Polynesian Chicken Recipe

By
Yvonne Ruperti
A photo of Yvonne Ruperti, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Yvonne Ruperti
Yvonne Ruperti is a food writer, recipe developer, former bakery owner, and cookbook author. She is also an adjust professor of baking at the Culinary Institute of America in Singapore.
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Updated Aug. 30, 2018
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A terrific sweet and sour chicken. . Yvonne Ruperti

Recipe Details

Polynesian Chicken Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 15 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar

  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

  • 5 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 2/3 cup pineapple juice, divided

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless, chicken breast, trimmed of visible fat and cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 1 1/2-inch knob ginger, grated (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 1 medium red onion, chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • Drained pineapple chunks from 20 ounce can (about 1 cup)

  • 8 ounces snow peas

  • 1/2 cup unroasted cashews, soaked in water for 15 minutes, then drained

  • 4 cups cooked rice

Directions

  1. In small bowl, whisk brown sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and tomato paste until combined. Whisk in 1/3 cup pineapple juice; set aside.

  2. Heat remaining 1/3 cup pineapple juice in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until simmering. Add chicken and gently cook until chicken is opaque and just about cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside on plate. Discard any leftover liquid in pan and wipe clean with a paper towel.

  3. Add oil skillet and return to medium heat until shimmering. Add ginger, onion, pepper, pineapple, and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and pepper are just beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add snow peas and cook until just beginning to soften but still crisp, 1 to 2 minutes.

  4. Stir in cashews, chicken, and sauce. Cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens, chicken is cooked through, and entire mixture is coated, about 2 minutes more. Serve immediately over white rice.

Special equipment

12-inch nonstick skillet

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
785 Calories
19g Fat
105g Carbs
47g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 785
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 1198mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 105g 38%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 44g
Protein 47g
Vitamin C 102mg 512%
Calcium 118mg 9%
Iron 6mg 36%
Potassium 982mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)