Sesame Chicken — Crispy Battered Chicken in Sweet Sesame Glaze

Prep:30 min

Cook:30 min

Serves:2–4

Difficulty:Medium

Sesame chicken is one of the most beloved Chinese-American dishes — crispy battered chicken pieces coated in a sweet, sticky sauce loaded with toasted sesame seeds. While it's not traditionally Chinese, it's become a staple of Chinese takeout culture worldwide. This version uses a double-frying technique for extra crispiness and a homemade sauce that's much more complex and less sugary than the typical takeout version.

Sesame chicken was created in Chinese-American restaurants, likely in the 1980s. While it doesn't have ancient Chinese roots, it's become one of the most ordered Chinese dishes in the Western world.

Ingredients

• 500g chicken thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Batter: ½ cup cornstarch, ¼ cup flour, 1 egg, ¼ cup water
• Oil for deep frying
• Sauce: 3 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water, 1 clove garlic minced
• 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 2 spring onions, sliced

Instructions

1
Mix batter until smooth. Toss chicken in batter.
2
Fry at 170°C for 4 minutes. Drain. Fry again at 190°C for 2 minutes until extra crispy.
3
Make sauce: combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic in a saucepan. Bring to simmer.
4
Add cornstarch slurry and stir until sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
5
Toss crispy chicken in the sauce until coated. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onions.
6
Serve immediately over steamed rice.

Pro Tips

💡Double-fry for maximum crispiness that holds up under the sauce.
💡Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan before using — the flavour difference is dramatic.
💡The sauce should be thick enough to coat but not so thick it becomes candy-like.