Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

So excited to share this Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. Chinese Crispy Chicken is a lite and crispy fried chicken coated in sweet and sour sticky sauce. Recipe takes just 25 minutes start to finish. It comes together quicker than time to order a takeout and wait for the delivery. Pair with home cooked Jasmine rice for a delicious dinner at home. Gluten free.

Oh, Pineapple shell is only used for the pictures. You don't need it for cooking the recipe.

Let's get started with the recipe. Shall we?!

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

We have a big Asian community around us. Sweet sour chicken often makes to the community buffet/get togethers. There are so many variations of this recipe that I have tried. Everyone has signature sauce and their family's personal touch but one thing is common - crispy chicken and savory finger-licking sauce.

With this recipe, I have tried to create the same crispy fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce with very lite breading of corn starch. Sauce is flavored with pineapple juice. You can use canned pineapple juice. Or buy a fresh ripe pineapple and extract juice from it.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

Chinese/Indian Chicken recipes are more about sauce than protein. In my opinion, a perfect tasting sauce is the important step for getting any Asian recipe... actually any recipe, right. Don't you think?

Likewise, the heart of best tasting sweet and sour chicken is in it's sauce. Sauce is very very simple. If you follow the recipe exactly, sauce will be ready in just 3 minutes.

Ingredients to make Sweet and Sour sauce include tomato ketchup, Asian staple ginger and garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and honey. I was after pineapple flavor, so I also added pineapple juice. You can also use orange juice or apple juice based on flavor preference.

Once all these ingredients marry together... a delicious bright, and shiny finger-licking sweet and sour sauce surfaces in the pan. See step pictures in the recipe card.

Tip: Sweet and Sour sauce also goes great on tofu. In-fact, I even use it to brighten-up stir-fried veggies and rice.

Once the sauce is ready, rest recipe is as simple as cooking chicken.

Traditional sweet n' sour chicken has fried chicken. I wanted to share the traditional version today so went for fried. However, when not in mood to bread and fry chicken, I often sauté it in little oil and seasonings until it is crisp, caramelized and fully cooked. Next, mix in sauce.

Cooking fried chicken is optional. If you are after that traditional crispy fried chicken coated in sweet and tangy sauce.. go ahead, fry the chicken. If you want to avoid frying and still want to enjoy homemade Chinese-takeout! Simply sauté the chicken. It tastes delicious either ways.

Don't forget to serve rice on the side. To me, Chinese food does not feel complete without a serving of rice or noodles. You can opt for brown rice or whole grain noodles such as quinoa or buckwheat noodles.

Pineapple Shell as Serving Bowl

I can't finish this post without saying few words about the humble pineapple severing platter. I saw this pineapple bowl last year in Delmar Fair. Vishal had shrimp and pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple bowl. It does look pretty. Thanks to Fair for the inspiration.

Tip: Did you know pineapple shells freeze well? If you buy some pineapple, scoop out the flesh and save the shell to use later.

I hope you will enjoy this bowl full of takeout favorite as much as we did. Try something different for dinner tonight! Bring home ingredients and make Sweet and Sour Chicken with pineapple and rice. Enjoy!