Classic sweet and sour chicken

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Classic sweet and sour chicken
Try this classic Chinese takeaway dish, with natural sweetness and a warm chilli flavours to spice things up.
 

300g basmati rice, to serve

Vegetable oil, for frying

100ml soda water, chilled

140g self-raising flour

25g corn flour

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

Spring onions, finely shredded, to serve

For the sauce

1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped into chunks

3 red chillies, 1 cut into chunks, 2 halved and deseeded

425g tin pineapple chunks, drained and juice reserved

4 star anise

Juice of lime

100g caster sugar

100ml rice wine vinegar

Preheat the oven to 140°C / 275°F / Gas mark 1.

Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and set aside.

In a pan, add the red pepper, chunks of chilli and pineapple juice and bring to the boil.

Cover, reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes.

Purée the sauce in a food processor.

Return to the pan with the pineapple chunks, chilli halves, star anise, lime juice, sugar and vinegar.

Gently simmer for 20-30 minutes until reduced and sticky.

Pour into a microwave safe bowl, cover with cling film and set aside.

Cook the rice according to the instructions, drain, fluff with a fork and set aside in a serving bowl.

Fill a large pan 1cm deep with vegetable oil and heat until it’s obviously quite hot.

Whisk the soda water and 100ml cold water into the self-raising flour with a little salt, this is your batter.

Tip the corn flour onto a plate.

Stir the batter well.

Dust the chicken with corn flour, then dip into the batter.

One at a time, lower into the hot oil (about 5-6 every batch).

Turn up the heat to keep the chicken frying, if needed, and cook for 5-6 minutes, turning once.

When cooked, drain on the baking tray, and keep warm in the oven.

Repeat with the remaining chicken.

Microwave the sauce to re-heat only, not piping hot.

Stack the chicken onto a plate with the warm sauce on the side, and scatter with shredded spring onions.

Serves
4

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Cooking Time
40 minutes

Main ingredients
Chicken, Vegetables, Rice

Recipe Type
Dinner, Entertaining

Cuisine
Asian

Level of Difficulty
Easy

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