A Chinese Style Dinner: Sweet & Sour Chicken and Vegetables

This chicken dish tastes just like its name: simply Sweet & Sour.

Erm... ok, let's add to it tasty, yummy and 100% Asian too. ;)

I'm a beginner cook. So in general, my meals tends to be relatively uncomplicated. Despite that, I still want to ensure that whatever I end up making tastes good (at least I cross my fingers at when I serve them to the husband each time, waiting anxiously for a *positive* response, woot!), and also that its something that would satisfy the nutritional needs of both of us (uh-oh that's the Food Techie speaking alright!).

So this meal is just that. A simple enough to make Chinese-style meal, served with steaming hot white rice. And it was a satisfying meal indeed. Our tummies and palates were happy :)

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN RECIPE

(RESIPI AYAM MASAK MASAM MANIS ALA CINA)

Ingredients:

Chicken (cut into bite-sized pieces) - actually, this will also work with boneless fish steaks
Salt, pepper
1 egg (beaten)
Corn flour – for coating
1 red/green bell peppers (diced)
1 tomato (diced)
1 large onion (diced)
1 red/green chilli (sliced)
1 tsp. ginger (minced)
3 tbs. tomato sauce
1 tbs. plum sauce
1 tbs. chili sauce
White pepper powder

Method:

1) Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil for deep frying in a pan.
2) Dip chicken in the egg, then in the corn flour to coat. Immediately deep fry after coating. Deep fry until golden. Drain on paper towels to remove the excess oil.
3) Mix together tomato sauce, plum sauce, chili sauce and ginger in a small saucepan. Heat up until boiling. Add in vegetables and stir to cook. Season with pepper and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until desired consistency.
4) Pour sweet and sour sauce over the fried chicken to serve.
5) Awesome! (And go prepare the vegetable dish below to go with it)

These vegetables were so easy to prepare, and the very simple oyster sauce goes perfectly well to enhance the natural flavours of the vegetables itself.

*I think I need to get some bigger serving plates :) *

VEGETABLES WITH OYSTER SAUCE RECIPE

(RESIPI SAYUR MASAK SOS TIRAM ALA CINA)

Ingredients:
1 pack bak choy/choy sum - or any other leafy green vegetable
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 shallot (sliced thin)
1 tbs. sesame oil
3 tbs. oyster sauce
White pepper, MSG for flavour (optional)

Method:
1) Blanch vegetables in boiling water for 20-30 seconds. Drain.
2) Fry garlic and shallots in sesame oil until tender.
3) Add 2 tbs. water and let boil. Stir in oyster sauce, and add in pepper and MSG. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
4) Arrange vegetables in serving plate. Pour the sauce on top.
5) Serve with white rice and Sweet Sour Chicken.
6) Satisfying!