Sweet and sour
Michelle Phetlhe | Wednesday December 4, 2024 06:00
We had gift bags from some amazing sponsors, Garnier, Dark & Lovely and Tetley and starters from Danone; Pork Steamed Dumplings. All while celebrating our life with Graham Beck our bubbles partner for Womens Etiquette Brunch. I sought out a proper Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe for the occasion. Crispy chicken bites tossed in a blend of tangy and sweet flavours guaranteed to satisfy any cravings. To ensure a holistic experience with the food, I served the chicken with noodles and gave the guests Chop Sticks for cutlery. This was a fun addition to the day’s activities as some learned or had an opportunity to use chopsticks as they are not a usual cutlery. This is for sure a great dish to share with family and friends. Visit our ChellzKitchen Facebook to enter some of the exciting competitions that we running, also to stay up to date with in-store promotions that we are a part of. The Experiential Executives kicked off the Hinds & Rhodes Braai - Peso Essentials in-store promotion. Say hi to them when you see them out there and take some pictures, we always look forward to seeing your amazing smiles.
This recipe calls for the use of white pepper and I was very happy to use my Hinds White pepper. I realised that I hardly ever use it, the box is still full. It is the least refilled spice in my wrack. White pepper is a good source of Flavonoids, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. These nutrients help keep blood pressure under control. In addition, it also regulates blood flow, so if you have a blood pressure problem, you should include the white pepper in your diet. Fun Fact: Sweet & Sour Chicken has its roots in Cantonese cuisine, where it was traditionally made with JUST vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce to create that sweet, sour and savoury sauce! Over time, this dish gained popularity and underwent adaptations to suit various regional and international palates... such with this recipe! I love adding tomato sauce to my sweet and sour sauce – that sweet tang is delicious! Quick & Easy: This dish utilises ingredients you would already have in your pantry and comes together in 20 minutes or less. Air fryers generally have shorter cooking times compared to traditional methods, making it a great option for those who want a quick and hassle-free meal. CROWD-PLEASER: This is the one dish everyone knows and loves! There’s also no spice in this, so this is a kiddy fave! All you need is tender and succulent pieces of chicken, typically boneless and skinless, this is what forms the foundation of sweet and sour chicken. It can be prepared with chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination of both, depending on your preference and what's available to you. The star of this dish is undoubtedly the sweet and sour sauce and it’s SO easy to make, shem. The sauce has beautiful exciting colour and flavours, which are what make this sweet and sour chicken truly exceptional.
My go-to combination is:
• Tomato Ketchup
• Vinegar: I use Apple Cider Vinegar if I have, but rice vinegar or white vinegar works too
• Sugar
• Soy Sauce
• Water
Ingredients
For the chicken:
300 grams boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp light soy sauce 1 tsp Hinds white pepper Cornstarch, or enough to coat Oil to lightly coat chicken For the sauce: 1/4 cup tomato Sauce 2 tablespoons vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1/2 cup water
The Stir Fry: 1 tbls garlic and ginger 1/2 cup onion, cubed 1/2 cup red + green + yellow bell peppers, cubed Sesame seeds, for garnish
Marinade chicken for at least 20 minutes, overnight is best. Add enough cornstarch to coat chicken. Here’s a hack, add cornstarch to the same marinating container, close it tight, and give it a hard shake. When you’re done, you should get evenly coated chicken! Fry your chicken. Once chicken is cooked, take out and keep to one side. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and keep to one side. Heat oil in a pan, and saute garlic and ginger. Once aromatic, toss in the robot peppers and onions. Give it a quick stir. Add in the sweet and sour sauce and stir to combine. Let it come to a boil and allow sauce to thicken. Add back the crispy chicken and toss to coat. Turn off the heat, garnish.