Sweet & sour chicken

Sweet & sour chicken

This homemade sweet and sour sauce is so much better than a takeaway. Great with rice or noodles

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 20 mins

Method

  1. Cut the chicken into small chunks and mix with the soy sauce and sesame oil. In a jug or bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients with 100ml cold water. Line a large plate with kitchen paper.
  2. Heat the groundnut oil in a deep-fat fryer to about 180C. Then dip a few chunks of chicken at a time into the batter, then place in the hot oil using tongs or a slotted spoon, but don't crowd the pan. Fry until crisp and golden - about 2 mins. You may need to do this in batches, so reheat the oil each time. As the chunks cook, lift out with tongs/spoon to the paper-lined plate to drain.
  3. Heat a wok to hot, add about 3 tbsp oil and stir-fry the vegetables with the garlic and ginger for about 3 mins. Give the sauce a quick final stir and pour into the wok, mixing as it cooks to a light glossy sauce. Bubble for 1 min, then spoon over the chicken and serve.
Try

Making tempura batter

Mix this just as you are about to cook. Sift 85g/3oz plain flour and 1 tbsp cornflour with ½ tsp fine sea salt into a large mixing bowl. Whisk in 200ml/7fl oz ice-cold sparkling mineral water along with a few ice cubes using a whisk, but don't over beat. It doesn't matter about a few lumps. Use immediately.

Per serving

522 kcalories, protein 27g, carbohydrate 31g, fat 33 g, saturated fat 6g, fibre 2g, salt 2.9 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2005.

BBC Good Food shows - Book tickets now

Latest comments and suggestions

  • 12 December 2007

    D'hoore rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Allthough it took us about an hour, it's worth every single minute... really delicioussssss !

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 22 December 2007

    Chirsteen rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I agree, it's well worth the wait.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 07 February 2008

    shayron commented on this recipe

    I thought this recipe was great, all ingredients easy to access and one can make it either mild or spicy.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 08 February 2008

    Matt rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Really tasty, and not as much work as it seemed like before I started it! Highly recommended!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 February 2008

    Nic Nic rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I was very suprised at how good this is, it really is very good indeed, really tastes like the real thing! I will keep the fried "tempura" chicken for a special treat and make it a little healthier for "everyday" dinner time and just stir fry the chicken plain with the veg and then pour over the cooked sauce, yumdiddleumptious!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 21 February 2008

    Mrsnoonoo rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Really good. Had one problem with the tempura batter. Followed the recipe but found the batter didn't stick to the chicken very well, think the batter was to thin? Next time i try this will add a little less water.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 01 March 2008

    Pat Lim commented on this recipe

    Try this with pork. Use pork collar or pork ribeye.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 12 January 2009

    marva rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 18 February 2009

    Bunks rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Better than a takeaway!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 23 March 2009

    cooky commented on this recipe

    wonderful recipe! i would double the sauce next time!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 06 April 2009

    puccath74 commented on this recipe

    DELICIOUS!!!! I tried it a few hours ago end it was unbeleiveble! Forget to go to chinese restaurant! You must to try this receipe at home and invite all your friends to taste it!! Bon appetit!!!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Mai

    24 June 2009

    Mai rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I loved the recipe, but everybody else ABSOLUTELY ADORED IT! I made it once for my family, and ever since, my brother and fiance keep asking me over and over and over to make it again!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 02 August 2009

    chefayne rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    this was delicious, made it for my granparents and they loved it.... so easy to make and quick to, will definately be making this again

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 05 November 2009

    Bumsy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a wonderful recipie. Really tasty. The batter was so good. I have made it twice now and it is now has its own spot in my recipie binder. Please try it for yourself.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • 17 November 2009

    cliffj rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Great recipe only added 1 thing as sauce looked a little brown so added 1 table spoon of tomato sauce was terific taste served with my special fried rice (rice, egg,prawns, ham, pineapple ) excellent !

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 20 mins

Ingredients

  • 2-3 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts , (about 400g/14oz total weight)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • groundnut or sunflower oil , for deep frying, plus extra for stir-frying
  • tempura batter (see below)
  • 1 small red pepper , cored, deseeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 medium carrot , sliced thinly on the diagonal
  • 2 fat garlic cloves , chopped
  • 2 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sherry
  • 1 tbsp light soft brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour
Send to a friend Print this recipe Add to your binder

Per serving

522 kcalories, protein 27g, carbohydrate 31g, fat 33 g, saturated fat 6g, fibre 2g, salt 2.9 g

Kodak

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
Find more recipes at Good Food channel

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy inspired recipes delivered straight to your door every month.

Order today, receive your first 3 issues for just £3.

Events

BBC Good Food shows

Join us in Birmingham, London or Glasgow in November!

Plan your trip and book tickets online now.

On TV

Foodie TV

Good Food Channel - see your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 249, Virgin TV 260.

See all TV listings at radiotimes.com, see all goodfoodchannel.co.uk

listings.

Websites

Shopping Tried and tested recipes from Good Food and olive magazines. bbcgoodfood.com
Shopping

Recipes from the new TV channel and celebrity chefs. goodfoodchannel.co.uk