Sophie Bennett
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as a staple of Chinese takeout. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating and is often served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. While the dish is commonly found in North America and Europe, it is largely unheard of in China. In America, sweet and sour chicken balls are considered an East Coast specialty, with some claiming that the dish is harder to find on the West Coast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls |
| Cuisine | Chinese |
| Served in | Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland |
| Consistency | Crispy, fluffy, non-greasy, juicy |
| Calories | 368 kcal per serving |
| Chicken | Small chunks of fried chicken breast meat |
| Chicken preparation | Cut chicken breast into 1" dices, marinate with seasoning, coat with batter, and deep fry |
| Seasoning | Salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda |
| Batter | Plain flour, cornstarch, baking soda, water, and salt |
| Frying temperature | 340-350°F |
| Oil used | Vegetable oil or other neutral-flavored oil |
| Sauce | Sweet and sour sauce, sweet chilli sauce, Thai Sriracha sauce |
| Sauce ingredients | Ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, water, corn starch, salt, pineapple juice, orange juice, orange food coloring |
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What You'll Learn
The dish is called 'Chinese Chicken Balls'
The dish is called Chinese Chicken Balls. This dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating. It is often served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, curry sauce, or plum sauce. Chinese Chicken Balls are a staple of Chinese takeout in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
To make Chinese Chicken Balls, cut the chicken breast into 1" cubes and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda. Mix well and marinate for 15-30 minutes, or up to an hour if you have more time. For the sweet and sour sauce, combine ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, water, corn starch, and salt in a saucepan. Stir over low-medium heat until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
To make the chicken balls, combine plain flour, corn starch, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add in water and sesame oil, whisking vigorously until smooth. Then, add the chicken pieces and mix until well coated. The best method for cooking the chicken balls is to deep fry them, as this will create a crispy and airy texture. Heat vegetable oil or another neutral-flavored oil to between 340-350°F. If the oil is ready, a splash of batter dropped into the oil will sizzle immediately. Fry the chicken balls until they are golden brown.
Chinese Chicken Balls are a popular dish in Chinese restaurants and takeaways in the UK, and they are also enjoyed as a homemade snack or appetizer. They are often served as finger food or party snacks and are loved by both kids and adults. This dish is also known as sweet and sour chicken balls, and it is a modern Chinese food that is largely unheard of in China.
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They are served as appetizers
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as a staple of Chinese takeout. They are also sometimes referred to as Chinese chicken balls. This dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating and is often served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. The chicken is usually marinated with ingredients such as salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda. The sweet and sour sauce is made by combining ingredients such as ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, water, corn starch, and salt.
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a popular appetizer or starter, perfect for parties or as a snack. They can be served on their own with the sweet and sour sauce or with other dipping sauces like sweet chilli sauce and Thai Sriracha sauce. The chicken balls are also a great addition to a Chinese banquet, served alongside other dishes such as stir-fried egg noodles with shredded chicken breast and Asian green vegetables like pak choi, choy sum, or tatsoi.
When served as appetizers, sweet and sour chicken balls are typically made into bite-sized pieces, making them easy to pick up and eat. They can be served on a platter or in small bowls, with the sauce either drizzled on top or served on the side for dipping. Some people also like to add extra ingredients to the sauce, such as pineapple chunks, green peppers, or ginger, to give it a unique flavor.
As an appetizer, sweet and sour chicken balls are a great way to start a meal or to serve at a party. They are often enjoyed by both adults and children and can be a tasty and addictive treat. The combination of juicy chicken, crispy batter, and tangy sauce makes for a delicious flavor and texture experience.
Making sweet and sour chicken balls at home is a popular option, as it allows for customization of the recipe to suit individual tastes. Some people choose to add extra spices to the chicken batter or play around with the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce. Preparing these chicken balls can be a fun and rewarding experience, resulting in a dish that is even better than takeout.
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They are made with boneless chicken breast
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as a staple of Chinese takeout. The dish consists of small chunks of fried boneless chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating. The chicken breast is cut into 1-inch cubes and marinated in a mixture of salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda for 15 to 30 minutes, or up to an hour if time allows.
The batter for the chicken balls is typically made with plain flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and water, and can be seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Some recipes also suggest adding beer or pineapple juice to the batter instead of water to enhance the flavor. The chicken pieces are then coated in the batter and deep-fried at a temperature between 340-350°F to achieve a crispy, golden exterior. Double frying is recommended to ensure the chicken balls are crispy and not greasy.
The sweet and sour sauce that accompanies the chicken balls is typically made by combining ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, water, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. The sauce is cooked until it reaches the desired consistency, and some recipes also include orange juice, orange food coloring, or pineapple juice for added flavor and color. The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored until ready to use.
When serving, the chicken balls are typically paired with the sweet and sour sauce for dipping, and they can be served as an appetizer, party snack, or main meal. They are often enjoyed as a takeout dish, but can also be made at home using simple ingredients. While the exact origin of the name "chicken balls" is unclear, the dish is a popular and well-loved part of Chinese culinary traditions in North America and beyond.
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The sauce is made with pineapple juice
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in the United States, among other countries. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating. They are often served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
One recipe suggests combining the pineapple juice, water, cornstarch, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and tomato puree in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture, a little at a time, stirring continuously until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
Another recipe calls for whisking together the pineapple juice, water, and cornstarch until smooth before whisking the mixture into the ketchup, vinegar, and sugar. Bring this sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and continue simmering and mixing until thickened.
The sweet and sour sauce can be served as a dipping sauce for the chicken balls or poured over the chicken and served with a side of green peppers and pineapple chunks.
Some people prefer to make the sauce less sweet by reducing the amount of sugar or adding more vinegar. Others add additional ingredients to the sauce, such as ginger, green pepper, or Spanish onion.
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They are deep-fried
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as a staple of Chinese takeout. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
To make the chicken balls, the chicken breast is cut into small, bite-sized pieces. The chicken is then seasoned with ingredients like salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda. The chicken is then marinated for 15 to 30 minutes, or up to an hour if time allows.
To achieve the signature crispy texture and golden color, deep frying is recommended. The ideal temperature for frying is between 340-350°F, which can be checked using a food thermometer or by observing the oil for steady sizzling oil bubbles. Vegetable oil or other neutral-flavored oils, such as canola, grapeseed, or sunflower oil, are best for deep frying.
When deep frying, it is crucial to double fry the chicken balls to create a crispy exterior and juicy interior. This involves frying the battered chicken balls for the first time, allowing them to cool, and then frying them a second time just before serving. Double frying ensures that the coating stays crispy for hours, and it helps reduce greasiness.
The sweet and sour sauce that accompanies the chicken balls can be made by combining ingredients like orange juice, sugar, tomato puree, ketchup, vinegar, and cornflour. This sauce is cooked over medium heat until it reaches the desired consistency.
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a popular dish in American Chinese cuisine, and they are often sought out by those who have moved from the East Coast to the West Coast, as they are a staple of East Coast Chinese food.
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Frequently asked questions
Sweet and sour chicken balls are a type of modern Chinese food served in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland as a staple of Chinese takeaways. The dish consists of small chunks of fried chicken breast meat covered in a crispy batter coating, served with a sweet and tangy dipping sauce.
Sweet and sour chicken balls are called the same in America. They are a popular dish in American Chinese cuisine and can be found in many Chinese restaurants and takeaways across the country.
To make sweet and sour chicken balls, you will need to prepare the chicken balls and the sweet and sour sauce separately. For the chicken balls, you will need to cut chicken breasts into small chunks and marinate them in a mixture of seasonings, including salt, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, garlic paste, corn starch, and baking soda. For the sweet and sour sauce, combine ingredients such as ketchup, vinegar, sugar, tomato puree, water, corn starch, and salt in a saucepan and heat until thickened. Dip the marinated chicken pieces in a batter made with flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and garlic powder, then deep fry until golden and crispy. Serve the chicken balls with the sweet and sour sauce on the side for dipping.
