Rose Harissa Chicken & Mediterranean Vegetable Tray Bake
A vibrant one-pan dinner featuring chicken thighs coated in fragrant rose harissa, roasted with Mediterranean vegetables, chorizo, and red wine for a richly spiced, robust meal.
Homemade sweet and sour chicken with tender meat, crisp vegetables, and pineapple in a tangy Korean hot sauce glaze. Ready in 45 minutes with baking powder for extra-tender chicken.
This sweet and sour chicken is proper homemade food - no bright red sauce or tough, chewy meat. The chicken stays tender thanks to a trick with baking powder, which helps keep the moisture locked in while it cooks. The sauce strikes a good balance between tangy and sweet, using Korean hot sauce for a bit more depth than you might find in a takeaway version.
The sauce is what makes this special - it's not just sweet and sour, but has lovely warm notes from fresh ginger and garlic.
The whole thing comes together in about 45 minutes, and most of that is just waiting while the chicken sits in the fridge. You'll spend maybe 15 minutes actually cooking, which makes it handy for a weeknight dinner.
The pineapple juice from the tin goes straight into the sauce, so nothing goes to waste. Water chestnuts might seem like an odd addition, but they add a lovely crunch that works brilliantly with the soft peppers and juicy pineapple chunks.
You can adjust the heat level by using more or less Korean hot sauce - two tablespoons gives it a gentle warmth rather than proper heat. If you can't get Korean hot sauce, sriracha works grand too, though you might want to use a touch less as it can be spicier. It's the sort of dish that looks after itself once you get going. While your chicken's having its rest in the fridge, you can prep all your vegetables and mix up the sauce. After that, it's just a matter of getting everything in the pan in the right order. The end result is fresh-tasting and satisfying, without being heavy or greasy.
Serve over steamed rice or egg noodles, garnished with sliced spring onions for a complete meal.
Swap Korean hot sauce for sriracha, but use less as it's spicier. For a sweeter version, add an extra tablespoon of ketchup.
Did you make this? What did you think?
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