CRISPY SESAME CHICKEN WITH A STICKY ASIAN SAUCE
I think I need to get me some bees.The amount of honey we go through on toast (Gracey’s obsession) and in cooking makes we wonder why we don’t have a honey store like Winnie the Pooh!
Honey filled Breakfast lollies, sticky Asian Pork Belly, balsamic-honey salad dressings..
just install a honey-line into my house and let’s be done with it.
This crispy sesame chicken is another one for the honey archives. Sweet, salty, crispy, sticky and a little bit spicy – it covers all the bases for one of these meals that everyone polishes off. Not a scrap left.Even while photographing this one I caught Chris hovering over the pan that had a few pieces of chicken still in it – waiting till I wasn’t looking so he could sneak a few pieces!I let him off with the proviso that he fed me a piece too whilst I was snapping away.
I love this as an alternative to the Friday night takeaway. Can’t deny it’s not the healthiest meal – with the honey and brown sugar, and of course a little oil to crisp up that chicken – but it’s still way better than take-out. I serve mine with some steamed brocolli and sugar snap peas to just boost the health factor.One thing I should say is that this isn’t a copycat recipe. I know sesame chicken is popular at Chinese takeout restaurants in the US, but it’s not something we really see on Chinese menus in the UK. I’ve never tasted the US version, so I can’t say it tastes anything like it.
It’s bloomin’ good though!
CRISPY SESAME CHICKEN WITH A STICKY ASIAN SAUCE
INGREDIENTS
5 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
10 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp garlic salt
2 tsp paprika
3 chicken breast fillets, chopped into bite-size chunks
sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil (optional - you can leave out and just sprinkle with plenty of sesame seeds at the end if you prefer)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar (white wine vinegar will work too)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (use more or less depending on the brand and how spicy you like it)
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoon brown sugar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
To serve
Boiled rice
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Small bunch spring onions (scallions), chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan until very hot.
Whilst the oil is heating, place the egg in one shallow bowl and the cornflour in another shallow bowl. Add the flour, salt, pepper, garlic salt and paprika to another shallow bowl and mix together.
Dredge the chicken in the cornflour, then dip in the egg (make sure all of the chicken is covered in egg wash), and finally dredge it in the seasoned flour. Add to the wok and cook on a high heat for 6-7 minutes, turning two or three times during cooking, until well browned. You may need to cook in two batches (I find I can do it in one batch so long as it's no more than 3 chicken breasts). Remove from the pan and place in a bowl lined with kitchen towels.
Add all of the sauce ingredients to the hot wok, stir and bubble on a high heat until the sauce reduces by about a third (should take 2-3 minutes). Add the chicken back in and toss in the sauce to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Turn off the heat and divide between four bowls. Serve with boiled rice and top with sesame seeds and spring onions.
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