Jamie Oliver is known for his simple, delicious recipes that often put a fun, unique spin on classic dishes. One of his most popular recipes is for sweet and sour chicken – a takeout favorite he has managed to make easy and accessible for home cooks. So how exactly does Jamie Oliver make his sweet and sour chicken? Here is a step-by-step overview of his recipe.
Ingredients
Jamie Oliver’s sweet and sour chicken calls for relatively simple ingredients you likely already have on hand
- Chicken thighs or breast, skinless and boneless
- Cornflour
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Garlic cloves, grated
- Ginger, grated
- Chilli, finely chopped
- Spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped
- Pineapple chunks in juice
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Light brown soft sugar
- Chicken stock
Steps
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Coat the chicken in cornflour Pat the chicken dry and toss in cornflour until fully coated This will help create a crispy exterior when fried.
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Fry the chicken. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat. Fry the chicken in batches for 3-4 minutes each side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
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Cook the aromatics. Heat a drizzle more oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, chilli and spring onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
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Add the pineapple and juices. Next, tip in the pineapple chunks and any juice from the can. Let this simmer for a couple minutes.
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Make the sauce. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and chicken stock. Pour this into the pan and let simmer until thickened slightly.
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Return the chicken to the pan. Nestle the fried chicken pieces into the sauce. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is glazed and piping hot.
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Adjust seasoning. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more soy, vinegar, or sugar to achieve the right sweet, sour and salty balance.
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Serve. Plate the chicken with the sticky sauce poured over the top along with some freshly cooked rice. Enjoy!
Tips
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Use cornflour rather than plain flour for a super crispy coating on the chicken.
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Let excess cornflour coating shake off before frying so it doesn’t burn.
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Fry in batches to avoid crowding the pan and steaming instead of frying.
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Use pineapple juice to add natural sweetness instead of extra sugar.
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Simmer the sauce to reduce and thicken to the right clingy consistency.
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For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in soy sauce, honey and shaoxing wine beforehand.
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Bake the chicken instead of frying to make a healthier version.
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Serve with rice, noodles or a simple salad.
Jamie Oliver’s sweet and sour chicken is a fresh, easy take on a classic. By frying up boneless chicken in crispy cornflour and smothering it in a quick homemade pineapple sauce, you get all the flavor of takeout right at home. Follow the simple steps above for finger-licking results. What’s your favorite recipe from Jamie Oliver?
The TV chef says his version of the classic dish is in tribute to Olympic diver Tom Daley.
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TV chef Jamie Oliver has revealed that his recipe for sweet and sour chicken pays tribute to the Olympic diver Tom Daley. The Express reports that the athlete enjoys the dish after a tiring competition, and Jamie has now shared his own version which takes just 35 minutes from chopping board to table.
Published on his official website, the recipe serves four but this can be amended to suit larger or smaller group sizes. The Express reports that Jamie said: “Tom told me this is his guilty pleasure after a competition, so I wanted to show him just how fantastic it can be if you make it from scratch.
“The joy of cooking at home is that you can really own it – packed with fresh veg, and free from piles of added sugar and fat often found in takeaways, this firm favourite is a real winner.”
Read below for the full ingredient list and cooking method.
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Jamie Oliver’s Sweet & Sour Chicken
FAQ
How does Jamie Oliver make sweet and sour sauce?
To make a sauce, drain the juice from 1 x 227g tin of pineapple chunks into a separate bowl, mix with 2 heaped teaspoons of cornflour, 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons low-salt soy sauce and 4 tablespoons of water, then put aside.
How is sweet and sour chicken made?
Sweet and sour chicken is made by first coating chicken pieces in a batter or cornstarch mixture and then frying them until golden brown and crispy.
What are the 5 ingredients in Jamie’s roast chicken?
Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Roast Chicken recipe is made with chicken, potatoes, flat-leaf parsley, garlic, and blanched hazelnuts, creating a simple yet delicious meal thiss recipe takes 1 hour and 35 minutes from start to finish and serves 4 people.
How to make sweet and sour sauce like takeaway?
Tomato Ketchup 2 tbsp. sweet chilli sauce 2 tbsp. Dark soy sauce 50ml Rice wine vinegar 50g caster Sugar 1 tsp. MSG 50ml Orange juice Method: 1: To make the sweet and sour sauce, combine all of the ingredients in a pan and bring up to a boil stir until all of the ingredients are incorporated.