Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken (Chinese Takeaway Copycat)

Name: Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken (Chinese Takeaway Copycat)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 people
Ingredients: 400 g chicken breast; 3 tablespoons cornflour; 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 3 cloves garlic; 1 cm fresh ginger; 2 tablespoons tomato puree; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 425 g tin pineapple chunks in juice; 1 tablespoon oil; 1 large red pepper; 1 large green pepper; 1 large red onion; 3 spring onions; Sesame seeds – for garnish

User Reviews

5.0

6 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings
4 people
Calories
299 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Chinese

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken (Chinese Takeaway Copycat)

Nash Knight

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A deliciously easy peasy version of a Chinese Takeaway favourite! This Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken is not only quick and simple to make, it’s also healthier than a standard takeaway version… and cheaper too! What’s not to like?

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Ingredients

Servings

400 g chicken breast chopped into bite-sized chunks – roughly 2cm / ¾inch cubes
3 tablespoons cornflour (US - cornstarch)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar, or rice wine vinegar)
3 tablespoons soy sauce (I use dark, but light or all purpose works fine too. Use tamari if you need this to be gluten free.)
3 cloves garlic grated or crushed
1 cm fresh ginger grated
2 tablespoons tomato puree
2 tablespoons brown sugar
425 g tin pineapple chunks in juice (separate the juice and the chunks)
1 tablespoon oil (see Note 1)
1 large red pepper chopped into bite-sized chunks – roughly 2cm x 2cm / ¾inch x ¾inch
1 large green pepper chopped into bite-sized chunks – roughly 2cm x 2cm / ¾inch x ¾inch
1 large red onion chopped into 8 wedges and then each wedge chopped in half to get 16 fat chunks
3 spring onions finely sliced – for garnish (optional)
Sesame seeds – for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Place the chicken chunks in a large bowl and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the cornflour (US - cornstarch). Use your hands to turn the chicken and get it evenly coated with the cornflour. Set aside until later.
In a clean jam jar (or similar), place the remaining 1 tablespoon of cornflour and the apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Add the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, tomato puree and brown sugar, and stir to combine thoroughly.
Add all the juice from the pineapple tin and stir to combine thoroughly. Set aside until later.
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil over a high heat for 1 minute. Add the chicken pieces and fry until light golden brown on all sides, stirring regularly. (Approximately 3 minutes – do not overcook!) Remove the chicken to a plate.
Put the wok back over a high heat and add the chopped peppers and red onion. Fry for 3 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add the chicken, pineapple chunks and homemade sweet and sour sauce, and then turn the heat down. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring regularly. The sauce should thicken and the chicken will cook through fully. (See Note 2.)
Turn the heat off immediately to stop the sauce thickening too much.
Serve immediately with white rice and garnished with sliced spring onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Use a neutral oil such as rapeseed, vegetable or sunflower. Alternatively, if you prefer cooking with olive oil, use a mild olive oil.
Cooked as per the above instructions, the chicken should be fully cooked all the way through. However, if you are at all unsure, check the chicken is cooked through by cutting open the largest piece you can find. There should be no pink meat. If you do find pink meat, return the pan to the heat and continue cooking for a further minute, then check again.
Suitable for freezing.
Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 299kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 0.03g Cholesterol 64mg (21%) Sodium 881mg (37%) Potassium 772mg (22%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 25g (50%) Vitamin A 1256IU (25%) Vitamin C 78mg (87%) Calcium 54mg (5%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 299 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	299kcal	15%
Carbohydrates	37g	12%
Protein	25g	50%
Fat	6g	9%
Saturated Fat	1g	5%
Polyunsaturated Fat	2g	12%
Monounsaturated Fat	3g	15%
Trans Fat	0.03g	2%
Cholesterol	64mg	21%
Sodium	881mg	37%
Potassium	772mg	16%
Fiber	4g	16%
Sugar	25g	50%
Vitamin A	1256IU	25%
Vitamin C	78mg	87%
Calcium	54mg	5%
Iron	2mg	11%