Cooking Sesame Chicken Made Easy With This 5-Step Guide

Sesame chicken is a savory and slightly sweet dish known for its crispy texture and rich, tangy sauce. The chicken is typically battered and fried until it's golden and crunchy, creating a satisfying contrast to the smooth, sticky sauce. The sauce itself is a harmonious mix of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, often enhanced with garlic and ginger for extra depth.

Sesame chicken is a flavorful dish with crispy chicken pieces coated in a savory, slightly sweet sauce with toasted sesame seeds. Here’s a straightforward recipe you can try at home:

1. Ingredients

For the Chicken:

– 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
– 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
– 1/2 cup cornstarch
– 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
– 1 large egg
– 1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)

For the Sauce:

– 1/4 cup soy sauce
– 1/4 cup honey
– 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
– 2 tablespoons sesame oil
– 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce (optional, for extra depth of flavor)
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
– 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)

For Garnish:

– 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
– 2-3 green onions, chopped
– Cooked rice or noodles (for serving)

2. Instructions

Step 1- Prepare the Chicken:

– In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
– In a separate bowl, beat the egg.
– Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then coat thoroughly with the flour-cornstarch mixture.

Step 2- Fry the Chicken:

– Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
– Fry the chicken pieces in batches, without overcrowding the pan, until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Step 3- Make the Sauce:

– In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hoisin sauce (if using), garlic, and ginger.
– Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the cornstarch-water mixture and cook until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 4- Combine Chicken and Sauce:

– Add the fried chicken pieces to the saucepan with the sauce. Toss to coat the chicken evenly with the sauce.

Step 5- Garnish and Serve:

– Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the chicken.
– Serve the sesame chicken hot over cooked rice or noodles.

3. Tips:

– Toasted Sesame Seeds: You can toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until they become golden brown and fragrant, or use pre-toasted seeds.
– Sauce Adjustments: Feel free to adjust the sweetness or saltiness of the sauce to your taste by varying the amounts of honey and soy sauce.
– Vegetables: For a more complete meal, you can stir-fry some vegetables (like bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas) and toss them with the chicken and sauce.

Enjoy your homemade sesame chicken!