Chinese foods are quite interesting because of the unique taste and savoury aroma of the dishes. These foods come in a variety of style such as steamed, stir-fried, broiled or fried. When it comes to Chinese dishes with a rich sauce, sweet and sour recipes are among the popular ones. The perfect blend of the seasonings makes a truly gastronomic pleasure with this dish. You can use several types of meat for sweet and sour such as fish, pork or chicken. Hence, you can vary the viand you make each day by simply changing the meat you use for the recipe.
If you simply love the great texture of chicken, you might want to consider making sweet and sour using this meat. You can surely benefit from the low fat and high protein properties of chicken meat. Moreover, it cooks much faster than pork; hence, you can make a zesty and nutritious dish in a snap. This recipe is certainly perfect for busy people who do not have much time to spare for cooking.
Here are some tips on how you can cook up a fabulous sweet and sour chicken. Make sure you consider the suggestions presented here so you can create the best dish for you and your family.
1. Blend the marinade well to produce the perfect texture for the meat.
Typically, the marinade includes cornstarch and egg white. Try to mix the two ingredients well and remove lumps. You should make the marinade smooth and blended thoroughly so you can coat the chicken evenly with it. Unlike breadcrumbs, this type of marinade will produce a soft texture that is truly fabulous.
2. Heat the pan well before putting in the chicken.
The best way to prevent the meat from sticking to the pan is to heat it well. Medium high or high heat settings would be perfect to make your pan ready for cooking. However, do not heat the oil too much that you can already see smoke forming. If you want to know if the oil is hot enough, you may try flicking a drop or two of water in it. The moment you hear a "tzsaa" sound as the water hits the oil that means you can already add in the chicken. A well-heated pan will allow the meat to sear much faster.
3. Place the chicken in a single layer.
Make sure that the chicken pieces are not on top of each other. A crowded pan will prevent the meat from cooking well. Moreover, this will only cause the chicken to steam and not sear in the pan.
4. Do not place the chicken to the pan when it is cold.
It is important to thaw the chicken first before cooking. Frozen or cold chicken is not ideal for cooking right away. Aside from not being able to absorb the marinade well, the chicken will just stick to the pan. It will not sear, as well; hence, you will end up having a badly cooked chicken if you decide to cook it straight out from the freezer.
There are only some pieces of advice on how to make the best sweet and sour chicken. Simply follow these tips and have a great time cooking this authentic Chinese dish.
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