Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Jamaican Style: Discover the Perfect Combination

Allow yourself to enjoy a flavorful culinary experience with this tempting sweet and sour chicken recipe Jamaican style. It is an absolute explosion of flavors and the perfect occasion for bringing Jamaican cuisine to your kitchen!

This dish is easy to make, with common ingredients, but with a unique flavor. The chicken breast is coated in a crispy batter and fried to golden brown perfection. The sweet and sour sauce, made with pineapple juice, vinegar, and sugar, creates a perfect harmony of sweetness and acidity.

This sweet-and-sour chicken recipe Jamaican style is ideal for a fast weeknight dinner and can be perfect also for an impressive festive get-together.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe Jamaican Style
• Comments

Ingredients

• Chicken breast — 1 lb., skinless and boneless
• Pineapple — ½ cup
• Bell pepper — 1 pc.
• Water — 2 ⅙ cups
• Pineapple juice — ¼ cup
• White vinegar — ¼ cup
• Granulated white sugar — 2 tbsp.
• Cornstarch — 2 tbsp.
• All-purpose flour — 1 cup
• Vegetable oil — 3 tbsp.
• Egg — 1 pc.
• Salt — ½ tsp.
• Ground black pepper — ¼ tsp.

Instructions

1. Cut the chicken into strips.

2. Chop the pineapple and bell pepper into even cubes.

3. Combine 1 cup of water, pineapple juice, vinegar, and sugar in a pot. Warm the mixture over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Once boiled, cover the pot and take it off the heat.

4. Add 1 tbsp. cornstarch and ⅙ cup of water in a small bowl and whisk. Incorporate the cornstarch mixture into the pineapple mixture and continuously stir until it is slightly thickened.

5. In a wide bowl, combine flour, 1 tbsp. of oil, the remaining 1 tbsp. of cornstarch, egg, salt, and black pepper. Add 1 cup of water while whisking vigorously until you get a thick batter.

6. Add the chicken to the mixture and glaze.

7. Heat 2 tbsp. of oil in a shallow skillet. Add the chicken and fry until nicely golden.

8. After frying, remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer it to a plate.

9. Divide the cooked chicken, bell pepper, and pineapple onto serving plates.

10. Drizzle the hot sweet and sour sauce over.

Substitutions

• Chicken breast — The chicken breast’s tender and lean texture pairs nicely with the rest of the ingredients and cooks quickly. For a higher-fat version, you can opt for chicken drumsticks or thighs. Additionally, use pork or shrimp if you’re not a fan of chicken meat.

• Pineapple — The fresh pineapple has a distinctive tropical flavor specific to Jamaican cuisine and complements the other ingredients' flavors. If you are searching for an alternative, consider using other tropical fruits with a similar sweet and tangy taste, such as mangoes or papayas.

• Bell pepper — Bell pepper imparts a crisp texture, bright color, and eye-catching appearance. It contains vitamin C, which offers numerous health advantages. If you wish to replace it, choose vegetables with a comparable crunch and mild taste. Some viable options are carrots, celery, or onion.

• White vinegar — If you require an alternative to white vinegar for a sweet and sour Jamaican chicken recipe, try vinegar with a similar level of acidity, like apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar.

• Granulated white sugar — The primary purpose of sugar in this dish is to counteract the tartness of vinegar and bring sweetness to the dish. Also, it aids in developing a caramelized glaze of the sauce. Consider using coconut sugar or brown sugar as healthier substitutes.

• All-purpose flour — All-purpose flour is the base of the batter that will coat the chicken pieces, making it a key ingredient in this dish. If the all-purpose flour is unavailable in your pantry or you prefer a different type of flour, almond or coconut flour are appropriate replacement options.

Variations

• Add flavor — For a more flavorful dish, marinate the chicken in a blend of seasonings, including ginger, garlic, thyme, and allspice, for at least an hour or overnight before cooking.

• Add color — To incorporate more color, add a sprinkle of fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, or green onions on top of the chicken just before serving.

• Gluten-free — Substituting all-purpose flour with gluten-free, coconut, or almond flour can make the dish gluten-free.

• Sugar-free — Consider substituting sugar with granulated stevia for a healthy and no added sugar recipe. It's important to remember that stevia is significantly sweeter than sugar, meaning you may need to modify the quantity added to achieve a well-balanced taste.

• Make it vegetarian — For a vegetarian dish, tofu or seitan are suitable replacements for chicken breast as they have a similar meaty texture and are high in protein.

Equipment

• Measuring spoons and cups

• Knife

• Cutting board

• Pot

• Large mixing bowl

• Small mixing bowl

• Whisk

• Deep skillet

• Serving plates

Storage

• Allow the dish to cool to room temperature before storing it in a closed glass or plastic container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

• Freezing is not recommended, as the sauce’s texture may be altered during the process.

Pro Tips

• For optimal flavor and texture, marinate the chicken in a blend of spices and seasonings to infuse it with flavor and make it more tender. Marinating the chicken for at least an hour or preferably overnight is recommended for the best outcome.

• To ensure perfectly crispy and evenly cooked chicken, it's important to fry it in batches and avoid overcrowding the skillet.

• If you want to increase the fiber content of the dish, consider including vegetables such as carrots or broccoli. Chop and serve them on the side to complement the sweet and sour chicken.