Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe

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Sesame Chicken Recipe

This Chinese sesame chicken recipe is among the most popular Chinese chicken recipes.

It has been tried by many of my friends. Everybody has two thumbs up for it, surpassing the sesame chicken dishes I have had in restaurants. If I'm asked to recommend a few easy Chinese chicken recipes, it'll be on the list.

Sesame seeds are exceptionally rich in nutrition. It's amazing how much good stuff you can find in these tiny seeds. They contain plenty of magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, calcium, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin E (tocopherol). They also contain lignans, which are phytoestrogens with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. They are the unique content of sesamin that sesame has.

Bye the way, do you know why Chinese like to use sesame oil? One reason is its taste, of course. Sesame oil has the highest antioxidant content among edible plant oils and contains phytosterols associated with lowering cholesterol levels.

Ancient Babylonian women liked to eat a mixture of honey and sesame seeds called halva to prolong their beauty and youth, and men for strength and energy.

No need to say, this sesame chicken recipe intends to provide you a delicious and nutritious dish. Here it goes.

Ingredients:

For the chicken: chicken breasts -- 3, boneless, skinless

For the Marinade:

Light soy sauce -- 2 tablespoons
Cooking wine or dry sherry -- 1 tablespoon. Substitute Mirin if you don't like cooking wine.
Sesame oil -- a few drops
Hoisin Sauce -- a tablespoon
Flour -- 1 1/2 tablespoons
Cornstarch -- 1 tablespoons
Pineapple juice -- 2 tablespoons (use water if you don't like pineapple juice)
Baking powder -- 1/4 teaspoon
Baking soda -- 1/4 teaspoon
Vegetable oil -- 1 teaspoon

For the Sauce:

Water -- 1/2 cup
Chicken broth -- 1 cup
Vinegar -- 1/4 cup
Cornstarch -- 1/8 cup
Sugar -- 1 cup
Dark soy sauce -- 2 tablespoons
Sesame oil -- 2 tablespoons
Chili paste -- (optional) 1 tsp or as much as desired
Garlic -- 1 clove, minced

Other:

Sesame seeds -- 2 tablespoons, toasted
Peanut oil -- 3 cups

Instructions:

Step 1: To prepare the chicken

Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes.
Mix the marinade ingredients and marinate the chicken for 20 minutes.

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Step 2: Toast the sesame seeds

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 325 degree Farenheit and spread the sesame seeds out on a baking sheet to bake until seeds brown and become fragrant.
Set aside to cool.
Tip: Bake more to put in a covered jar. You'll have the seeds when you need them.

Step 3: Prepare the sauce

Mix together all of the sauce ingredients and pour them into a small pot and boil, stirring continuously.
Turn the heat down to low and keep it warm.

Step 4: Deep-fry the chicken

Heat the oil with a wok or skillet, adding the marinated chicken pieces a few at a time until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Repeat with the remainder of the chicken.

Step 5:

Just before you are finished deep-frying, bring the sauce back up to a boil.
Place the chicken on a large platter and pour the sauce over. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Serve the Chinese Sesame Chicken with rice. ENJOY!