Sweet and Sour Prawns is a classic dish to order from a Chinese takeaway. However, we make our own healthier version that includes fresh king prawns, crunchy vegetables, sweet pineapple and all tossed in an easy homemade healthier sweet and sour sauce. A really quick and easy takeaway alternative that will save you calories and money.
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Don't you just love being able to create your own restaurant quality dishes at home? We do! Not only does it save us some money (and the hassle of having to leave the house), but we can make it healthier too.
This homemade sweet and sour sauce couldn't be easier, and you can pack the dish with vegetables too.
Looking for other sweet and sour recipes? Why not try our Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs or Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken.
And if you want more prawn recipes, try our easy Prawn Canapés, tasty Prawn and Chorizo Pasta or our crispy Prawn Tacos.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Sesame oil - This is the best oil to cook with when it comes to sweet and sour dishes, as the flavour it amazing.
- Prawns - We used cooked kind prawns. If you are using raw prawns, then you will need to add a couple of minutes on to the cooking time.
- Onion - We used a small brown onion, but you could use shallots instead.
- Bell peppers - Any colour bell pepper will work.
- Pineapple - We used canned pineapple, but you could use fresh instead.
- Sweet and sour sauce - We used our Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce, as it doesn't have any additives. However, if you use store bought, then use the best quality that you can.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Prawns
- Step 1: Add the oil to a pan and once hot, add the onion and pepper and gently cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add the prawns, pineapple and homemade sweet and sour sauce and cook for a further 3 minutes.
- Three: Serve with rice.
Healthy Takeaway Alternatives
If you have picked yourself up a copy of my first book, Hungry Healthy Happy, then you might recognise this recipe, as it is in there along with lots of other healthy takeaway alternatives.
I have had so much great feedback from that recipe that I thought I would share it here too, as I know it's going to be popular.
But here we are sharing an amazing takeaway style sweet and sour sauce recipe with it.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
If you are going to go to the effort of making your own copycat takeaway favourite, then you might as well make the sauce yourself too. I mean, you could just buy ajar of sweet and sour sauce, but that wouldn't really warrant a recipe.
It really is worth making your own sauce, as you can totally taste the difference. Just a few store cupboard essentials go into making this - passata, honey, apple cider vinegar, cornflour and water and ready in just 5 minutes. Check out our Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe.
A lot of sweet and sour sauce recipes use ketchup, but we find that is too sweet and ketchup comes with loads of other added ingredients too. So we used passata and a little bit of honey. It's a little bit sweet, but you can add more or less honey depending on how sweet you like it.
Serving Suggestions
Rice is always a classic side dish when it comes to sweet and sour prawns, so why not try our Perfect Microwave Rice, Oven Cooked Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice? However, why not mix it up a bit and try our Healthy Egg Fried Rice?
Dannii's Top Tips
- Feel free to use any veg you have that needs using. Chunky vegetables like courgette and aubergine would work well, although not very traditional.
- Make sure you don't overcook the prawns, otherwise they will become chewy.
- If you don't like prawns, you could make this with just extra vegetables, chicken or even tofu.
- We wouldn't recommend reheating this dish.
- Finish the dish off with some thinly sliced spring onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not at all. Once you have the veggie base and your homemade sauce you can adapt it to suit your tastes. You could swap the prawns for chicken, extra vegetables or even tofu.
I wouldn't recommend reheating this, as we used cooked prawns in this dish, which are heated through again. So, to reheat the whole dish would mean reheating them again. With prawn we always like to be cautious, so I wouldn't recommend it. This dish takes just 10 minutes to make though, so it's quick enough to make from fresh.
Yes, you can. However, you need to make sure that they are fully defrosted before using, so that you are not adding too much extra liquid to the dish.
More Healthy Takeaway Recipes
If you've tried this Sweet and Sour Prawns recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Sweet and Sour Prawns
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of Sesame oil
- 1 Onion - small; diced
- 1 Red bell pepper - diced
- 1 Yellow bell pepper - diced
- 200 g (7 oz) of King prawns - (jumbo shrimp)
- 200 g (7 oz) of Pineapple chunks
- 2 servings of Homemade sweet and sour sauce
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp of Sesame oil in a pan and add 1 Onion1 Red bell pepper and 1 Yellow bell pepper and gently cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add 200 g of King prawns, 200 g of Pineapple chunks and 2 servings of Homemade sweet and sour sauceCook for a further 3 minutes.
- Serve with rice.
Recipe Tips
- Feel free to use any veg you have that needs using. Chunky vegetables like courgette and aubergine would work well, although not very traditional.
- Make sure you don't overcook the prawns, otherwise they will become chewy.
- If you don't like prawns, you could make this with just extra vegetables, chicken or even tofu.
- We wouldn't recommend reheating this dish.
- Finish the dish off with some thinly sliced spring onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Amber says
We eat too many takeaways too, although for us to is usually pizza.
I don't like fish, but would this work with chicken?
I have added your book to my wish list too :)
Kelly @ Mostly Homemade Mom says
I'm a HUGE fan of making takeout dinners at home, and this one looks really good!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes says
This looks so easy to make and I bet it's packed with so much flavour. We're trying to eat more seafood in our house so will be bookmarking this recipe.
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
This looks wonderful! Love how easy and full of flavour it is too! :)
Prateek says
Of late I have been cooking a lot of prawns, this recipe sounds delicious and will give it a try ! Always better than take out!
Christie says
We have the same issue with takeout. With this delicious recipe, we won't want to order in again.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I love making homemade sweet and sour sauce - always better than shop-bought. My husband keeps nagging me to make it again so maybe I'll try your version next time :)
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I love the word 'takeaways'. I'm in Canada and we use take-out too, but for some reason 'takeaways appeals to me, lol. I always feel that there is never enough time in the run of day to do everything I want. Where does the time fly? Crazy. Love this recipe. Sounds delicious!! The pineapple is a lovely touch for sure. Yay to the upcoming weekend, right?! Have a great one, girl :)
David @ Spiced says
I am all about making healthier takeout (takeaway) food at home! I love a good takeout...but the secret to restaurant deliciousness is to just melt a stick of butter on top of anything and everything before you serve it. This sounds like my kind of recipe, too. I'm thinking Friday night with these king prawns and maybe a movie...if we don't fall asleep at 7:30pm...
Laura ~ RYG says
This recipe is right up my husband alley and I'm sending him over pronto to check it out. And I agree, there are healthier options for eating out these days, but you can't beat cooking yourself. It's the oil that puts me over the edge!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
WOuld totally do this with cauliflower rice :D
Kavey says
We love a good takeaway too, and it's worth reminding that a home version is often better in both health and budget. And yes, never enough time in the day!!!!
Justine Fuller says
I actually can't believe how easy this is to make at home. We don't order takeaways very often, but I buy the Uncle Bens sauce and they probably aren't much better than a takeaway.
Thanks for sharing Dannii, you have inspired me to make a pork version.
Kelly H says
I would love some healthier recipes for creamy curries if you have any? That is what we always order (about twice a week at the moment) and it's costing us a fortune, not to mention expanding our stomachs.
Gingey Bites says
I've never really been a fan of sweet and sour from the takeaway because it can be a bit sickly but this looks great!