SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN
Don’t wait for your next Chinese takeout order, recreate the delicious classic sweet and sour chicken at home today!
Sweet and Sour Chicken: A Classic Chinese Dish Reimagined
Yes, you name it, the famous sweet and sour chicken you always order at your Chinese (or takeaway now thanks to lockdown)! There is something about the perfectly balanced taste of sweet and sour that makes it a timeless classic. The tangy hint from the vinegar, combined with the sweetness from sugar, all mixed in with succulent pieces of chicken, create a truly irresistible taste. But what if I told you that you could recreate this iconic dish in the comfort of your own home? Fear not, I have a scrumptious recipe for you that is terribly easy to make and even better, you can involve your little helper to enjoy the yummy result.
A Dish with a History
The origins of sweet and sour chicken can be traced back to China, where it has been enjoyed for centuries. The dish’s first known mention can be found in the 18th-century Chinese cookbook《燒尾宴食單》, which attests to its enduring popularity. Over time, sweet and sour chicken became an essential dish among Chinese migrant gold miners and railroad workers who brought their culinary traditions with them as they travelled to other parts of the world.
The original recipe for sweet and sour chicken was Shanghainese and featured the use of black vinegar. However, as the dish gained popularity in other countries, the recipe was adapted to suit local tastes. In the UK, for example, ketchup was introduced as a substitute for the traditional black vinegar, resulting in a dish with a distinctive orange hue.
Pinot Noir and Gamay Blend
For the enjoying experience, I recommend pairing this classic dish with a glass of red Mâcon from Burgundy.
The Mâcon wine region is famous for its Pinot Noir and Gamay grape varieties, which are carefully cultivated to produce some of the finest wines in the world. These grapes impart a rich, complex flavour to the wines, which are sought after by wine aficionados and casual drinkers alike.
Red Fruits
One of the defining characteristics of red Mâcon wines is their aroma of red fruits. With over 75 mentions of notes such as strawberry, red fruit, and cherry, this wine is a symphony of nuances and is known for its delicate and tender palate. Its smooth texture and balanced acidity.
A must-try for any wine enthusiast looking to expand their horizons and experience the best that the world of wine has to offer…
Create new culinary memories at home!
You may wish to indulge in more Asian recipes :
Why not trying a Japanese udon soup or a ginger beef from Vietnam ?
Do not forget to leave a comment and let me know how it turned out! And if you have any variation of this recipe that you would like to share, I would love to hear it. Be sure to check out my other easy-peasy recipes on the blog for more culinary inspiration!
Happy cooking and bonne dégustation!
Sixtine ;)
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 100 g flour
- corn flour
- 3 breast chicken diced
- 2 cm ginger freshly grated
- 1 red onion minced
- 15 cl water
- 1 vegetable stock
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp malt vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown caster sugar
- 200 g tinned pineapple + the juice
- 1 red pepper diced
- sesame oil
Instructions
- Dip the chicken pieces in the corn flour, then the eggs preparation and finally the flour with paprika.
- In a saucepan, soften the onion with the ginger in a little bit of sesame oil.
- Add the chicken with the pineapple and pepper and cook for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine in a bowl the ketchup with the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, water, stock and pineapple juice.
- Pour this sauce all over the chicken and leave it to cook under a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- It’s ready! Serve with rice if you wish.
Notes
