This Asian Crispy Sesame Chicken is a delicious homemade alternative to that naughty takeaway!
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., Asian Ribs, Sticky Pork Belly Burger, Chinese Crispy Chicken with Honey Garlic Sauce, Chris even uses it in his Chilli Con Carne 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!
Equipment:
In order to make this Sesame Chicken recipe you will need:
- A good Kitchen knife. In the video I use my Leiths knife however I have recently bought this Dalstrong one and love it.
- Chopping Board
- Shallow White Bowls
- Measuring Jug
- Fying Pan/Skillet or a Wok.
- Wooden or Silicon Coated Spoons. We have just bought these and love them.
- A nice set of bowls to serve in. Something like these blue Bowls are really nice to serve in.
- Some Chopsticks for when you feel confident 🙂
The Crispy Sesame Chicken with a Sticky Asian Sauce Recipe:
Crispy Sesame Chicken with a Sticky Asian Sauce
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp vegetable 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 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce use more or less depending on the brand and how spicy you like it
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 tbsp 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.5 tbsp vegetable oil
- 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.2 eggs, 3 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), 10 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, ½ tsp garlic salt, 2 tsp paprika
- 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.3 chicken breast fillets
- 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.1 tbsp sesame oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 3 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 4 tbsp soy sauce
- Turn off the heat and divide between four bowls. Serve with boiled rice and top with sesame seeds and spring onions.boiled rice, 2 tbsp sesame seeds, small bunch spring onions/scallions
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was the best Chinese chicken I’ve ever had! Thank you so much for the recipe better than a takeaway!
So pleased we found this recipe, we have made it a few times now and never disappoints ❤️
Thank you for sharing this recipe! Easy and delicious! Will definitely be doing it again and again!
Made this today, was so so tasty, will be making it again!
This recipe is delicious! Always a hit!
This recipe is absolutely delicious!
But can anyone tell me what the Ketchup does to the sauce??
I’ve been making Asian dishes more often recently but have never seen it before. Also I used 3 large chicken breasts and had enough sauce to coat chicken but not enough of the flour mixture so you may need to make extra depending on the size of chicken 🙂 thank you for the delicious recipe!
I often make Asian dishes too and for this one I noticed it makes the sauce more juicy😄I think it totally fits the recipe
Omg this is amazing!!! This tasted so good I hardly could stop (I only ate 1-2 pieces since I’m cutting and made this mainly for my fiancé)!! Can’t wait to eat the leftover for tomorrow’s dinner😍😍 it tastes so authentic just like in Chinese resturants but somehow even better 🤩 I will make this again for sure! I didn’t have Chinese vinegar so I left that out but it didn’t really matter. Thank you so much for the amazing recipe!! ❤️ Only one thing to note is that it’s much more time to make it than 30 min or iust I was slow haha😅 (made ~17 oz. chicken)
First time cooking this yesterday and I must say it was delicious! Will be making this again 100%! And will be looking into more recipes to cook!
This was so delicious. My son even liked the plai chicken before it was coated with sauce. he said they tasted just like the kids chicken at Cheesecake Factory! (High praise from him).
Thank you for this great recipe.
This meal was delicious! It does require a lot of ingredients which nearly put me off but it was so worth it. I don’t cook a lot but it was really easy, the video helped and mine turned out just like the picture. Will certainly be making this again so thank you!