Your New Favorite Dish: Sesame Chicken with Sticky Sauce
If you're a fan of the tantalizing blend of sweet, salty, and savory flavors, then it's time you met your new favorite dish: Sesame Chicken with Sticky Sauce. This Asian-inspired meal, featuring crispy chicken bites drenched in a luscious sticky sauce, will have your taste buds dancing in delight.
The Ingredients You'll Need
- 75 grams of Vegetable oil
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 24 grams of cornstarch
- 90 grams of plain flour
- 2.5 grams of salt
- 2.5 grams of pepper
- 5 grams of garlic powder
- 5 grams of paprika
- 3 chicken breast fillets, chopped into bite-size pieces (about 500 grams)
- 15 grams of sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 15 grams of white vinegar
- 30 grams of honey
- 30 grams of sweet chili sauce, to taste
- 45 grams of ketchup
- 30 grams of brown sugar
- 60 grams of soy sauce
- Boiled rice, to serve
- 20 grams of sesame seeds, to serve
- Small bunch of spring onions/scallions, chopped, to serve
The Cooking Process
- Combine the bite-sized chicken pieces with the beaten eggs in a bowl, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
- Next, in a separate shallow dish, blend the cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Gently roll each egg-coated chicken piece in the flour mixture, ensuring each bite gets an even coat. Then, fry these morsels in vegetable oil until they turn a beautiful shade of golden brown.
- Once cooked, allow the chicken to rest and strain over a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Now, it's time for the magic sauce! Combine the sesame oil, chopped garlic, vinegar, honey, sweet chili sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce in a pan. Heat this aromatic mixture over medium heat until it thickens slightly and gains a sticky consistency.
- Introduce the crispy chicken pieces back into the pan, stirring to ensure each piece is generously coated with the sticky sauce.
- Your Sesame Chicken with Sticky Sauce is ready to be served. Pair it with rice and garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a scattering of chopped spring onions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutritional Information
Each serving of Sesame Chicken with Sticky Sauce (about 350 grams) offers:
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Carbohydrate: 38 grams
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
- Fat: 26 grams
- Protein: 34 grams
- Saturated Fat: 6 grams
- Sodium: 1,170 mg
- Sugar: 20 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 grams
Remember that these values are estimates only.
Top Tips and Secrets for the Perfect Crispy Sesame Chicken with Sweet Sticky Sauce
- Fry the chicken in oil that is at least 350 F or 180 C. This ensures you will have crispy batter.
- Do not fry too many pieces of chicken at once.
- Ensure you slice the chicken in bite-sized pieces and in roughly the same sizes so they all cook together.
- Marinade the chicken slices in soy sauce before cooking for at least four hours so the chicken meat will not be bland.
- Use high quality and pure sesame oil for maximum sesame taste.
Alternative Ingredients to Make Crispy Sesame Chicken with Sweet Sticky Sauce
- Substitute white vinegar with Chinkiang Vinegar for an even more authentic Chinese taste.
- Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast for a deeper flavour.
- This will also work well with pork pieces instead of chicken.
- We did not use MSG, but you can add some as you please!
How to Keep the Chicken Batter Crispy
- When frying, ensure not to overcrowd the chicken pieces in the pan.
- Fry the chicken pieces in oil that is at least 180 C or 350 F.
- Serve immediately after mixing the sauce with the chicken.
- If serving later, do not mix the sauce with the chicken to preserve the texture of the battered chicken.
What Can I Serve with Crispy Sesame Chicken Aside from Rice
- Fried rice variations like garlic or egg fried rice
- Stir fried broccoli with oyster sauce and mushrooms
- This can also be served with cooked noodles.
FAQs
Why is my Sesame Chicken not crispy?
It could be because the oil wasn't hot enough when you added the chicken or the pan was overcrowded, causing the chicken to steam instead of fry.
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and the sauce separately, then combine and heat them up when you're ready to serve.
What can I do with leftover Sesame Chicken with Sticky Sauce?
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated the next day, making for a quick and delicious meal.
Is this dish spicy?
The spice level of this dish can be adjusted to your preference by modifying the amount of sweet chili sauce used.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs can make the dish even juicier. Just adjust the cooking time as thighs may take a bit longer to cook than breasts.