Chinese sweet and sour recipe would be a great as a meal prep for the week for those busy days you need to eat your lunch at your desk too. So versatile – I like to serve this sweet and sour chicken over white or brown rice, but it would also be good over wide egg noodles, ramen, or soba. Add a bag of your favorite steamed veggies on the side and top with extra sauce if you have it. (I always go for broccoli myself.)
Customizations
Add a veggie. This Chinese dish is a great one to serve in one bowl. Might as well round it out by adding some veggies to the mix. In addition to the peppers and onions, my favorites to add include broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, sugar snap peas or snow peas, water chestnuts, and shaved Brussels sprouts. Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes to the sauce (a teaspoon or two will do). Or top the dish with Sriracha or another of your favorite hot sauces. Sub chicken thighs. I know lots of people that prefer the dark meat of chicken to the white meat for its depth of flavor. If you count yourself among those people, then by all means, cut chicken thighs into bite-size pieces, and follow the recipe as directed. For a lower-sugar option, cut the white sugar back to half a cup and the ketchup to just a couple tablespoons. Or, sub Agave or another sugar substitute. (Note: the sauce may not thicken as much with these substitutions, but it will still be tasty!)
What is Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken Made Of?
This dish is generally made of deep-fried chicken that’s been battered in corn flour, then coated in a sweet and sour sauce that’s made from a combination of ketchup, plum sauce, sugar, lemon juice, chili sauce, and salt. My version is a bit healthier but still just as tasty!
Are Sweet and Sour and Orange Chicken the Same?
Sweet and sour chicken is not the same as orange chicken, although both are Chinese recipes that are delicious! Here are more details on the differences: Sweet and sour chicken is more balanced in flavor (hence the sweet AND sour tastes). But orange chicken is sweet and tangy (not sour), with a bit of spice and, of course, orange flavoring that comes from the use of both orange juice and oftentimes orange zest as well. Both of these recipes though do start with bite-size chicken pieces that are breaded and fried and then coated in their specific sauces. Both can be served over grains or noodles and with or without vegetables.
Is Ketchup Used in Chinese Cooking?
Although ketchup might seem like a strange ingredient to include in my sweet and sour chicken sauce recipe, it turns out that the Chinese actually invented ketchup so it’s not that strange at all! Although to be fair, the ketchup version that originated in China was really more closely related to fish sauce. Then, you know, European traders got their hands on it and toyed and tweaked with it until we reached the version we have today. Not sure on how it got back to China as the tomatoey version of ketchup that was since created. But the good news is fish sauce and ketchup are both now firmly ensconced in Chinese and other Asian recipes.
Expert Tips
If you don’t have onion salt, use garlic salt instead of garlic powder, and use onion powder instead of garlic salt. Feeling saucy? If you looooove lots of sauce like I do, double the sauce recipe. It helps to have extra sauce too if you want to make sure you have enough to spoon over rice, noodles, or the addition of veggies. Don’t over-crowd the pan. Be sure to use a large skillet, or if needed, work in batches to brown your chicken so the chicken pieces don’t get stuck together.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
Love this better-than-takeout Healthy Sweet and Sour Chicken? Try The Best Fried Rice, Honey Sriracha Chicken, Sticky Chinese Lemon Chicken, and Kung Pao Noodles.
Instant Pot Honey Teriyaki Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry Stir Fry Sauce Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef Pork Fried Rice Shrimp Fried Rice
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title: “Sweet And Sour Chicken” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-05” author: “Louise Medlin”
Battered and fried chicken pieces are simmered in a delicious sweet and sour sauce with bell peppers, green onions and pineapple. Easy to make, vibrantly colorful, and thoroughly delicious! For more favorite Chinese takeout recipe you won’t want to miss our Mongolian Beef , General Tso’s Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Chicken and Chinese Beef and Broccoli! Originating in China and popular throughout many parts of the world, sweet and sour chicken is a classic. There are many variations of it and for this recipe we combine the slightly spicy flavor of bell pepper with the sweetness of pineapple, a fabulous combination. That’s the way my mom made it for our family and it was always a favorite.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Key Ingredients
An important key to making a good sweet and sour sauce is to be sure that the “sour” component isn’t completely overpowered by the “sweet.” The proper balance is essential. Cider and balsamic vinegar aren’t quite strong enough, use the strongest vinegar you have. I like to supplement white vinegar with a few dashes of a German vinegar called Essig Essenz, which is a super concentrated vinegar with a great flavor and you only need a tiny bit of it. Though you won’t find it in grocery stores in the United States, it’s actually fairly popular among Asian Americans and consequently you can find it in some well-stocked Asian grocery stores. You can also purchase Essig Essenz online. It’s fabulous in vinegar-based salad dressings (and a must in German potato salad). But rest assured, even if if you only use white vinegar in this sweet and sour chicken it’s going to taste amazing! This dish is easy to make and the flavor is downright fabulous. Another thing you’re going to love is the texture of the chicken. The chicken is battered and fried before adding it to the sauce which produces not only an exquisite crust but leaves the interior of the chicken perfectly white and moist. While it’s not a step you have to take, I highly recommend it. This sweet and sour chicken is sure to rival your favorite Chinese takeout. Fun, flavorful, colorful and a universal favorite, your family and friends will love it!
Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
Let’s get started!
Let’s make the sauce first. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
Chop the bell peppers and slice the green onions.
Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken.
Put the cornstarch and beaten eggs in separate bowls. Coat the chicken pieces in the cornstarch and then in the egg mixture.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When you add a drop of water to the oil and it sputters, the oil is ready. Add the chicken and lightly brown on all sides.
After the chicken is done, transfer the pieces to a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the bell peppers to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until they start to soften.
Add the chicken, pineapple and green onions. Stir in the sauce and simmer for 6-8 minutes.
Stir the chicken and veggies to redistribute the sauce and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.
Enjoy!
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet February 26, 2014
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