Sweet n Sour Chicken
Sweet n Sour Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 cups cooking oil, for frying, or as needed
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For Serving (Optional)
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
In a medium bowl, add the bite-sized chicken breast pieces. Pour in the 2 eggs, add a pinch of salt, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Mix everything thoroughly by hand until the chicken is fully coated in the batter. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a separate small bowl, combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Whisk the ingredients together until well blended and the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Heat about 2 cups of cooking oil (or enough to submerge the chicken pieces) in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches approximately 350°F (175°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 4
Carefully add the battered chicken pieces to the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches if necessary. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is light golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. This is the first fry.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 350
- 5
Once all the chicken has been fried once, return the partially fried chicken pieces to the hot oil for a second fry. Fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is extra crispy and a deeper golden brown. Remove from oil and drain again.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
In a clean large pan or wok, add a small amount (about 1 tablespoon) of cooking oil over medium heat. Pour in the prepared sweet and sour sauce mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add the double-fried chicken pieces to the pan with the sauce. Toss gently until all the chicken is thoroughly coated in the sweet and sour sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the chicken.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Serve the Sweet n Sour Chicken immediately over cooked rice. Optionally, garnish with sesame seeds before serving.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 cups cooking oil, for frying, or as needed
For the Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
For Serving (Optional)
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
In a medium bowl, add the bite-sized chicken breast pieces. Pour in the 2 eggs, add a pinch of salt, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Mix everything thoroughly by hand until the chicken is fully coated in the batter. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a separate small bowl, combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Whisk the ingredients together until well blended and the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Heat about 2 cups of cooking oil (or enough to submerge the chicken pieces) in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches approximately 350°F (175°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 4
Carefully add the battered chicken pieces to the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches if necessary. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is light golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. This is the first fry.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 350 - 5
Once all the chicken has been fried once, return the partially fried chicken pieces to the hot oil for a second fry. Fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is extra crispy and a deeper golden brown. Remove from oil and drain again.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
In a clean large pan or wok, add a small amount (about 1 tablespoon) of cooking oil over medium heat. Pour in the prepared sweet and sour sauce mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add the double-fried chicken pieces to the pan with the sauce. Toss gently until all the chicken is thoroughly coated in the sweet and sour sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the chicken.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Serve the Sweet n Sour Chicken immediately over cooked rice. Optionally, garnish with sesame seeds before serving.