This sweet and sour chicken recipe brings together the perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors, creating a delightful dish that is sure to please your taste buds. With tender pieces of chicken, vibrant bell peppers, and a luscious sauce, this dish is a fantastic option for a quick and satisfying meal.
Some ingredients in this recipe might not be staples in every household. Rice vinegar is a key component for the tangy flavor and can be found in the Asian section of most supermarkets. Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce and is typically located in the baking aisle. Make sure to grab these if they are not already in your pantry.
Ingredients For Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe
Chicken breast: Cut into bite-sized pieces, this is the main protein of the dish.
Red bell pepper: Adds a sweet and slightly fruity flavor, along with vibrant color.
Green bell pepper: Provides a mild, slightly bitter taste and adds to the dish's color.
Onion: Adds a savory and slightly sweet flavor when cooked.
Vegetable oil: Used for stir-frying the ingredients.
Ketchup: Forms the base of the sweet and sour sauce, adding sweetness and tang.
Rice vinegar: Provides the tangy component of the sauce.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and depth to the sauce.
Soy sauce: Adds a salty, umami flavor to the sauce.
Cornstarch: Mixed with water to thicken the sauce.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When stir-frying the chicken, ensure the wok is hot enough before adding the vegetable oil. This helps to sear the chicken quickly, locking in its juices and creating a nice, golden exterior. Additionally, when adding the cornstarch mixture to the sauce, make sure to stir continuously to avoid any lumps, resulting in a smooth and glossy finish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
chicken breast - Substitute with tofu: Tofu is a great plant-based alternative that absorbs flavors well and provides a similar texture.
red bell pepper - Substitute with yellow bell pepper: Yellow bell peppers have a similar sweetness and crunch, making them a good alternative.
green bell pepper - Substitute with zucchini: Zucchini offers a different texture but still provides a fresh, mild flavor that complements the dish.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder and sweeter flavor compared to onions, which can add a different depth to the dish.
vegetable oil - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil is a healthier alternative with a rich flavor that works well for sautéing.
ketchup - Substitute with tomato paste mixed with honey: This combination provides a similar sweetness and tanginess without the processed ingredients.
rice vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has a similar acidity and can add a slightly fruity note to the dish.
brown sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey offers natural sweetness and a slightly different flavor profile that complements the other ingredients.
soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative that provides a similar umami flavor.
cornstarch - Substitute with arrowroot powder: Arrowroot powder is a great thickening agent that works similarly to cornstarch and is often considered a healthier option.
Other Alternative Recipes
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- Allow the sweet and sour chicken to cool completely before storing. This helps to prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
- Transfer the cooled chicken and vegetables into an airtight container. Make sure to use a container that seals well to keep the flavors fresh.
- Store the container in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the dish within 3-4 days. This will keep the chicken and sauce at their best quality.
- For longer storage, place the sweet and sour chicken in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness.
- When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight if frozen. This ensures even reheating and maintains the texture of the vegetables.
- Reheat the dish in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also use a microwave, but be sure to cover the dish to retain moisture.
- If the sauce appears too thick after reheating, add a splash of water or chicken broth to achieve the desired consistency.
- Enjoy your sweet and sour chicken with freshly cooked rice or your favorite side dish for a quick and delicious meal.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a splash of vegetable oil or a bit of chicken broth to prevent sticking.
- Add the leftover sweet and sour chicken and stir occasionally until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Ensure the chicken is heated evenly by stirring frequently.
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the sweet and sour chicken in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly warmed.
- Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Microwave Method:
- Place the sweet and sour chicken in a microwave-safe container.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam to escape.
- Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Continue heating in 1-minute intervals until the chicken is hot.
Steaming Method:
- Set up a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water.
- Place the sweet and sour chicken in the basket.
- Cover and steam for about 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.
- This method helps retain the moisture and texture of the vegetables and chicken.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the sweet and sour chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Heat for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
- This method can help retain the crispiness of the chicken.
Best Tools for Cooking
Wok: A large, round-bottomed cooking vessel ideal for stir-frying ingredients quickly and evenly.
Vegetable oil: Used for cooking the chicken and vegetables, providing a medium for frying.
Knife: Essential for chopping the chicken, bell peppers, and onion into bite-sized pieces.
Cutting board: A safe surface to chop and prepare the ingredients.
Mixing bowl: Used to whisk together the ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
Whisk: Helps to combine the sauce ingredients smoothly.
Measuring cups: Ensures accurate measurement of the ketchup, rice vinegar, and brown sugar.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the soy sauce and cornstarch accurately.
Spatula: Useful for stirring and tossing the ingredients in the wok.
Serving spoon: For serving the sweet and sour chicken over rice.
Rice cooker: Optional, but helpful for preparing the rice to serve with the dish.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prep ingredients ahead: Chop the chicken breast, bell peppers, and onion in advance and store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
Use pre-made sauce: Substitute the homemade sauce with a store-bought sweet and sour sauce to save mixing time.
Cook rice simultaneously: Start cooking your rice while you prepare the chicken and vegetables to have everything ready at the same time.
One-pan method: Use a large wok or skillet to cook everything in one go, reducing the number of dishes to clean.
Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 Green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
Sauce Ingredients
- ½ cup Ketchup
- ¼ cup Rice vinegar
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon Soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- 1. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat.
- 2. Add the chicken pieces and stir-fry until cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- 3. In the same wok, add the bell peppers and onion. Stir-fry until tender.
- 4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce.
- 5. Pour the sauce into the wok and bring to a simmer.
- 6. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir until the sauce thickens.
- 7. Return the chicken to the wok and toss to coat in the sauce.
- 8. Serve hot over rice.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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