Chinese-Style Sweet and Sour Chicken

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Gather all your ingredients. The classic recipe usually calls for chicken breast fillet, but thigh fillet or other cuts work too. Chilled poultry is best — it's much better than frozen. For the soy sauce, choose one that's naturally fermented — don't settle for a cheap imitation of the real thing. Ideally, look for a soy sauce meant for cooking or a marinade sauce.

2. Step 2:

   

   Wash the chicken, pat it dry, and cut it into medium pieces. Since this is a Chinese dish, each piece should be easy to pick up with chopsticks.

3. Step 3:

   

   Salt the chicken to taste, but keep in mind that soy sauce is quite salty too, so use about half the salt you normally would. If you like, you can also add pepper or a few other dried seasonings.

4. Step 4:

   

   Add 3 tablespoons of starch to the chicken — potato or cornstarch, either works. Toss to coat. The chicken pieces will be dredged in the starch.

5. Step 5:

   

   Heat some vegetable oil in a skillet, add the chicken pieces, and fry on all sides for about 10 minutes. Then remove the chicken from the skillet.

6. Step 6:

   

   Pour the vinegar into the same skillet you fried the chicken in. You can use apple, grape, or wine vinegar — or even plain distilled vinegar.

7. Step 7:

   

   Then pour in the soy sauce. Simmer everything over low heat.

8. Step 8:

   

   Add the sugar.

9. Step 9:

   

   Then the ketchup or tomato paste.

10. Step 10:

    

    Now add the minced garlic to the skillet. I pressed mine through a garlic press, but you can grate the cloves or chop them with a knife.

11. Step 11:

    

    Bring to a boil over the lowest heat.

12. Step 12:

    

    Dissolve the remaining starch in a cup of cold water.

13. Step 13:

    

    Pour it into the skillet.

14. Step 14:

    

    Simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens.

15. Step 15:

    

    Return the chicken to the skillet and stir. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so every piece soaks up the sauce.

16. Step 16:

    

    It comes out so delicious! Serve it over steamed rice. Enjoy!