Pineapple Chicken in Tomato Sauce /茄汁凤梨鸡/ケチャップパインアップルチキン

Do you have any dishes that bring back memories for you? I have quite a few, such as onion omelette, red rice wine ginger chicken, Bahulu and this one. Certain things I do not want to remember but once I saw the dish, it pulled out associated memories in no time. Also, sometimes I cooked a dish I had not had for long to bring back those moments or people I missed. Did you do that too?

This is a simple dish, I guess some of you may have cooked it many times. Why is it special to me? It was 15 years ago, in December I remember. I was staying at one of my sisters' house before starting my first job in Singapore. During which, my dear sis was at my mom's place for her confinement so I cooked for my brother in-law and his mother. I cooked this dish one day, she loved it very much. The next day, she bought a duck and asked me to cook the same one for her (I am glad I did).

Few days later, she was hospitalised due to her health condition. It was my first time sending someone to hospital, and in an ambulance too. Two days later, she passed away. I had to depart to Singapore on her funeral day, all by myself. Our plan was my brother in-law to bring me to my workplace and show me around. I was so scared and my mind was blank. A small village teenage girl had so many new experiences in just a few days, I will remember for life.

Well, lets talk about this appetizing dish. The chicken is so tender, not to forget the flavourful sauce. I love it with steamed rice, but it can also be served with pasta or noodles. Why not make it for a main course? Use halved or quartered chicken instead and reduce the sauce further. By the way, I like to use fresh pineapple in cooking and honey pineapple is my favourite.

Pineapple chicken/凤梨鸡/パインアップルチキン

Ingredients (2-3 servings):
500g chicken, chopped into small pieces
½ pineapple, sliced thickly
1 large tomato, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 slices ginger (optional)
1 tbsp cooking oil
¼ cup ketchup (or more if more gravy is desired)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp chili paste (optional)
1 cup water
Salt to taste
Spring onion or coriander for garnish

Methods:

1. Heat oil in pan or wok, stir in garlic and pineapple. Stir fry on medium heat for about 1 minute.
2. Add in chicken pieces and stir fry until all sides are seared.
3. Add in sugar, ketchup and chili paste. Stir until chicken pieces are coated with sauce.
4. Add in tomato, ginger and water, bring to boil then let it simmer with lid on for about 5 minutes.
5. Add salt to taste, and let it simmer for another 5 minutes or until sauce is reduced.
6. Transfer to serving plate, garnish if desired.

｜年菜系列｜CNY Cooking｜