The Perfect Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe Every Family Loves

Crafting an authentic sweet and sour chicken recipe can transport you straight to the vibrant streets of Chinese cuisine.

Culinary adventures often start with unexpected flavor combinations that surprise and delight.

Home cooks appreciate simple techniques that transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary meals.

Tender chicken pieces bathed in a glossy, tangy sauce create a perfect balance between sweet and acidic notes.

Minimal preparation meets maximum satisfaction in this crowd-pleasing dish.

Fresh vegetables and a quick marinade elevate the entire cooking experience.

You’ll find this recipe both comforting and exciting, promising a delicious journey into home-style cooking that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Helpful Tips For James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Maximize Crispiness: Pat chicken dry before coating to ensure a crisp, golden exterior that locks in moisture and flavor.
• Balance Sauce Thickness: Gradually add cornflour to control the sauce's consistency, preventing it from becoming too thick or lumpy.
• Prevent Overcrowding: Fry chicken in batches to maintain oil temperature and achieve even, crunchy coating.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Let sauce simmer longer to develop richer, more concentrated sweet and sour notes.
• Boost Freshness: Add fresh herbs like cilantro just before serving to maintain their vibrant color and aromatic qualities.

Fun Twists On James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Vegetarian Swap: Replace chicken with firm tofu, cubed and coated in the same flour mixture, then air-fried for a lighter, plant-based version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use rice flour instead of regular flour and tamari sauce in place of soy sauce to create a celiac-friendly adaptation.
• Spicy Kick Version: Add red chili flakes or sriracha sauce to the sweet and sour sauce for those who enjoy extra heat and complexity in their meal.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute rice with cauliflower rice and use almond flour for coating to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining similar flavor profiles.

What Goes With James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Elevate Sweet Harmony: Pair this vibrant sweet and sour chicken with a crisp Riesling, whose bright acidity and slight sweetness perfectly complement the dish's tangy flavor profile.
• Refresh with Fizz: Select a light Asian-style lager like Tsingtao or Sapporo, which cuts through the richness and provides a clean, refreshing counterpoint to the chicken's deep-fried crunch.
• Rice Realm Companion: Choose jasmine rice for its delicate floral notes, which subtly enhance the sweet and sour sauce while providing a soft, pillowy base for the colorful chicken and vegetable medley.
• Herbal Cool Down: Garnish with fresh cilantro and scallions, adding a zesty, bright dimension that lifts the entire dish and provides a cool, green contrast to the warm, saucy chicken.

How To Store James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken Right

• Store leftover sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, maintaining best flavor and texture.
• Seal completely cooled chicken in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freezes perfectly for up to 3 months without losing taste quality.
• Place chicken in microwave-safe dish, sprinkle few drops of water to prevent drying. Heat on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated thoroughly.
• Warm chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding small splash of water or extra sauce. Stir gently to redistribute heat evenly and prevent sticking, ensuring chicken remains moist and tender.

FAQ Guide For James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

• What ingredients can I substitute if I don't have some on hand?

You can replace sherry with rice wine or apple juice, and if you don’t have fresh peppers, frozen bell peppers work perfectly. Cornflour can be swapped with potato starch or regular flour.

• Is this recipe spicy?

No, this sweet and sour chicken recipe is mild and balanced with sweet and tangy flavors. If you want heat, you can add a dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes to the sauce.

• Can I make this dish gluten-free?

Yes, use gluten-free flour for coating the chicken and ensure your soy sauce is gluten-free. Most other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.

Why James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken Hits The Spot

• Craft Crispy Perfection: Deep-fried chicken gets a golden, crunchy exterior that transforms ordinary protein into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal kitchen skills required.
• Create One-Pan Magic: This recipe minimizes cleanup by using fewer cookware pieces, allowing you to prepare a complete meal with simple steps and streamlined cooking techniques.
• Customize Flavor Adventure: Flexible ingredients like pineapple, peppers, and optional garnishes let home cooks personalize the sweet and sour sauce to match their taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Balance Nutrition Easily: Packed with protein from chicken, vibrant vegetables, and a harmonious sauce, this dish provides a well-rounded meal that satisfies hunger and nutritional requirements without complicated preparation.

Everything You Need For James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

• Chicken: Tender pieces of meat that form the protein base of the sweet and sour dish.
• Flour: Creates a crispy coating for the chicken pieces.
• Cider: Provides a tangy liquid base for the chicken coating.

• Onions, Bell Peppers: Add texture, flavor, and color to the dish.
• Pineapple: Brings a sweet and tropical element to the sweet and sour recipe.
• Scallions, Cilantro: Fresh herbs that provide a bright garnish and additional flavor.

• Soy Sauce, Honey, Ketchup, Sherry, Stock: Combination of ingredients that create the classic sweet and sour flavor profile.
• Cornflour: Helps to thicken the sauce and give it a glossy consistency.
• Vegetable Oil: Used for frying chicken and sautéing vegetables.

How To Cook James Martin Sweet And Sour Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Coating

Whisk together flour and cider in a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly coat chicken pieces in the mixture, ensuring complete coverage. Heat oil to 170 degrees Celsius and deep fry chicken chunks for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove and drain excess oil on paper towels.

Step 2: Sauté Colorful Vegetables

• Onions
• Bell peppers

Sauté for 3 minutes until vegetables start to soften. Toss in pineapple chunks and warm through, stirring gently.

Step 3: Create Tangy Sauce

• Soy sauce
• Honey
• Ketchup
• Sherry
• Chicken stock

Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Blend cornflour into the sauce to create a smooth, thickened consistency.

Step 4: Combine And Serve

Return sauce to a gentle boil. Add crispy chicken and sautéed vegetables, stirring to coat evenly. Transfer to serving bowls. Garnish with freshly chopped scallions and cilantro. Serve hot over steamed white rice.

Sweet And Sour Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 55-56 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Homemade sweet and sour chicken brings classic Chinese-American flavors right to your kitchen. Crispy battered chicken pieces glazed with tangy sauce promise a delightful meal that satisfies comfort food cravings and delivers restaurant-quality taste at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 700 grams (24.7 ounces) chicken breast fillets
• 200 grams (7 ounces) gluten-free self-rising flour
• 12 pieces pineapple
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 onion
• 4 spring onions
• 1 small bunch coriander

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 150 milliliters (5 fluid ounces) cider
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 100 milliliters (3.4 fluid ounces) tomato ketchup
• 100 milliliters (3.4 fluid ounces) chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon sherry
• 2 tablespoons cornflour
• 2 tablespoons water

Aromatics and Cooking Ingredients:

• 1 red chilli
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 centimeters ginger
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Boiled rice

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Instructions

1. Whisk flour with cider to create a light, crispy coating for the chicken, ensuring even coverage.
2. Submerge chicken pieces in the mixture, then carefully lower into hot oil at 170°C, frying until golden and crisp, approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Drain fried chicken on paper towels to remove excess oil and maintain crunchiness.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium temperature, sautéing onions and peppers until slightly softened.
5. Add pineapple chunks to the pan, gently warming through and allowing flavors to meld.
6. Combine soy sauce, honey, ketchup, sherry, and stock in a separate pan, bringing the liquid to a rolling boil.
7. Reduce heat and simmer the sauce for 45 minutes, allowing it to develop rich, complex flavors.
8. Gradually mix cornflour into the sauce, stirring continuously to create a smooth, glossy consistency.
9. Reintroduce the sauce to high heat, stirring until it thickens and becomes glossy.
10. Fold the crispy chicken and sautéed vegetables into the sauce, ensuring complete coating.
11. Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with freshly chopped scallions and cilantro.
12. Serve immediately over steamed rice, allowing the sauce to slightly soak into the grains.

Notes

• Use cold or room temperature flour to achieve a crispier chicken coating that prevents clumping during frying.
• Pat chicken pieces completely dry before coating to ensure maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy breading.
• Adjust oil temperature precisely to 170°C for perfect golden-brown chicken that’s crispy outside and juicy inside.
• Consider baking the coated chicken as a healthier alternative to deep frying, which reduces overall oil absorption while maintaining a crisp texture.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 50-51 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370 kcal
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg