Description
This Easy Sesame Chicken recipe delivers a flavorful and crispy chicken dish coated in a sweet and savory sesame sauce. Perfectly cooked in a skillet for a golden brown crust, it pairs beautifully with jasmine rice and fresh green onions for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Chicken
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
To Serve
- 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
- 2 whole green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, water, toasted sesame oil, brown sugar, rice vinegar, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, cornstarch, and sesame seeds. Use a small-holed cheese grater for fresh ginger. Set the sauce aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Coat the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk the egg, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, and a pinch of salt and pepper until combined. Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs and cut into 1-inch pieces. Toss the chicken pieces in the egg mixture until fully coated.
- Heat the skillet and cook chicken: Add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium flame until very hot. Swirl to coat the entire surface evenly with oil. Lay the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the skillet.
- Brown the chicken: Allow chicken to cook undisturbed until golden brown on one side. Carefully flip the pieces, breaking them into smaller clumps as you go, and cook until golden brown on the other side. Avoid stirring too much to keep the crispy egg coating intact.
- Add the sauce and thicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked chicken. Toss to coat all pieces evenly. As the sauce comes to a simmer, it will thicken. Gently stir the chicken in the sauce until it reaches a thickened consistency, then turn off the heat.
- Serve: Spoon the sesame chicken over cooked jasmine rice and garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use fresh ginger for the brightest flavor in the sauce.
- Ensure the skillet and oil are hot before adding chicken for optimal browning.
- Do not overcrowd the pan; cook chicken in batches if necessary to maintain a crispy crust.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- This recipe works well with chicken breast, but thighs provide more juiciness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
