Baked Sesame Chicken

This sesame chicken recipe is as crispy as the takeout version, but it's oven-fried instead of deep-fried and our homemade sesame chicken sauce is tastier!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs ((cut into 1-inch/3cm chunks))
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sesame paste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 clove garlic ((minced))
• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
• 3/4 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch ((mixed into a slurry with 2 tablespoons/30 ml water))
• 1 scallion (chopped)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Mix the chicken with the cornstarch, sesame paste, salt, and Shaoxing wine and set aside for 20 minutes to marinate. Then mix the flour, sesame seeds, and white pepper in a separate bowl. Preheat the oven to 475°F/250°C.
2. 2Next, use your hands to mix the marinated chicken again until there is no standing liquid. Dredge the chicken pieces in the dry mixture, and place them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or nonstick foil. Bake at 475 degrees for 8 minutes on the top rack. Flip the chicken pieces and broil on low for 3 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven.
3. 3Heat your wok to medium heat and add oil and garlic. Stir for 5 seconds, and then add the Shaoxing wine. After another 5 seconds, immediately add the chicken stock, rice wine vinegar, sugar, soy sauces, and sesame oil until everything’s at a simmer.
4. 4Gradually add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce while stirring constantly. Let simmer for 20 seconds. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon. Add the chicken and scallions and toss until coated with sauce. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve.