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Sweet and Sour Chicken, thewoksoflife.com
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4.74 from 57 votes

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken is an American Chinese takeout favorite, made by batter-frying chicken and tossing it in a quick sweet and sour sauce.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Chicken
Cuisine: American/Chinese
Servings: 4
Calories: 466kcal
Author: Bill

Ingredients

For the sweet and sour sauce:

  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice (optional, reserved from canned pineapple)
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar)

For the chicken:

  • 12 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
  • 1-2 tablespoons water
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the batter:

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2/3 cup ice water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or canola oil, plus more for frying)

For the rest of the dish:

  • 2/3 cup canned pineapple chunks (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/4 cup red onion (cut into 1-inch/2.5cm chunks)
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper (cut into 1-inch/2.5cm chunks)
  • 1/4 cup green bell pepper (cut into 1-inch/2.5cm chunks)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Start by preparing the sauce:

  • Set aside ½ cup of pineapple juice from your can of pineapple, and reserve ⅔ cup of the pineapple chunks (if using). Set aside.
  • Combine the hot water, salt, sugar, and ketchup. Stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved, and then add the vinegar and pineapple juice (if using). If not using pineapple juice, replace with ½ cup water or chicken stock. Set aside.

Marinate the chicken:

  • Cut your chicken into uniform 1 inch chunks (for even cooking) and place into a bowl. Add the garlic and onion powders, sesame oil, white pepper and salt. Mix until all pieces are uniformly coated, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Any excess water should be fully absorbed by the chicken. If not, mix the chicken again and let it sit for another 5 minutes.

Make the batter:

  • Mix together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl, and add 2/3 cup of ice water. Use a fork to mix until a batter is formed, and stir in 1 tablespoon of oil. Set aside.

Fry the chicken:

  • The amount of oil you need depends on the size of the pot you will use. Using a larger pot uses more oil, but allows you to cook the chicken in fewer batches. Using a smaller pot uses less oil, but you’ll have to fry more batches of chicken. We usually go for a smaller pot, so we have less leftover oil. Heat the oil in a small pot until it reaches 335°F/170°C.
  • Place 5 to 6 pieces of marinated chicken into the batter. Use a chopstick, fork, or your fingers to coat the chicken in the batter and place each piece slowly into the oil.
  • Use a slotted spoon to carefully turn the chicken so all sides are uniformly fried. Fry for about 2 minutes, or until the batter is a light golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and let any excess oil drain off before placing onto a rack or paper towel lined plate. 

Assemble in the Wok:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a wok over medium high heat, and add the red onion and peppers. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
  • Next, add the sweet and sour sauce you prepared earlier and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the sauce is simmering.
  • Combine the cornstarch and water to make a uniform slurry. While stirring the sweet and sour sauce, drizzle the slurry in gradually until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon (you may not need all of the slurry). Turn down the heat and give the sauce a quick taste––now is the time to add more salt, vinegar or sugar if desired.
  • Add the pineapple chunks (if using) and stir until warmed through. Now is the time to refry the chicken to make them nice and crispy. Heat the oil up to 335°F/170°C and fry the chicken in two batches for about 45 seconds each time. Then add the chicken pieces to your sauce, and gently toss with your wok spatula until the chicken is coated. Serve immediately!

Notes

Note: nutrition information does not include the pineapple or juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 741mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 464IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg