Sweet & Sour - Charlie from Eclipse plus modifications

Recipe for the Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1.5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1.5 teaspoons crushed dried red chilies
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons minced ginger
• 1.5 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water

Preparation

In bowl combine water, ketchup, brown sugar, orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, chilies. Set aside.

Place a medium pan over high heat until hot. Add cooking oil, swirl to coat sides. Add ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant (about 20 seconds). Add mixture from bowl and cook until sugar dissolves. Add cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until sauce thickens. (If this sauce is immediately being used you can thicken it less as it will be thickened a second time once the meat is added. Otherwise thicken fully and refrigerate.)

NOTE: Sauce can be made more or less sour by adjusting the amount of rice vinegar and orange juice; however, significant adjustments will require also adjusting the amount of cornstarch as too much vinegar/orange juice will overpower the cornstarch and cause the sauce to thin out.

Serving Size: 2 cups

Time to prepare: 15 minutes

Time to cook: 15 minutes

Adding Meat to the Recipe

Ingredients

• 3/4 to 1 pound cubed meat (pork, chicken, firm white fish, no larger than one inch cubes)
• approx. 1/2 cup cornstarch or tempura flour
• 2 separate portions of 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
• 1/2 cup diced onion (1/2" chunks)
• 1/2 cup green bell pepper (1/2" chunks)
• 3/4 cup pineapple chunks (optional, best with pork, goes poorly with fish, good with chicken)

Preparation

Cube the meat as required. Coat the meat cubes with cornstarch or tempura flour (roll each cube in it or place all pieces in a bag and shake to coat). Place wok on high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil, swirl to coat sides. Add coated meat and cook until golden brown (about 3 to 4 minutes). Remove and drain on paper towels, keep warm.

Again, place wok on high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil, swirl to coat sides. Add previously prepared sweet and sour sauce, stir until thick and boiling. Add meat and onions and peppers (and optional pineapple). Cook on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes.

Serving Size: 3-4 people

Time to prepare: 10 minutes

Time to cook: 10 minutes