08/05/2026
Six irresistible sweet and sour favourites for the ultimate homemade feast 🍍🥢
Crispy chicken, juicy shrimp, tender beef and more—all loaded with colourful vegetables, pineapple and a sticky homemade sweet and sour sauce. These dishes are bright, flavour-packed and even better than ordering a takeaway! 😍
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🍗 1. Crispy sweet and sour chicken
Ingredients
For the chicken:
• 1½ pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Oil for frying
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
For the vegetables:
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ onion, chopped
Method
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Dip each piece into the beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with cornstarch.
Heat the oil and fry the chicken until golden, crispy and completely cooked. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
Mix the pineapple juice, ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar and soy sauce in a bowl.
Cook the peppers and onion in a large skillet for 2–3 minutes. Pour in the sauce mixture and bring it to a gentle simmer.
Combine the cornstarch and water, then stir the slurry into the skillet. Continue cooking until the sauce becomes thick and glossy.
Add the chicken and pineapple chunks, tossing until every piece is generously coated. Serve immediately with fluffy white rice.
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🍤 2. Sticky sweet and sour jumbo shrimp
Ingredients
• 1½ pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ onion, chopped
• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Method
Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, then lightly dust them with cornstarch.
Heat the oil in a skillet or wok. Cook the shrimp for 1–2 minutes on each side until pink and tender. Remove and set aside.
Add the peppers and onion to the same pan and cook for approximately 2 minutes.
Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour them into the skillet. Simmer until the sauce becomes thick, shiny and bubbling.
Return the shrimp to the pan and add the pineapple. Toss gently until everything is coated.
Serve over rice and finish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
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🐷 3. Crispy sweet and sour pork
Ingredients
• 1½ pounds pork loin, cut into cubes
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Oil for frying
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 carrot, sliced
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ onion, chopped
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
Method
Season the pork with salt and pepper. Dip each cube into the beaten eggs before coating it with cornstarch.
Fry the pork until golden, crispy and fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.
Cook the carrot, peppers and onion in a large skillet for approximately 3 minutes.
Mix the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce, then pour the mixture into the skillet.
Combine the cornstarch with the water and stir it into the sauce. Simmer until thick and glossy.
Add the crispy pork and pineapple, tossing quickly so the coating remains crunchy. Serve with steamed rice.
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🥩 4. Sweet and sour beef with noodles
Ingredients
• 1½ pounds sirloin steak, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons oil
• ½ red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ green bell pepper, sliced
• ½ onion, sliced
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• Cooked rice or noodles
• Chopped green onions
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Method
Lightly coat the sliced beef with cornstarch.
Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Cook the beef in small batches until browned and tender, then remove it from the pan.
Add the peppers and onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, keeping the vegetables slightly crisp.
Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour them into the skillet. Stir until the mixture thickens.
Return the beef to the pan and add the pineapple chunks. Toss until everything is coated in the glossy sauce.
Serve over rice or noodles and garnish with chopped green onions.
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🐟 5. Crispy sweet and sour fish
Ingredients
• 1½ pounds white fish fillets, cut into large pieces
• ½ cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Oil for frying
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ onion, chopped
• Chopped green onions
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
Method
Season the fish with salt and pepper. Dip each piece into the beaten eggs, then coat it evenly with cornstarch.
Fry until the outside is golden and crisp while the inside remains tender and flaky. Remove carefully and drain on paper towels.
Cook the peppers and onion in a skillet for approximately 2 minutes.
Add the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce.
Mix the cornstarch with the water, then stir it into the sauce. Cook until thick, smooth and shiny.
Add the pineapple chunks and gently spoon the sauce over the crispy fish. Serve with white rice and chopped green onions.
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🍖 6. Sticky sweet and sour meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
• 1½ pounds ground beef or ground pork
• 1 egg
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the sauce:
• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
Additional ingredients:
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions
Method
Place all the meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mix until combined. Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs.
Bake at 400°F/200°C for 18–22 minutes, or pan-fry until browned and completely cooked.
Cook the peppers in a large skillet for approximately 2 minutes.
Add the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar and soy sauce.
Combine the cornstarch and water, then stir the mixture into the sauce. Simmer until it becomes thick, sticky and glossy.
Add the cooked meatballs and pineapple chunks, tossing until everything is beautifully coated.
Serve over white rice and finish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
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Sweet and sour chicken, jumbo shrimp, crispy pork, tender beef, flaky fish or sticky meatballs—which plate are you choosing first? 😍🍍🥢
