Sweet and Sour Chicken from Paleo Takeout
Try this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe, or contribute your own.
- • sauce:
- • 1 cup chicken broth
- • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- • 3 tablespoons honey
- • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- • 1 tablespoon tamari (i used coconut aminos)
- • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- • nuggets:
- • 2 tablespoons expeller-pressed coconut oil
- • 1/4 cup tapioca or arrowroot starch
- • 1 teaspoon sea salt
- • 1 teaspoon white pepper
- • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
- • 2 large eggs beaten
- • slurry:
- • 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
- • 1 tablespoon cold water
- • garnishes:
- • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
- • 2 green onions sliced
- Carbohydrate 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Saturated Fat 0 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (0g)
- Sodium 0 mg
- Sugar 0 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Calories 0 calories
Step-by-step
- Sauce: In a medium saucepan, whisk together chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, honey, tomato paste, tamari (or coconut aminos), sea salt, garlic powder, ground ginger, and white pepper.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
- Nuggets: In a large bowl, combine tapioca or arrowroot starch, sea salt, and white pepper.
- Add chicken and toss to coat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs.
- Dip chicken into the egg, then dredge in the starch mixture, ensuring it's fully coated.
- Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken nuggets and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together arrowroot starch and cold water to create a slurry.
- Once chicken is cooked, add the sauce to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
- Slowly whisk in the slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
- Serve immediately over cauliflower rice or other preferred side.
Sweet and Sour Chicken: A Weeknight Winner
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook healthy, delicious meals can feel like a Herculean task. Weeknights are a blur of school pick-ups, homework battles, and the never-ending cycle of laundry. But dinner? Dinner needs to be something quick, easy, and satisfying—and ideally, something the whole family will enjoy. That's where this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe comes in. It's my go-to weeknight meal, a lifesaver that always delivers on flavor and ease.
Forget the takeout menus filled with questionable ingredients and hidden sugars. This recipe allows me to control exactly what goes into my family's food, ensuring it's both healthy and delicious. The sweet and sour sauce is bright and tangy, perfectly balancing the savory chicken. The chicken itself is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, thanks to the clever use of tapioca starch. I've even adapted the recipe to suit our family's preferences – substituting coconut aminos for soy sauce to keep it paleo-friendly, making it a perfect fit for our family's dietary choices.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. It’s not just a weeknight dinner; it’s a meal that can be easily adapted for a casual weekend get-together or a quick lunch. I often double the recipe, storing half in the fridge for quick lunches throughout the week. The leftovers are just as delicious, if not more so, the next day!
Beyond the Recipe: The joy of cooking isn't just about creating a delicious meal; it’s about the process itself. I cherish the moments in my kitchen, the quiet time amidst the chaos of family life. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the sizzle of the chicken in the pan – these are small acts of self-care, a chance to de-stress and reconnect with myself. This recipe, with its simple steps and incredible flavor, embodies this perfectly. It’s a reminder that even in the busiest of times, we can nourish both our bodies and our souls with a little bit of love (and a lot of delicious food).
Tips for Success:
Prep Ahead: Marinating the chicken for a few hours (or even overnight) will enhance its flavor significantly. You can also prep the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to use.
Don't Overcrowd the Pan: When cooking the chicken, ensure you don’t overcrowd the pan. Work in batches to ensure even browning and cooking.
Adjust the Sweetness: The amount of honey in the sauce is easily adjustable. If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of honey accordingly. Conversely, if you have a sweet tooth, feel free to add a little more!
Serving Suggestions: This Sweet and Sour Chicken is incredibly versatile. It's delicious served over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or even a bed of simple greens. It also pairs beautifully with a side of steamed broccoli or a fresh salad.
This recipe is more than just a collection of ingredients and instructions. It's a small piece of my heart, a taste of my family’s everyday life, a testament to the power of simple, wholesome cooking. It's a recipe that keeps on giving – not just nourishment, but also the comforting feeling of a warm, inviting kitchen and a delicious meal shared with loved ones. So, try it out, and let me know what you think!
