Sesame Chicken

This dish celebrates two of my favorites things: diversity and harmony. This dinner is where East meets West. This dinner is all about a revolution that is taking over the good ole U.S. of A.; AMERICANIZED CHINESE FOOD!

This dish is best served with some good sticky rice and a side of steamed broccoli. (Again, and for us at least, just the good ole American regulars. We attempted some of the authentic stuff the other night and when they served up the rice with dried SEAWEED on it, I gagged.)

Ingredients

• 3lbs. Boneless/skinless chicken breast, cubed in 1 inch bite-sized pieces
• Marinade: (allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoons cooking wine
• a few drops of sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• Sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/8 cup vinegar (rice preferably, but white works fine)
• 1/4 cornstarch
• 3/4 cup sugar (You can increase this to 1 cup for an even sweeter sauce)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon chili paste (I use srirscha sauce and it works great)
• 1 close garlic
• 2-3 diced green onions
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• Approx. 4 cups of peanut oil for deep frying

Mix all ingredients for marinade and combine with chicken. Set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Toast sesame seeds in pan on medium heat just until light brown and set aside.

To prepare the sauce: Mix together all of the sauce ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Turn the heat down to low and keep warm while you are deep-frying the chicken.

To deep-fry the chicken: Heat oil in large cast iron pot to approx. 365 degrees (medium temp) and add the marinated chicken pieces a few at a time. Deep-fry until golden brown (approx 5 minutes). Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remainder of the chicken.

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 and diced green onions.

Serve with rice and broccoli and ENJOY!