Sweet and sour chicken is a classic, but Marion’s version is lighter, fresher and super awesome! Simmer up the sticky sweet and sour sauce, then coat the chicken in flour and deep-fry for a light crunch – not a really heavy batter. Fresh tomato and onion complete this tasty dish.
Sweet & Sour Chicken
500g (1 lb) chicken thigh fillets, cut into roughly 3cm cubes
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
½ tsp ground white pepper
½ cup plain flour
vegetable oil for shallow frying, plus 1 tbsp
1 onion, cut into wedges
1 tomato, cut into wedges
3 spring onions (scallions), trimmed, green and white parts cut into 3cm (1 inch) batons
Sweet & sour sauce:
½ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp light soy sauce
3 tbsp white vinegar
1/3 cup pineapple juice
¼ tsp Chinese five spice
2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- For the sweet & sour sauce, place brown sugar, tomato ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, pineapple juice and Chinese five spice in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for a few minutes until sugar dissolves. In a small bowl, combine cornflour with 2 tablespoons of water. Add the cornflour mixture to the sauce and simmer for a further 2 minutes to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl toss chicken with soy sauce, garlic and pepper until well combined.
- Place flour in a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss until each piece is lightly coated with flour.
- Pour about a 3 cm (1 inch) depth of oil into a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. When the oil is hot (a piece of chicken should start sizzling immediately when placed into the oil) cook chicken in batches for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towel.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a clean frying pan or wok. Add the onion and stir-fry until just starting to turn golden. Add the tomato and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Add the chicken and the sweet and sour sauce and stir-fry until well combined. Toss through the spring onions. Remove from heat and serve.
