Revitalise your weeknight dinner options with this quick and delicious Sweet and Sour Style Chicken with Pepper and Rice recipe. This classic dish, with its vibrant flavours and straightforward preparation, is a truly satisfying choice for a hearty dinner!
The Sweet and Sour Style Chicken is made using tender chunks of chicken, coated in a vibrant sauce that perfectly captures the essence of sweet and sour, creating an enticing combination of flavours. The tanginess of the sauce harmonises with the natural sweetness, providing a captivating contrast that tickles the taste buds with every bite.
The addition of peppers brings a fresh crunch and a burst of colour to the dish. They lend a vegetal sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the sweet and sour chicken, offering a perfect balance of flavours and adding a layer of complexity to the dish.
To complete this flavourful ensemble, the meal is served over a bed of perfectly cooked rice. The rice, with its delicate, slightly nutty flavour, provides a lovely base that complements the bold flavours of the chicken and peppers. It not only soaks up the tangy, sweet sauce but also adds a satisfying heartiness to the meal.
Despite the myriad of flavours, this Sweet and Sour Style Chicken with Pepper and Rice recipe is deceptively simple and quick to prepare. It’s an ideal pick for those busy weeknights when you’re in need of a comforting, hearty meal that doesn’t skimp on taste or satisfaction.
Before you start, make sure to wash the veggies before you use them! You will also need some cooking tools, like a Measuring Jug, Garlic Press, Bowl, Frying Pan, Wooden Spoon and a Saucepan.
Sweet and Sour Style Chicken with Pepper and Rice
Print RecipeIngredients
- 150g Basmati Rice
- 1 Bell Pepper
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 280g Diced Chicken
- 2 Tbsp Ketjap Manis
- 1 Red Onion
- 1 Spring Onion
- 10g Cornflour
- 300ml Water for the Rice
- 3 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
Instructions
Step 1: Pour the water for the rice (see ingredients for amount) into a saucepan and bring to the boil. When boiling, add 1/4 tsp of salt, stir in the rice, lower the heat to medium and pop a lid on the pan.
Leave to cook for 10 mins, then remove the pan from the heat (still covered) and leave to the side for another 10 mins or until ready to serve (the rice will continue to cook in its own steam).
Step 2: Halve, peel and thinly slice the red onion. Halve the pepper, and discard the core and seeds, thinly slice. Chop the slices into 3 pieces. Trim the spring onion and thinly slice. Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press).
Put the cornflour in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat completely in the cornflour.
IMPORTANT: Wash your hands after handling raw chicken.
Step 3: Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the red pepper, season with salt and pepper and fry until beginning to soften, 3-4 mins, stirring occasionally.
Add the red onion to the pepper along with a drizzle of oil. Cook until the onion has softened, 4-5 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute more, then remove the veg to a bowl, leave to the side. Keep your pan, we’ll use it again!
Step 4: Pop your now empty frying pan back on medium-high heat and add a drizzle of oil. When hot, add the chicken and fry, turning frequently until golden on each side, 6-7 mins.
Meanwhile, put the ketjap manis and rice vinegar in a bowl with water (see ingredients for amount) and stir together.
Once the chicken is golden, add the vegetables back into the pan and stir together for another minute.
Step 5: Pour the sauce into the pan with the chicken and vegetables and simmer, stirring occasionally until the mixture has reduced slightly and is looking a little sticky, and the chicken is cooked, 4-5 mins.
IMPORTANT: The chicken is cooked when no longer pink in the middle. Remove the pan from the heat and add. salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6: Fluff up the rice with a fork and spoon into bowls. Serve with the sweet and sour chicken on top and sprinkle over the sliced spring onion. Enjoy!
