Sweet and Sour Chicken

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Sweet and Sour Chicken

My kids favourite meal from the Chinese takeaway is in their own words 'Chicken Balls and Sauce' aka Sweet and Sour Chicken. So, I thought I'd try and recreate a version at home, without all the additives, preservatives, excess salt and MSG that you find in proper takeaway versions. Despite my house smelling a bit 'deep fried' for a few hours it was most definitely worth it. The chicken turned out crispy and crunchy and the sauce was as good as any from a takeaway.

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Sweet and Sour Chicken
by February-10-2012
Better than any takeaway
Ingredients
  • 100ml Soda Water, chilled
  • 100ml Cold Water
  • 140g Self Raising Flour
  • 1 TSP Salt
  • 25g Cornflour, to coat chicken
  • 4 Skinless Chicken breasts, cut into large pieces
  • 2 Spring Onions, to serve
  • For the sauce
  • 1 Red Pepper, chopped
  • 1 Red Chilli, chopped
  • 400g Tin Pineapple Chunks, including juice
  • 50g Tamarind paste
  • 100g Caster Sugar
  • 100ml Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Oil for deep frying
Instructions
Step 1: To make the sauce put the pepper, chilli and pineapple chunks and juice, tamarind paste, sugar and rice wine vinegar in a pan and simmer for 25 minutes. Puree in a food processor and set aside.Step 2: Fill a large wok with Vegetable Oil (about 1cm deep) and heat until shimmering. Mix together batter ingredients (Soda water, cold water, flour and salt). Line a tray with kitchen paper and turn on the oven to low.Step 3: Put the cornflour on a plate and dust each piece of chicken in the cornflour, then dip the pieces in the batter and place in the oil (you will have to do this in batches). Cook for 5 minutes, or until golden then take out, place on the tray and pop in the oven to keep warm while you fry the rest of the chicken.Step 4: Serve the fried chicken, with the sweet and sour sauce and freshly sliced spring onions.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 4 Portions
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10 comments

  1. Jan Bennett10 February 2012 at 08:16

    Yum - that looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown10 February 2012 at 10:08

    Chicken batter balls were always my favourite part of the takeaway as a child too!

    My boyfriend doesn't like greasy Chinese food so we never order it now...I'm going to try cooking these to convert him!

    Katy x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen10 February 2012 at 11:27

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    http://helencrochet1.wordpress.com/

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Attractions in Cornwall10 February 2012 at 12:05

    They look absolutely delish!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Karen S Booth10 February 2012 at 16:01

    That looks fabulous Beth! Just my kid of food too!
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  6. 76 sunflowers12 February 2012 at 08:06

    I was never a fan of these from the takeaway as they were always greasy and soggy. These though look crisp and tasty. Yum, will give batter making a try! Thank you x x

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Caked Crusader12 February 2012 at 14:53

    Yum - this looks much better than a takeaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Luara22 February 2012 at 06:42

    yum chicken is the for me. good idea for this recipe. i need to try this on our dinner . thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. David2214 February 2020 at 15:56

    Can your sauce be made and refrigerated?

    ReplyDelete