Chicken, noodles, sweet and sour chili sauce, and dark soy sauce create a bold combination, complemented by sweet corn and, depending on the season, juicy tomatoes. The result is a spicy and colorful dish perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
This recipe is easy to make in a skillet, and you can easily adjust the spiciness to your taste. Simply cook your chosen noodles separately, sauté the chicken mixture, and finally heat everything together. If you have fresh tomatoes, add them for extra juiciness, especially when they’re in season.
What You’ll Need
- noodles of your choice,
- chicken meat, cut into pieces,
- salt to taste,
- pepper to taste,
- dark soy sauce,
- chili to taste,
- onion, chopped,
- sweet and sour chili sauce,
- corn,
- tomatoes, optional and ideally in season.
The original recipe does not specify exact quantities, so adjust them according to the number of servings, desired sauce intensity, and your own taste.
Step-by-Step Preparation:
1. Prepare the ingredients: Cut the chicken into smaller pieces so it cooks evenly in the skillet. Chop the onion, and if using fresh tomatoes, cut them into pieces as well. Have the corn ready for later addition.
2. Cook the noodles: Prepare the noodles according to the instructions on the package. Once cooked, set them aside. You’ll add them to the finished chicken mixture so they just heat through and absorb the flavors.
3. Season the chicken: Place the chicken pieces in the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, add dark soy sauce and chili. Adjust the amount of chili based on how spicy you want your noodles.
4. Sauté the meat: Sauté the seasoned chicken until golden brown. Stir and turn the pieces regularly so they cook evenly on all sides and absorb the soy sauce and chili.
5. Add the onion: Add the chopped onion to the golden chicken. Continue sautéing together so the onion softens, releases its aroma, and blends with the flavor of the chicken and spices.
6. Finish the chicken mixture: Once the chicken and onion are ready, add the sweet and sour chili sauce and corn. Mix everything thoroughly so the sauce coats each piece of meat and the corn is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
7. Add the tomatoes: If you have fresh tomatoes, especially when they’re in season, add them chopped into the skillet. Tomatoes give the dish extra juiciness and complement the spicy and sweet-sour flavors. If you don’t have them, you can skip this step.
8. Mix with the noodles: Add the cooked noodles directly to the skillet with the chicken, vegetables, and sauce. Mix everything well so the noodles are evenly coated with the sweet and sour chili sauce and pick up the flavors of all the ingredients.
9. Final seasoning: For a more intense color and flavor, drizzle the mixture with a bit more dark soy sauce. Heat everything together and mix again. Taste before serving and adjust the amount of chili, salt, or pepper as needed.
10. Serving: Divide the finished spicy noodles with chicken onto plates and serve hot. The tomatoes add extra juiciness, while the corn balances the heat of the chili with its natural sweetness.
How to Adjust the Spiciness
Add chili gradually to suit your own taste. If you’re cooking for several people with different spice tolerances, you can season the base more mildly and add extra chili to individual portions.
The final heat will also depend on the sweet and sour chili sauce you use. Taste the mixture before final seasoning and only then add more chili if needed.
When to Add Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are optional, but especially in season, they give the mixture more juiciness and a fresh flavor. Add them after the sweet and sour sauce and corn, so they remain noticeable in the finished dish and don’t overcook during long sautéing.
Final Tip
You can use any noodles you prefer for this recipe. The important thing is to cook them according to the package instructions and add them only to the finished chicken mixture. In the skillet, just mix them thoroughly with the sauce and heat everything together.
