Wholesome Candy and Bitter Hen

February 20, 2023

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Skip the takeout and make this Wholesome Candy and Bitter Hen from the consolation of your kitchen as a substitute! It’s a easy 30-minute copycat recipe made with crispy hen, peppers, and pineapple tossed in a sticky 4-ingredient sauce.

I’m not towards splurging on Chinese language takeout. It’s scrumptious, crowd-pleasing, and there are a ton of nice dishes to select from! However studying methods to make just a few takeout-fakeout recipes is the easiest way to copy the identical nice flavors with out opening your pockets.

Like my peanut shrimp stir fry and orange hen, this Wholesome Candy and Bitter Hen is a copycat takeout recipe that’s straightforward to make at dwelling. With out the heavy breading or deep-fried hen, you possibly can consider it as a lightened-up model of the traditional.

My model entails pan-frying the hen till golden, then tossing it with peppers, onions, pineapple, and a home made candy and bitter sauce. The 4-ingredient sauce is very easy to make from scratch and has an unbelievable taste. You’ll wish to apply it to all the things!

Recipe options

It’s a 30-minute, one-skillet dinner made with a handful of contemporary and pantry-staple components.
Consider it as a wholesome, home made model of a Chinese language takeout traditional. Serve it with rice and your different copycat takeout recipes for a takeout-inspired evening in!
It’s high-protein, veggie-loaded, and straightforward to adapt with gluten free and paleo components.

Elements

Hen – Whether or not you utilize hen breast or thighs is completely as much as you, however know that hen thighs keep juicy and have extra taste. This recipe additionally works effectively with pork and tofu for those who really feel like mixing issues up.

Flour – For a light-weight breading on the hen. Head to the FAQs part to study what other forms of flour can be utilized for gluten free and paleo variations.

Brown sugar – That is the first supply of sweetness within the sauce. Coconut sugar works effectively instead.

Apple cider vinegar – This gentle and subtly tart vinegar provides simply the correct quantity of bitter taste within the candy and bitter sauce. White vinegar must also work if that’s all you’ve got at dwelling.

Ketchup – This helps thicken the sauce and provides a shiny, acidic taste.

Pineapple – Use freshly diced pineapple or drained canned pineapple.

Step-by-step directions

Step 1: Make the candy and bitter sauce. Combine the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Put aside.

Step 2: Bread the hen. Whisk the egg white in a single bowl and add the flour to a different. Switch the hen and cornstarch to a ziploc bag and shake to coat. From there, dip the hen items into the egg white, then the flour.

Step 3: Cook dinner the hen. Switch the hen to a sizzling oiled skillet and cook dinner till browned. Put aside on a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 4: Cook dinner the greens. Warmth extra oil within the skillet, then add the veggies and cook dinner till they’re flippantly charred.

2 images: the right image shows peppers and onions sautéing while the left image shows chicken pieces cooking

Step 5: Toss collectively, then serve. Add the sauce and pineapple to the pan and toss to coat. Add the cooked hen again into the skillet and let all the things simmer till the sauce thickens. Scoop the candy and bitter hen into bowls with rice, high with inexperienced onions, and revel in!

skillet with sweet and sour chicken inside

Suggestions and FAQs

Keep in mind to pat the hen items dry with a paper towel to assist the cornstarch follow the floor.
You additionally don’t HAVE to dip the hen within the egg white/flour combination! It actually helps crisp up the hen however isn’t a mandatory step if you wish to preserve this recipe additional mild.
Pan fry the hen items in a single layer within the skillet. This fashion, every bit will crisp up evenly. Work in batches if it’s essential, including slightly extra oil in between every batch.
Not a fan of bell peppers? Saute broccoli florets, carrots, inexperienced beans, mushrooms, or sugar snap peas with the onions as a substitute.

Are you able to air fry the hen as a substitute?

Sure, the air fryer methodology is nice while you wish to use much less oil. To air fry, place the breaded hen items in a single layer within the air fryer basket. Cook dinner at 380ºF for six minutes, then flip and cook dinner for 4 extra minutes.

As soon as they’re prepared, toss the crispy hen within the skillet with the sauce and greens. Serve and revel in!

How do you make this recipe paleo-friendly?

Comply with the substitutions beneath to make paleo candy and bitter hen:

Use coconut sugar as a substitute of brown sugar.
Sugar free ketchup as a substitute of standard ketchup (Primal Kitchen is my favourite).
Coconut aminos as a substitute of soy sauce.
Tapioca flour or arrowroot flour can be utilized as a substitute of cornstarch.
Almond flour ought to work instead of the all goal flour.
Avocado oil or coconut oil as a substitute of olive oil.

What must you serve with candy and bitter hen?

This meal all the time goes effectively with rice, whether or not it is white or brown basmati rice, bone broth rice, coconut rice, fried rice, and so forth. Cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice are nice choices, too!

Serve the batch with extra takeout-inspired favorites for a well-rounded meal, like common tso’s chickpeas, teriyaki noodles, and teriyaki pork meatballs.

Storage

Fridge: Retailer the leftover candy and bitter hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Reheating: Place the hen and veggies in a sizzling skillet till warmed by means of or reheat within the microwave for about 1 minute.

bowl of rice with sweet and sour chicken

Extra wholesome hen dinner recipes

When you made this recipe, be sure you go away a remark and star score beneath. Thanks!