Kittencal's Chinese Chicken Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Don't bother ordering Chinese chicken balls; make these at home! They are just as good, if not better, and the sweet and sour sauce is the same as what's served at your favorite Chinese restaurant. These are a great weekend snack or appetizer. For extra flavor in the chicken batter, feel free to add garlic or onion powder, or your favorite spices. This recipe makes a large amount, so you may want to reduce the chicken ball batter amount by half (using 4 chicken breasts). Note: The sauce recipe may require a few attempts to achieve your desired consistency and sweetness. 1 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar will give you a sweet sauce; you can reduce the white sugar by a few tablespoons.
Don't bother ordering Chinese chicken balls; make these at home! They are just as good, if not better, and the sweet and sour sauce is the same as what's served at your favorite Chinese restaurant. These are a great weekend snack or appetizer. For extra flavor in the chicken batter, feel free to add garlic or onion powder, or your favorite spices. This recipe makes a large amount, so you may want to reduce the chicken ball batter amount by half (using 4 chicken breasts). Note: The sauce recipe may require a few attempts to achieve your desired consistency and sweetness. 1 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar will give you a sweet sauce; you can reduce the white sugar by a few tablespoons.
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- oil (for frying)
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 8 pieces
- 1/2 cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 cup white sugar (can reduce a 2-3 tablespoons for a
- 3/4 cup cold water (or can use unsweetened pineapple juice i prefer the pineapple juice)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch (for a thinner sauce reduce to 2 tables if you want an very thick sauce use 4 tablespoons)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (garlic lovers add 1 teaspoon)
- 1 1/3 cups cold water (if you are reducing to half a recipe
- 1 -2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional but good to
- seasoning salt (optional)
- Carbohydrate 51.1940190089817 g
- Cholesterol 122.82916666501 mg
- Fat 46.432653701634 g
- Fiber 0.696374558089982 g
- Protein 3.28077655808333 g
- Saturated Fat 29.2971857686565 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving(s) (164g)
- Sodium 1013.78699636728 mg
- Sugar 50.4976444508917 g
- Trans Fat 3.3053173590856 g
- Calories 624 calories
Step-by-step
- To make the sweet and sour sauce: In a saucepan, combine the first 5 ingredients until combined.
- In a cup or bowl, whisk the cold water or pineapple juice with cornstarch until smooth and well blended, then whisk vigorously into the ketchup mixture.
- Bring to a boil, stirring or whisking constantly over medium-high heat until bubbly.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue simmering and mixing until thickened (be patient; the sauce takes a few minutes to thicken).
- Remove from heat and allow to sit at room temperature while making the chicken balls, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate until ready to use (I prefer the sauce at room temperature).
- To make the chicken balls: In a large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and garlic powder.
- Add in water and sesame oil; whisk vigorously until smooth.
- Add in chicken pieces; using clean hands, mix until well coated.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 375 degrees.
- Carefully dip the battered chicken pieces in hot oil and fry until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes).
- Remove to a paper towel.
- Sprinkle with seasoning salt immediately after frying, if desired.
- Serve immediately with sweet and sour sauce. Delicious!
My Homemade Chinese Chicken Ball Adventure
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook delicious, satisfying meals can feel like a Herculean task. Weekends are my sanctuary, my time to experiment in the kitchen and create dishes that both my family and I will love. This weekend, I decided to tackle a classic: Chinese chicken balls with sweet and sour sauce. I've always loved the vibrant flavors and crispy texture of this dish, but let's be honest, takeout just doesn't cut it when you're craving that homemade goodness.
The recipe I followed claimed to be just as good, if not better, than restaurant-quality chicken balls. Skeptical but hopeful, I gathered my ingredients. The process of making the sweet and sour sauce was surprisingly simple – a delightful dance of whisking and simmering until the perfect consistency was achieved. I confess, I did have to repeat this stage once to refine the sweetness to my liking; it's all part of the culinary journey, right?
The chicken ball batter was another story entirely. The recipe called for a combination of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and a few other secret ingredients. The moment I started mixing everything together was oddly therapeutic. My hands became dusted with flour, and soon, I had a bowl full of perfectly coated chicken pieces, ready for their plunge into the hot oil. The frying process itself was mesmerizing. I watched those golden-brown balls emerge from the oil, each one a perfect sphere of crispy, succulent chicken.
The aroma that filled my kitchen during this process was simply divine. It was a symphony of sweet and savory notes, a culinary prelude to the feast that awaited. My family gathered around the table, anticipation etched on their faces. The first bite was a revelation. The contrast between the crispy exterior and the juicy, tender chicken was exquisite. The sweet and sour sauce, perfectly balanced in its sweetness and tanginess, complemented the chicken balls flawlessly. My homemade version was a resounding success; it surpassed even the best takeout I had ever had.
This wasn't just about the food; it was about creating something special for my family. It was about reclaiming the joy of cooking, about taking control of the ingredients, and about the satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch. It was a weekend well spent, filled with laughter, shared moments, and the comforting warmth of a home-cooked meal. The memories we made around that table, far more valuable than any takeout container, were the real prize. Next time, I'm trying a spicier variation – but I'm still savoring every delicious bite of this batch! The recipe was easy enough for any busy parent, even if you need a few tries to nail your preferred sauce consistency.
This recipe became more than just a meal; it became a testament to the power of homemade food. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the simplest pleasures in life are the most rewarding. The process of creating something from scratch, the satisfaction of seeing your family enjoy the fruits of your labor, and the memories that are made while sharing a home-cooked meal are irreplaceable. And, yes, the chicken balls were pretty darn delicious too!
