Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Sweet and sour chicken is a popular Chinese recipe. This healthy and crispy sweet and sour chicken recipe is so delicious with sweet and sour sauce. It's better than takeout!

Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

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Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Sweet and sour chicken is one of the most popular Chinese recipes.

Chinese sweet and sour is a cooking style that is easy, delicious and everyone’s favorite.

The dish comes complete with crispy fried chicken cubes with mouthwatering sweet and sour sauce. It goes well with steamed rice, fried rice or chow mein.

Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

Other Recipes You Might Like

  • Sweet and Sour Pork
  • Sweet and Sour Shrimp
  • Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and Sour Sauce

How do you make sweet and sour chicken sauce?

You will need the following simple ingredients to make the sauce:

My recipe is healthy with no red food coloring in the sauce.

You can make the sweet sour sauce in advance, store in an air-tight container and keep in the refrigerator.

Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (4)

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken?

The recipe is easy and simple. First, cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes.

Then make the sweet and sour chicken batter and coat the chicken with the batter.

Next, deep fry the chicken and stir fry with the sweet sour sauce.

Cooking Tips

For the best sweet and sour chicken, please following my cooking tips below:

  • The combination of plum sauce, Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce and Chinese rice vinegar make the sauce tastes like the best Chinese restaurants.
  • DO NOT double the sauce. The sauce should lightly coat the chicken cubes so the chicken remain crispy and not soggy.
  • Use baking powderin the batter. The baking powder makes the batter light and airy and the chicken will be extra crispy and crunchy.
  • DO not use red coloring in the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Add Pineapple to the Recipe?

Yes, you sure can. Just opt out the tomatoes in the recipe and replace with pineapple.

You may use fresh pineapple or canned pineapple with syrup. If you use canned pineapple, remember to discard the syrup before cooking.

Cut the pineapple into bite-sizes pieces before cooking.

Can I Use Air Fryer to Fry the Chicken?

Yes, you can use air fryer. Just lightly coat the chicken with the batter and air fry in an air fryer.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 162 calories per serving.

What to Serve with This Recipe?

Serve this dish with steamed rice or other rice and noodle dishes. For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

Chow Mein

Fried Rice

Hot and Sour Soup

Crab Rangoon

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Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and sour chickenis a popular Chinese recipe. This healthy and crispysweet and sour chicken recipeis so delicious with sweet and sour sauce. It's better than takeout!

4.51 from 79 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 2 People

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Total 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. (230g) boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (optional)
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1 green bell pepper (seeded and cut into squares)
  • 1 small tomato (cut into wedges, optional)
  • 1 stalk scallion (cut into 2-inch (5cm) lengths)
  • oil (for deep frying)

Batter:

  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Lingham brand hot sauce or other chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon plum sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon Chinese rice vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon corn starch
  • 3 dashes white pepper powder

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken breast meat into bite-size cubes and marinate with 1 tablespoon of wine for 10 minutes. Mix the batter in a bowl and add the chicken cubes into the batter. Mix the Sweet and Sour sauce in a small bowl and set aside.

  • Heat up cooking oil in a wok and deep fry the chicken cubes. (Shake off the extra batter before frying). Transfer the chicken out on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil. Transfer the cooking oil out and leave only 2 tablespoons oil in the wok.

  • Add garlic and saute the garlic until light brown and then follow by the green bell peppers. Stir-fry until you smell the aroma. Add the sweet and sour sauce into the wok and bring it to boil.

  • Toss in the chicken, tomatoes and add the chopped scallions, do a few quick stirs, dish out and serve immediately with steamed white rice.

Notes

Watch the cooking video on this page for step-by-step guide.

Course: Chicken Recipes

Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Amount Per Serving (2 people)

Calories 162Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 73mg24%

Sodium 619mg27%

Carbohydrates 51g17%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 28g56%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Sweet and Sour Chicken (The BEST Recipe!) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

What is the batter made of in sweet and sour chicken? ›

For the sauce: water, pineapple juice from a can, white sugar, white vinegar, and orange food coloring. For the batter: cornstarch, self-rising flour, vegetable oil, an egg, salt, and white pepper.

Where did the recipe sweet and sour chicken come from? ›

The origin of sweet and sour chicken was in the 18th century or even earlier from China. It spread to the United States in the early 20th century after the Chinese migrant gold miners and railroad workers turned to cookery as trades. In some countries, the dish is known as Ku lo yuk.

What is the correct way to eat sweet and sour chicken? ›

You can also add cut fresh pineapple to this recipe at the very end to get them mixed in with the sauce. We love this served over steamed brown rice or cauliflower rice. You could also stir in some cooked noodles (such as spaghetti or rice noodles) and maybe some extra sauce or pasta water to bring it all together.

Do people in China eat sweet and sour chicken? ›

Sweet and sour chicken is a dish frequently served in Chinese restaurants in various countries in Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America and available at some restaurants in East Asia and Southeast Asia in an essentially identical version.

What is authentic sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

How do you thicken sweet and sour chicken? ›

A corn starch slurry thickens the sauce – this sauce is a medium thickness, so depending on your preference add little more or less corn starch slurry (but go slowly – the sauce will take a little time to thicken up once the slurry is added).

What is the difference between orange chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

The chicken itself is also different, as orange chicken is made with dark meat chicken ( chicken thighs) and sweet and sour chicken is made with chicken breasts and fried in a batter that yields a puffy and airy crust.

What does Chinese sweet and sour chicken taste like? ›

Sweet and sour chicken has a tangy, sweet, and slightly sour taste due to the combination of vinegar, sugar, and ketchup in the sauce. On the other hand, orange chicken has a distinct citrusy, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor from the use of orange juice and sometimes chili flakes in the sauce.

Does sweet and sour chicken contain egg? ›

CONTAINS: EGG, MILK, WHEAT. CHICKEN TEMPURA: WHITE CHICKEN MEAT, WATER, CORN STARCH, BLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID).

Does sweet and sour chicken contain honey? ›

Add chicken and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Add bell peppers and sauté with chicken until beginning to soften. Step 3Meanwhile, whisk together apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, honey, ketchup and garlic. Pour sauce into the pan.

What's the difference between General Tso chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

"General Tso's chicken has origins in Taiwan, but [those] trace back even further to Hunan," explains culinary creator Peter Som, who adds that both dishes feature the "characteristic balance of sour, savory, and salty" found in Hunan cuisine albeit "with General Tso's leaning more spicy and sweet and sour more on the ...

What's the difference between General Tso's and sweet and sour chicken? ›

Difference Between General Tso and Other Chinese Dishes

Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.

What is healthiest Chinese food to order? ›

13 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
  • Chicken and broccoli. ...
  • Baked salmon. ...
  • Happy family. ...
  • Buddha's delight. ...
  • Moo shu vegetables. ...
  • Eggplant with garlic sauce. ...
  • Kung pao chicken. ...
  • Shrimp with lobster sauce. Despite its name, shrimp with lobster sauce does not actually contain lobster.

Is sweet and sour chicken healthy at a Chinese restaurant? ›

Chinese Restaurant Sweet And Sour Chicken Without Rice (1 order) contains 168.5g total carbs, 161.4g net carbs, 89.3g fat, 71.3g protein, and 1765 calories.

Why does China like KFC? ›

The first KFC restaurants to open in China were considered a novelty, and attracted customers with an aspirational "Western lifestyle". China was also becoming more accepting of Western influences during this era. In turn, KFC competes against domestic rivals by offering an extended menu with localized food options.

What is chicken batter made of? ›

FLOUR + CORNSTARCH + BAKING POWDER

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and BAKING POWDER. When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color!

What is battered fried chicken? ›

If you drop a food item into hot oil and cook it, then it's deep-fried. Like how chunks of potato are turned into french fries. If you dip the food item into batter before you drop it into the oil and cook it, then it's battered and fried or batter fried.

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