Ingredients
Sesame Chicken Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
Tempura Batter:
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 egg whites
- 1/2 cup cold seltzer water
Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch chunks
- Vegetable oil, for deep frying
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch, water, and 2 teaspoons sesame oil until smooth. Set aside.
- Make the batter: In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch, flour, egg whites, and cold seltzer water just until combined to create a light tempura batter.
- Batter the chicken: Add the chicken thigh pieces to the batter and toss to coat each piece evenly.
- Heat oil & fry chicken: Pour vegetable oil into a deep pan or wok to a depth of about 3 inches and heat to 350°F (175°C). Fry the battered chicken pieces in batches until they turn golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Sauté aromatics: In a large wok or skillet, heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the wok with the garlic and red pepper. Add the fried chicken pieces and toss quickly to coat each piece evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Garnish with sesame seeds and serve the sesame chicken immediately for the best texture.
Notes
- Make sure the oil temperature stays steady at 350°F to ensure crispy chicken without greasiness.
- Use cold seltzer water in the batter to keep it light and crispy.
- For extra heat, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- This recipe works well with chicken breast as an alternative, but thighs tend to stay juicier.
- Serve with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
