Ah, classic Sweet and Sour Chicken—crispy, tangy, and perfect with rice 🍚🍍. Here’s a detailed recipe that’s crunchy, saucy, and restaurant-style.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple works well)
- 1–2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
Vegetables & Extras (optional but tasty):
- 1 bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 small onion, cut into chunks
- ½ cup pineapple chunks
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken
- In a bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
- Dip chicken pieces in beaten eggs, then coat in the flour mixture.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken in batches until golden and cooked through (~4–5 min). Drain on paper towels.
- Make the Sauce
- In a small saucepan, combine ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and pineapple juice.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Mix cornstarch + water to make a slurry and stir into sauce. Cook until thickened (~2–3 min).
- Cook Vegetables (Optional)
- Stir-fry bell peppers and onions for 2–3 min until slightly tender.
- Add pineapple chunks just to warm through.
- Combine
- Toss fried chicken in the sauce until fully coated.
- Add vegetables and pineapple if using, stir to combine.
- Serve
- Serve hot over steamed rice or fried rice.
- Garnish with sesame seeds or sliced green onions if desired.
Tips
- For extra crunch, double-fry chicken: fry once, let rest, then fry again for 1–2 min before tossing in sauce.
- Use light or dark brown sugar depending on sweetness preference.
- Swap chicken for shrimp or tofu for a variation.
If you want, I can also give a baked version that’s crispy without deep frying, perfect if you want a slightly healthier version that’s just as tasty.
Do you want me to do that?
