This classic Chinese sweet and sour chicken (Hong Kong Style) is made with pineapple, peppers, onions, and crispy chicken, tossed in a sweet and sour sauce with the perfect balance of tanginess to sweetness. Its perfectly crispy and delicious!.
Deep-fried foods are definitely my favorite thing in the world to eat. Theres something very satisfying about crispy battered meat tossed in a sweet and sticky sauce. This recipe is no different; it has the most delicious mix of flavors, and everyone who tries it wants more!
If youre looking for something similar to this recipe but made with pork instead, I also got you covered with my Cantonese Style Sweet and Sour Pork recipe, but if youre just interested in the sauce, I use my tried and true Chinese Sweet and Sour sauce for these recipes which is made from scratch and doesnt contain any ketchup.
You’re in the right place if you want a quick and easy Chinese sweet and sour chicken recipe that is the right amount of sweet and sour without the soggy batter. Let’s get started!
Everyone loves Hong Kong chicken, but people from Hong Kong really love it. This famous Cantonese dish has become famous all over the world for its delicious mix of flavors and textures. But what is Hong Kong chicken, and what makes it so special? Let’s find out.
An Overview of Hong Kong Chicken
At its core, Hong Kong chicken consists of succulent chicken pieces that have been marinated in a mix of aromatic seasonings, then stir-fried or baked to tender perfection. The marinade commonly contains ingredients like soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and cornstarch This imparts the chicken with a sweet, savory, and glistening glaze
The chicken is cooked relatively briefly ensuring it remains exceptionally moist and tender. And the crowning touch is a light sprinkling of crunchy toasted sesame seeds over the finished dish.
What Sets Hong Kong Chicken Apart
Even though it sounds easy to make, Hong Kong chicken is famous for having a lot of different flavors that work well together. The marinade has a good mix of umami, sweet, savory, and salty flavors that go deep into the chicken. When mixed with the soft, juicy meat, it makes a taste and texture combination that you can’t stop wanting.
The sesame seeds add nutty aroma and pleasant crunch. And aromatics like ginger and garlic provide a subtle zing. All of these things give Hong Kong chicken its unique flavor and make it stand out from other chicken dishes.
Key Aspects that Make Hong Kong Chicken Special
There are a few vital aspects that make Hong Kong chicken special:
-
The Marinade—The marinade is very important because it gives the chicken a lot of flavor. Important things to have are soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.
-
Velvety Texture – Thanks to the cornstarch and gentle cooking, the chicken achieves an unbelievably smooth, velvety texture.
-
Moist and Tender – Short cooking time keeps the chicken remarkably moist and tender. It should be juicy and never dry.
-
Glossy Appearance – Properly made, the chicken will have an appealing glossy sheen from the sauce coating each piece.
-
Toasted Sesame Seeds – A defining feature is the toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top. They provide crunch and nutty sesame flavor.
-
Umami-Rich – Between the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, Hong Kong chicken is packed with umami depth.
-
Well-Balanced Flavor – No single flavor dominates. Instead, they combine in perfect balance.
Common Cooking Methods for Hong Kong Chicken
While stir-frying is the traditional cooking method, Hong Kong chicken can also be prepared by:
-
Baking – Baking gives it a lightly charred exterior while keeping the interior moist. Parmesan is sometimes sprinkled on top.
-
Grilling – Grilling over high heat creates nice char while imparting smoky notes. Take care not to overcook.
-
Pan-Frying – Pan-frying in a bit of oil cooks the chicken quickly with browning. Be sure not to crowd the pan.
-
Deep-Frying – Deep-frying yields very crispy, crunchy chicken but requires more oil. Drain well on paper towels.
-
Steaming – Steaming keeps the chicken exceptionally tender and silky but won’t have browning.
Variations on Traditional Hong Kong Chicken
While the basic version is beloved, there are many riffs on the classic:
-
Some recipes use chicken thighs or drumsticks rather than breast meat. The dark chicken meat can be especially juicy.
-
For extra flavor, aromatic vegetables like garlic, shallots, or scallions can be stir-fried with the chicken.
-
To make the dish more saucy, coconut milk, chicken stock, wine, or cream are sometimes mixed into the marinade.
-
Spices like five-spice powder, red chili flakes, Sichuan peppercorn, or curry powder may be added to the marinade to give it a kick.
-
For crunch, veggies like snap peas, bell pepper, water chestnuts, or cashews are sometimes stir-fried with the chicken.
-
Instead of sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, almonds, or fried shallots are used to garnish the dish with texture.
Is Hong Kong Chicken Difficult to Prepare?
Despite its complex flavors, Hong Kong chicken is surprisingly easy to make at home. With the right technique, even amateur cooks can produce restaurant-quality results:
-
Marinate Ahead – Letting the chicken marinate for 30 mins up to overnight allows the flavors to deeply penetrate.
-
Get the Wok Hot – Use high heat and wait until the wok is very hot before adding the oil and chicken to sear properly.
-
Don’t Overcrowd – Cook the chicken in batches to avoid steaming. Overcrowding reduces browning.
-
Keep Stirring – Constant gentle stirring prevents burning and allows the sauce to coat the chicken.
-
Rest Afterwards – Letting the chicken rest briefly after cooking allows juices to redistribute evenly.
The Role of Hong Kong Chicken in Cantonese Cuisine
While not exclusive to Hong Kong, this dish has become closely tied to the local Cantonese cuisine. It likely originated in nearby Guangdong province before becoming popularized in Hong Kong. The city’s bustling diners and street stalls then elevated it into a cult favorite.
For many, Hong Kong chicken evokes fond memories of the city’s dining culture. Its gingery, sesame-scented aromas are intrinsically linked with the culinary soul of Hong Kong. And versions can be found on menus at Cantonese restaurants worldwide.
So next time you spot Hong Kong chicken, prepare your tastebuds for a flavorful bite of Hong Kong cuisine history! With a balance of sweet, salty, savory and tender textures, this glistening chicken wok-fried to perfection will surely satisfy.
) Battering Process (2 Steps)
Step 1 – First Coat (Sticky Batter)
Coat the marinated chicken in ½ the starch and let it sit for a few minutes until the starch absorbs the marinade. This will make the batter more flavorful. The starch will start to become thick and gummy.
Step 2 – Second Coat (Sealing the Flavourful Batter)
Put the other ½ of the starch on a plate. Once the first coat of starch has absorbed all the marinade, dunk each piece of chicken in the starch on the plate to create a white starch coating. This coating makes the chicken crispier.
Double frying is a Korean cooking technique that is used to get anything super crunchy. Its an easy step and definitely shouldnt be skipped if you want to get your chicken batter to have a super crunchy hard shell.
To double fry, you need to first deep fry your chicken until it is fully cooked (which is about 3 minutes). Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove the chicken from the oil and let it sit out for about 30 seconds. Put the chicken back in the oil after 30 seconds and fry for another 30 seconds or until golden brown.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken
To make this tasty sweet and sour chicken recipe at home, all you need are a few very simple, everyday items.
Heres an overview of the specific ingredients for this recipe. For the exact ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Chicken: The star of our dish is the chicken! I like to use dark meat for this sweet and sour chicken recipe. So, chicken breast also works great in this recipe. Since it’s only deep-fried for three minutes, there’s no chance that it will get dry.
- Onion, garlic, and ginger are three aromatics that I add to the batter to make it taste better. Highly recommend you dont skip them.
- Starch: Adding any kind of starch will make the batter extra crispy. Potato starch makes the batter crunchier, so the sauce won’t make the chicken soggy. However, corn starch is easier to find and work with, so I suggest you use that instead. If you want to use potato starch, you have to deep fry in small batches and make sure the chicken doesn’t touch each other during the first minute or so of deepfrying. If it does, the chicken will stick together and form a big ball of meat, and when you try to pull it apart, the batter will come off.
- Bell Pepper: For this recipe, you can use any kind of sweet pepper, like green, yellow, red, orange, etc., but I like how the green ones look and taste better.
- This is where most of the sweetness in the dish comes from: the pineapple. I like fresh pineapple for this recipe because it tastes better and is more juicy, but cutting it up for just one dish is a lot of work. If you’re in a hurry, pineapple from a can will also work. To change how big the chunks are, make sure you drain the juice and buy the rings. You can also use pineapple chunks instead; just make sure they are not frozen before you use them.
- When I make this, I add a little Shaoxing cooking wine for flavor. If you don’t have any, you can use dry sherry instead or leave it out.
Hong Kong Chicken
FAQ
What is Hong Kong Chicken?
Hong Kong Chicken is a popular chinese dish across the globe and each cuisine has its own contribution in this recipe. However, when you follow this recipe you get to relish the taste of authentic Hong Kong Chicken and that too without taking much effort. Try Try this delicious Chinese dish today and give a surprise treat to your family and kids!.
What is Hong Kong Chicken recipe in English?
Hong Kong Chicken Recipe in English is an easy and traditional cooking recipe to prepare at home. It provides you an awesome taste of Chinese Recipes. 1. In a bowl, mix together 3/4 cup of corn flour, salt, white pepper, soaked ground Kashmiri chili, and egg. 2. Marinate chicken in this mixture for 30 minutes.
Is Hong Kong chicken healthy?
Hong Kong Chicken is one of the most delicious chicken recipes cooked as per the techniques of Hong Kong cuisine. Using ginger garlic paste, cashew nuts, coriander leaves, and other tasty ingredients makes this recipe taste great. are used in it. If we look at the nutrition part, chicken is healthy for our body.
What ingredients are in Hong Kong Chicken?
Usually, chicken (preferably drumsticks or thighs), soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch are what you need for a traditional Hong Kong chicken recipe. Additional ingredients such as green onions and chili peppers can also be added for extra flavor. Can I use boneless chicken for this recipe?.
Is Hong Kong Chicken still popular?
An era had come to a close, but their recipe lives on in the lives of the Chinese community who take pride in the fact that PE is home to Hong Kong chicken. We all have our own version of this chicken dish today and it remains a firm favourite as an anytime, anywhere meal.
Who makes the best Hong Kong Chicken?
Each family has their own formula. Everyone believes that their mother makes the best Hong Kong chicken. Most recipes have certain standard features. They almost all include sugar and/or syrup, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chilli, spices, sesame oil and some sort of fortified wine.
What does Hong Kong style taste like?
Hong Kong Harmonizes Savory, Sour, Salty, Sweet, and More
Its bold and complex flavors, emphasis on fresh seafood and noodles, and focus on savory sauces and spices make it a must-try for anyone interested in Cantonese cuisine.
What is the difference between sweet and sour and Hong Kong style?
Hong Kong Style sweet and sour chicken sauce is usually less sweet and has more of a balance of sweet and sour flavors, whereas the American Chinese version is a touch on the sweeter side.
What does Hong Kong style mean in Chinese takeaway?
HK style food generally has roots in Cantonese food and it often overlaps. However, HK style food may involve fusion between different cuisines (e.g. marinating steak, a Western dish, with soy sauce, a traditionally East Asian condiment).