Description
Crispy Chinese Chicken Balls with a light, airy batter and classic sweet and sour sauce. Perfectly golden, crunchy, and easy to recreate at home for restaurant-quality results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 cups neutral oil (for frying)
- Sweet & Sour Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine all sweet and sour sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until thickened. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Gradually whisk in cold water to form a thick batter.
- Heat oil to 375°F (190°C) in a deep pan.
- Dip chicken pieces into batter and fry in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
- Drain on a wire rack.
- Serve hot with sweet and sour sauce on the side.
Notes
Keep oil temperature consistent at 375°F and avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 chicken balls
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: crispy chinese chicken balls, sweet and sour chicken balls, homemade crispy chicken balls, chinese appetizer