Best Chicken With Sweet And Sour Sherry Sauce Mark Bittman Recipes

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Set aside ½ cup of pineapple juice from your can of pineapple, and reserve ⅔ cup of the pineapple chunks (if using). Set aside.
• Combine the hot water, salt, sugar, and ketchup. Stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved, and then add the vinegar and pineapple juice (if using). If not using pineapple juice, replace with ½ cup water or chicken stock. Set aside.
• Cut your chicken into uniform 1 inch chunks (for even cooking) and place into a bowl. Add the garlic and onion powders, sesame oil, white pepper and salt. Mix until all pieces are uniformly coated, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Any excess water should be fully absorbed by the chicken. If not, mix the chicken again and let it sit for another 5 minutes.
• Mix together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl, and add 2/3 cup of ice water. Use a fork to mix until a batter is formed, and stir in 1 tablespoon of oil. Set aside.
• The amount of oil you need depends on the size of the pot you will use. Using a larger pot uses more oil, but allows you to cook the chicken in fewer batches. Using a smaller pot uses less oil, but you'll have to fry more batches of chicken. We usually go for a smaller pot, so we have less leftover oil. Heat the oil in a small pot until it reaches 335°F/170°C.
• Place 5 to 6 pieces of marinated chicken into the batter. Use a chopstick, fork, or your fingers to coat the chicken in the batter and place each piece slowly into the oil.
• Use a slotted spoon to carefully turn the chicken so all sides are uniformly fried. Fry for about 2 minutes, or until the batter is a light golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and let any excess oil drain off before placing onto a rack or paper towel lined plate.
• Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a wok over medium high heat, and add the red onion and peppers. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
• Next, add the sweet and sour sauce you prepared earlier and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat so the sauce is simmering.
• Combine the cornstarch and water to make a uniform slurry. While stirring the sweet and sour sauce, drizzle the slurry in gradually until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon (you may not need all of the slurry). Turn down the heat and give the sauce a quick taste--now is the time to add more salt, vinegar or sugar if desired.
• Add the pineapple chunks (if using) and stir until warmed through. Now is the time to refry the chicken to make them nice and crispy. Heat the oil up to 335°F/170°C and fry the chicken in two batches for about 45 seconds each time. Then add the chicken pieces to your sauce, and gently toss with your wok spatula until the chicken is coated. Serve immediately!

CHICKEN BREAST WITH SWEET-AND-SOUR SHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat for a minute or two. Add the tablespoon of olive oil, then mushrooms and shallots, and turn heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms brown on edges, about 5 minutes.
• Add honey, and stir until it evaporates, less than a minute. Add vinegar, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is dry, about 2 minutes. Add sherry, and cook, stirring once or twice, until mixture is syrupy and nearly dry, about 5 minutes. Add stock, and cook, stirring once or twice, until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low; keep warm.
• After adding stock to sauce, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and grill, broil or saute.
• When chicken is done, season sauce with salt and pepper and strain if you like; stir in remaining olive oil. Serve chicken with sauce spooned over it.

CHICKEN WITH SWEET AND SOUR SHERRY SAUCE (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler or start a grill; put a 10-inch skillet over med-high heat for a minute or two.
• Add in the tablespoon olive oil, then the mushrooms and shallot; turn the heat to high; cook/stir occasionally, until the mushrooms brown nicely on the edges, about 5 minutes.
• Add in the honey; stir until it evaporates, less than a minute.
• Add in the vinegar; cook/stir occasionally, until the mixture is dry, about 2 minutes.
• Add in the sherry; cook/stir once or twice, until the mixture is syrupy and nearly dry, about 5 minutes.
• Add in the stock and cook/stir once or twice, until the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Decrease heat to med-low and keep warm.
• Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper; broil or grill them for about 6 minutes, or until cooked through.
• When the chicken is done, season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper and strain it if you like.
• Stir in the remaining olive oil; serve the chicken with the sauce spooned over it.