This Candy and Bitter Hen is crispy, saucy, colourful, and stuffed with family-friendly taste. It makes an important weeknight dinner as a result of it comes collectively shortly, and tastes like one thing particular!
Why You’ll Love This Candy and Bitter Hen
This do-it-yourself candy and bitter hen has all the flavour of takeout, however it’s simple to make at residence with easy elements. The sauce is the right stability of candy, tangy, and savory, whereas the pepper flakes add a mild heat that may simply be adjusted for youths or spice-sensitive eaters.
- Candy, tangy, and savory
- Straightforward sufficient for weeknights
- Higher than takeout
- Household-friendly and customizable
- Scrumptious served over white rice
- Straightforward to regulate for spice stage
Ideas for the Greatest Candy and Bitter Hen
Don’t Crowd the Pan
Cooking the hen in batches helps it brown as an alternative of steam. This provides the hen higher texture and taste.
Modify the Spice
Pink pepper flakes add a bit of heat, however you need to use much less or skip them fully for youthful youngsters. Add further on the desk for anybody who likes extra warmth.
Use Pineapple Juice for Taste
Pineapple juice provides pure sweetness and tang to the sauce. For those who don’t have pineapple juice, orange juice can work in its place.
Make the Sauce Shiny
The cornstarch slurry helps thicken the sauce so it coats the hen superbly. Let it simmer for a minute or two till shiny and barely thickened.
Serve Proper Away
Candy and bitter hen is greatest served contemporary whereas the hen is sizzling and the sauce is shiny.
Straightforward Variations
Add Greens
Stir in bell peppers, broccoli, snap peas, carrots, zucchini, or pineapple chunks for further coloration and diet.
Make It Delicate
Pass over the purple pepper flakes and use a bit of further honey for a kid-friendly model.
Make It Spicier
Add further purple pepper flakes, sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or sliced jalapeños.
Use Hen Thighs
Hen thighs keep further juicy and work superbly on this recipe.
Make It a Bowl
Serve over white rice with steamed broccoli, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and further inexperienced onions.
Child-Pleasant Ideas
For youths preferring milder flavors, begin with only a pinch of purple pepper flakes or depart them out solely. You may as well serve the sauce on the facet the primary time so youngsters can dip the hen as an alternative of getting it totally coated.
Reduce the hen into small, easy-to-eat items and serve with rice and a well-known vegetable like broccoli, peas, or carrots.
Extra Asian-Impressed Weeknight Dinner Recipes:
Straightforward Candy and Bitter Hen
This Candy and Bitter Hen is crispy, saucy, colourful, and stuffed with family-friendly taste. It makes an important weeknight dinner as a result of it comes collectively shortly, and tastes like one thing particular!
Servings: 6
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless hen breasts or thighs minimize into bite-sized items
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil plus extra as wanted
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup rice or apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp grated contemporary ginger, optionally available
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes to style
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
