Sweet and Sour Chicken - I Heart Naptime (2024)

FAQs

Does sweet and sour chicken have a lot of sodium? ›

Typical sweet and sour chicken dishes can be anywhere from 500 to 1200 calories depending on how they are prepared and up to 1,000 mg + of sodium.

The origin of sweet and sour chicken was in the 18th century or even earlier from China. It spread to the United States in the early 20th century after the Chinese migrant gold miners and railroad workers turned to cookery as trades. In some countries, the dish is known as Ku lo yuk.

Just prior to serving, open sauce packets and combine with chicken, mixing thoroughly to cover all chicken pieces. This product contains no MSG, artificial coloring or flavoring, tree nuts, peanuts, peanut oil, or lard, and has zero trans fat.

The chicken itself is also different, as orange chicken is made with dark meat chicken ( chicken thighs) and sweet and sour chicken is made with chicken breasts and fried in a batter that yields a puffy and airy crust.

Asian menus typically contain many heart-friendly ingredients. But the preparation may be high in fat and include not-so-healthy additives. Try these tips for health-conscious ordering: Opt for steamed dumplings instead of ordering egg rolls and fried dumplings.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Even though chicken is a lean protein, the calorie count shoots way up when you batter and deep fry it and then drown it in a sugary sauce. This dish's calorie count skyrockets to over 1,000 calories due to all of that oil-soaked batter and overly-sweetened sauce.

Difference Between General Tso and Other Chinese Dishes

I've listed out their main difference below to make it a little more clear. Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.

Many places in China use a sweet and sour sauce as a dipping sauce for fish and meat rather than in cooking, as is common in Westernized Chinese cuisine. This style of using sauces is popular amongst Chinese who tie certain sauces to particular meats such as chili and soy for shrimp and vinegar and garlic for goose.

Chinese food and soups contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) as the main addictive ingredient. A sensitive individual may suffer from headache, giddiness, sweating, abdominal pain, and urticaria within a few hours of consumption of MSG.

Mix 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup water together in a small bowl until smooth; pour into the sauce, stirring continuously, until slightly thickened. Place flour, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, egg, salt, and white pepper in a large bowl; gradually whisk in 1 1/2 cups water to make a thick batter.

Why is sweet and sour chicken so red? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

For instance, did you know that the version of sweet and sour chicken we are all familiar with is actually not from Hong Kong or China? The original recipe was Shanghainese and used black vinegar. It's not meant to be orange, but black.

Yes, they actually do. The Chinese term for “sweet and sour” is “糖醋” (sugar-vinegar) - this is a rather common flavor in daily Chinese cooking in (many areas of) China. Sweet and sour chicken would be “糖醋鸡” (sugar-vinegar chicken).

When dining at a Chinese restaurant and looking for low-sodium options, consider dishes like steamed vegetables, steamed dumplings, or steamed rice. Ask for sauces on the side so you can control the amount used, as many Chinese sauces can be high in sodium.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Even though chicken is a lean protein, the calorie count shoots way up when you batter and deep fry it and then drown it in a sugary sauce. This dish's calorie count skyrockets to over 1,000 calories due to all of that oil-soaked batter and overly-sweetened sauce.

Worst: Sweet and Sour Pork

It typically serves up 16 teaspoons of sugar, about the same amount in 3 chocolate bars. If that isn't bad enough, the syrupy sauce coats chunks of deep-fried pork. Even if you split this entree with someone, you're still likely to get more than 800 calories and 48 grams of fat.