Is rice vinegar keto friendly?

Yes. There are virtually no calories in rice vinegar.

Is Shaoxing wine keto friendly?

Although there are more carbs in Shaoxing wine than in rice vinegar, there are still only 3 grams of carbs in 1/4 cup of Shaoxing wine so if your diet allows for it, I highly suggest using Shaoxing wine.

What is does Protein-Sparing mean?

A protein-sparing modified fast or PSMF diet is a type of a very-low-calorie diet with a high proportion of protein calories and simultaneous restriction of carbohydrate and fat. It is an alternate-way of fasting that includes food.

Why is this sugar-free sweet and sour sauce not as red as in Chinese restaurants?

This sauce is not as crazy red you get at restaurants because I chose not to use food colouring. Red food dye is a neurotoxin and does not add any flavour so I chose to omit if from my recipes.

What are the carbs in Arrowroot vs. Cornstarch?

Tablespoon to tablespoon, both arrowroot and cornstarch powder have similar number of carbs. However, arrowroot has more fiber and you need less arrowroot powder versus cornstarch to thicken sauces.

Can I use Arrowroot starch as a thickener?

When arrowroot is used to thicken a sauce, you should first make a "slurry" by mixing the arrowroot into cold water. Whisk until it's smooth and then add it at the end to your prepared dish to thicken it. When adding arrowroot as a thickening agent, the trick is to add it in at the end of the cooking process right before serving. Doing so will guarantee that it's not exposed to heat for long periods.

Can I use xanthan gum instead of cornstarch?

Yes, however, the sauce will have a slightly more gummy texture and will not have the same consistency as cornstarch. If you are adding xanthan gum, remove some of the sauce and place it in a small bowl. Whisk in the xanthan gum and once fully incorporated, add the mixture to the sauce and stir it in.

How can I make this sweet and sour chicken more keto friendly?

If you want to increase the amount of fat in this recipe, you can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, cook the chicken thighs in more oil and/or drizzle some sesame oil over the chicken dish when it has finished cooking. By using chicken thighs and adding a total of 2 tablespoons of oil in the wok along with adding 2 tablespoons of sesame oil at the end, each serving will contain approximately 17 grams of fat instead of only 7 grams.

15-Minute Keto Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the chicken:

1-1.5 lbs chicken, boneless, skinless (use chicken breast or thighs)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground ginger powder
1 tbsp cooking oil

For the Sweet and Sour SauceFor the

For the Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar substitute (best option is Swerve)
6 tbsp vinegar (rice, Shaoxing wine or apple cider vinegar)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1-2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup (depending on taste preference)

Thickener:

2 tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp water

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Instructions

Prepare the Sauce and Thickener:

Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water (if using). Set these bowls to the side.

Prepare the Chicken:

Add the diced chicken to a bowl and add the garlic and dried ginger. Toss to coat the chicken pieces.

Assemble the Dish:

Add the oil to the wok and heat the wok on high heat. Once heated, cook the chicken until it is white on the outside but sill pink on the inside.
Add the sweet and sour sauce to the wok and stir until the sauce begins to bubble. Next, add the thickener and continue to simmer the sauce, stirring constantly until the sauce becomes syrupy, approximately 3 minutes.
Taste and add additional salt, pepper or sweetener to taste.

Author: Cat
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Main Meals
Method: Stove-top
Cuisine: Chinese
Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4
Calories: 197
Sugar: 1
Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 5
Fiber: 0.5
Protein: 26