Crispy Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

• For the Chicken:

  • 1/2 chicken, cut into pieces
  • Seasoned flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Water

• For the Sauce:

  • 1 large onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
  • 1 red chili, diced and seeds removed
  • 4 tablespoons tomato ketchup
  • Salt, to taste
  • Sugar, to taste
  • Seasoning, to taste
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in a little water

Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken:

   • Clean the chicken pieces and marinate them with salt, sugar, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and lime juice. Let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the flavors.
   • In a bowl, mix the seasoned flour with a little water to make a batter. Dip each piece of chicken into the batter, then coat it with dry flour.
   • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the chicken pieces until they turn golden brown. Remove and set aside.

2. Make the Sauce:

   • In a clean pan, heat a bit of oil and sauté the minced garlic and onion wedges until fragrant and translucent.
   • Add the carrot sticks and stir-fry for a couple of minutes. Add just enough water to help the vegetables cook.
   • Stir in the tomato ketchup, then season with salt, sugar, and seasoning to taste. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle boil.
   • Add the diced red chili and the cornstarch mixture to the pan, stirring quickly until the sauce thickens and is well combined.

3. Combine and Serve:

   • Gently fold in the fried chicken pieces into the sauce, stirring carefully to ensure that each piece is coated with the sauce. Let it simmer on low heat for a few minutes to blend the flavors.
   • Transfer the sweet and sour chicken to a serving plate.

Your Sweet and Sour Chicken (Ayam Asam Manis) is now ready to be enjoyed! Serve it hot and savor the delightful balance of flavors in this classic dish.